Prince Harry WILL return to Britain for Invictus Games event for first time since Kate revealed she is undergoing cancer treatment – as royal experts say it is ‘unlikely’ he will visit his sister-in-law but reunion with ailing father could be on the cards
Prince Harry is set to return to Britain in just a few days for the Invictus Games 10th anniversary in his first visit since Kate Middleton revealed her cancer diagnosis.
An Invictus Games spokesperson confirmed the Duke of Sussex will attend the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday May 8, but it is yet unclear whether his wife Meghan Markle will be joining him.
He is expected to provide a reading at the event, marking a decade since the games were founded as a sporting event for injured and sick military personnel and veterans.
Actor Damian Lewis is also expected to recite the Invictus poem at St Paul’s for the anniversary of the games for injured servicemen and women.
It comes as the Duke is embroiled in a legal row about his taxpayer-funded personal security when he visits Britain.
The visit is the first time the Duke of Sussex has been in the UK since his last 26-hour trip in February, after his father King Charles announced his cancer diagnosis.
Royal experts say it is ‘unlikely’ that Harry will meet with the Princess of Wales, who disclosed her own battle with the disease in a video message to the nation last month.
Tom Bower told MailOnline: ‘I’m sure he won’t see Kate. But to reassert his royalty and his titles to enhance his brand, he will make a huge effort to be seen visiting his father, the King. I would be surprised if Meghan came.
Royal commentator, Richard Fitzwilliams added: ‘Katherine is undergoing preventative chemotherapy treatment and given how deep the rift is, to me it seems unlikely.
‘The only hope of reconciliation is that it would happen privately and we wouldn’t know.’
However, Mr Fitzwilliams pointed out that a serious illness can sometimes be a ‘gamechanger’ in familial relationships.
Prince Harry is set to return to Britain in just a few days for the Invictus Games 10th anniversary, but he will likely come solo as Meghan stays in Montecito
Prince Harry and Meghan at day four of Invictus Games 2023 at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany
It is unclear whether the prince is planning a visit to his sister-in-law Kate Middleton (pictured), who recently revealed she is undergoing cancer treatment
A statement published on the Invictus Games’ social media confirmed the prince is attending
The visit is the first time the Duke of Sussex has been in the UK since his last 26-hour trip in February, after his father King Charles (pictured) announced his cancer diagnosis
Royal Correspondent Michael Cole said: ‘After so much bad blood, it is very difficult indeed to see any sort of reconciliation between the Sussexes and the Royal Family happening next week — or for the foreseeable future.’
A statement published on the Invictus Games’ social media reads: ‘The Invictus Games Foundation will celebrate 10 years of changing lives and saving lives with a ‘Service of Thanksgiving’ at St Paul’s Cathedral on May 8th.
‘We will be joined by our Patron, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, actor Damian Lewis and members of the worldwide Invictus Community to mark the occasion.’
However, Meghan is not mentioned. As the event is just two days after their son Archie turns five, it is likely she will stay at home.
The pair live in Montecito, California with their two children, Archie, four, and Princess Lilibet, two.
In her statement, the Princess of Wales revealed she had been diagnosed with cancer after ‘planned abdominal surgery’ in January.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were understood to have made contact with the Prince and Princess of Wales ‘privately’ after Kate announced her cancer diagnosis.
They also released a statement to Harper’s Bazaar magazine, saying: ‘We wish health and healing for Kate and the family.’
Last month Harry was in Canada for the Vancouver Whistler 2025’s One Year to Go celebrations, which aimed to raise awareness of the 2025 Invictus Games, which will take place between February 8 and February 16 next year.
Meghan told the crowd: ‘We’re going to be cheering for you and we can’t wait to one day be able to bring our kids also so they can experience just how amazing this is.’ Birmingham is currently in the process of bidding to be a host city.’
While in Canada, the Duke of Sussex spoke to Good Morning America reporter Will Reeve about King Charles’s shock cancer diagnosis, his life with his family in California as well as his thoughts on becoming an American citizen.
The Duke of Sussex revealed he was ‘grateful’ to have seen his father Charles III in person during a brief 24-hour visit in the UK and hopes the diagnosis can have a ‘reunifying effect’ on the Royal Family.
The nature of his trip, in which he shared a ‘brief 45 minute meeting’ with the King and Camilla and is not believed to have seen his brother William or sister-in-law Kate Middleton , shows how bad things have really become, royal expert Jennie Bond said previously.
He flew into London on a ten-hour flight from Los Angeles and arrived at the royal residence at 2.42pm before spending around 45 minutes with King Charles.
The Duke of Sussex and Michael Buble curling at the final day of the One Year to Go Event before the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 on February 16 2024
Harry and Meghan attend the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistlers 2025’s One Year To Go Winter Training Camp on February 15
Duke of Sussex greets a Denmark team competitor as he attends the track and field at the athletics track during day two of the Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023 on September 11, 2023
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Prince Harry laugh during the Invictus Games Opening Ceremony on September 10, 2014 in London
It comes after the Duke of Sussex lost a High Court challenge against the Home Office over a decision to downgrade his taxpayer-funded personal security when he visits Britain.
Harry took legal action over the move by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) after being told he would no longer be given the ‘same degree’ of publicly-funded protection when in the UK – which would include any Invictus Games-related visits.
Harry and Meghan attended a preliminary event for the Invictus Games in the States last year.
Currently, Birmingham is in the process of bidding to be the host city this May,
The Prince, 39, launched the games back in March 2014 at the Copper Box arena in London and will see them being hosted in the UK again after the Government launched a £26million bid to host the event.
Senior royals will need to take a stand on if they support the event, which they did at the first games in 2014 when then-Prince Charles, Camilla, and Prince William appeared alongside Harry for the opening ceremony.
But at the time, he was a full-time working royal – and any tensions and spats were not aired in public.
Since 2014, the Invictus Games have become a popular global sports competition which 22 countries and more than 500 athletes have been involved with.
Prince Harry is pictured speaking at the ‘One Year to Go’ Invictus Games dinner in Vancouver on Friday February 16, 2024
Prince William, then-Prince Charles and Prince Harry pictured watching the athletics at Lee Valley Track during the Invictus Games on September 11, 2014 in London, England
King Charles greets Kate during an event at the Royal Albert Hall in September 2021. The King offer praised the Princess’ ‘courage’ following her announcement
The Duke of Sussex during an interview with ABC correspondent Will Reeve about visiting his father in the UK after learning of his cancer diagnosis
Prince Harry has been criticised for his ’embarrassing’ decision to wear UK ‘participation’ medals while handing out an award to a top-performing American soldier on Wednesday
Harry’s medals (left to right) comprised his Afghanistan service medal as well as Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee medals for his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II
It is an incredibly important piece of work for Prince Harry and one of his last remaining legacies from when he was a full-time working Royal – and one which he feels very proud of. The games also allow him to reconnect with fellow military veterans.
Earlier this month, Prince Harry updated his records in this country to make clear that he no longer lives in Britain.
Filings published by Companies House today for ‘Prince Henry Charles Albert David Duke of Sussex’ record that his ‘New Country/State Usually Resident’ is now the USA. It was previously recorded as the United Kingdom.
The move triggers questions as to whether the prince will stay in Frogmore Cottage for the duration of the games after the King asked him and his family to vacate.
It comes soon after it emerged that the King has been given permission by doctors to return to public-facing duties after being diagnosed with cancer.
His Majesty is not yet clear of the disease and is still undergoing treatment, but his medical team are understood to be ‘pleased with the progress made so far’ and ‘remain positive’ about his recovery.
To mark the good news Buckingham Palace have also announced two major milestone events, the first of many in the coming months, and passed on Their Majesties grateful thanks for all the good wishes they have received.
Prince Harry at the cycling medal ceremony at the 2023 Invictus Games, in Duesseldorf
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attends the cycling at the Invictus Games in Germany in 2023
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex are pictured attending the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games in Germany last year
Kate and Charles are known to have formed a strong bond in the 13 years since her marriage to his son Prince William as she has been welcomed into the Royal Family.
And this relationship is said to have been ‘cemented’ by both senior royals being in for operations at the same time in January.
Kate made reference in her public video message to ‘all those whose lives have been affected by cancer,’ adding: ‘You are not alone.’ And this has been seen as a clear nod to Charles too.
She said she had delayed making any public announcement so that she and her husband Prince William could tell their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Her statement came amid mounting speculation on the Princess’ whereabouts in the months after her surgery.
