I was told to address Harry and Meghan as sir and ma’am: New Invictus boss reveals he had to brush up on his royal protocol ahead of Sussex arrival at Whistler

The new boss of the Invictus Games says he was told to address Prince Harry and Megan as sir and ma’am. 

Scott Moore, the new CEO for the 2025 Invictus Games, revealed to the Vernon Morning Star that he had to brush up on his royal protocol ahead of the couple’s arrival in Whistler this week. 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex paid a visit to the Canadian town as it prepares to host the games along with Vancouver next year.

Moore says he was told to address Harry and Meghan by these formal titles, despite the pair dropping their royal roles four years ago. 

Moore, a former Canadian broadcaster, said: ‘They [Harry and Meghan] are huge supporters of the Invictus Games. 

‘I did make sure to ask how I should be addressing them when they get here, and I was told the simple sir and ma’am is fine.’

Meghan looked glamorous in skinny white jeans and a sweater topped with a beige quilted coat while Harry was dressed down in jeans and a black Eddie Bauer anorak 

Scott Moore, the new CEO for the 2025 Invictus Games, revealed he had to brush up on his royal protocol ahead of the couple’s arrival in Whistler this week

Protocol dictates that when addressing members of the Royal Family, you should first call them ‘Your Royal Highness’ while after that it is either ‘Sir’ for males or ‘Ma’am’ for females. 

However, Harry and Meghan do not use their HRH styles for commercial gain in a deal struck when they left their royal roles in 2020. 

The representatives of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been approached for a comment. 

Harry and Meghan stayed in the stunning Whistler Blackcomb ski resort in British Columbia for a two-day trip from California to promote next year’s Invictus Games, the first time it will involve winter sports. 

The couple, who arrived hand-in-hand yesterday, looked thrilled to be spending Valentine’s Day in Canada – the country where they fell in love – as they ventured out to the mountains followed by a film crew. 

As the couple joined an Invictus Games training session to mark a year until the global sporting event, Harry even tried his hand at sit-skiing and quipped before he set off: ‘Do I need to sign a waiver?’ 

Footage has now emerged of members of the crowd breaking out into a rendition of Britain’s national anthem as Harry, 39, and Meghan, 42, prepared to leave Whistler yesterday afternoon.

As a group of teenagers started bellowing out ‘Long live our noble King! God save the King!’, members of the crowd can be seen chuckling.

Sharing the clip to her Instagram, New York Times best-selling author Elizabeth Holmes wrote: ‘Did not get a clear shot of them getting in the car but I did catch these young Brits singing God Save the King’.

In another clip, the Sussexes smiled and waved before getting into a Jeep, while it appears Harry may have charmed some of the gathering crowds. One skier said: ‘He was very nice’. The prince also poked his head out the window and gave the crowd a final wave which was met with cheers. 

Just over a week ago, the duke travelled on a ten-hour flight from Los Angeles to London to spend just half an hour with his father in the wake of the monarch’s cancer diagnosis – but Meghan stayed at home with their children Archie and Lilibet. 

Harry could not resist trying some of the sports the disabled athletes – who have all served in the military – will be taking part in, with the father-of-two filmed as he had a go at sit-skiing. 

They did not appear affected by the row over their website row – and criticism over their use of the royal links despite their rift with the Windsors and an agreement with the Queen not to use their HRH titles for business purposes or trade off their royal connections. 

On Tuesday, Meghan praised the ‘talented team’ behind her new Sussex.com website after it was claimed the couple did not consult palace officials in advance.

The Duchess wrote: ‘There is a reason I have worked with Ryan and the talented team at Article for a decade: their attention to detail, their creativity and care, and the thoughtful approach to design as well as to the user experience.

‘They’re not just designers; they are collaborators who elevate your ideas into visual identities. They’re a very special company. Plus they’re Canadian, so I’m a fan.’ 

Harry tried out one of the competitors’ sit-skis and appears to be enjoying himself while being pushed down the slope by his instructor  

Meghan Markle could not contain her laughter as she snapped a picture of Prince Harry sit-skiing

The Duchess of Sussex appeared to borrow a phone from a friend to take the candid shot 

Meghan looked delighted as she watched Harry speak to an instructor at Whistler to mark a year until the first winter Invictus Games

Meghan led the way as she and Harry were filmed as the arrived for the publicity event

The Duchess of Sussex waves to the crowds

The pair were spotted bending down to talk to athletes competing at the games, while Harry tried out one of the competitors’ sit-skis, all while being followed close behind by a camera crew. Meghan was seen smiling with officials as she used her mobile to gather content.

Harry and Meghan were introduced to three groups of adaptive skiers: one Alpine sit-ski, one standing ski and one group of visually impaired athletes.

Alex Cairns, a sit-skier from Canada, was the first to meet the Sussexes and gave a demonstration of the sport – arriving at the base of the slope to cheers from Harry.

The couple arrived in Canada on Tuesday and were pictured by DailyMail.com touching down in Vancouver just after noon Pacific time following a two-hour flight from Santa Barbara – the closest airport to their home in Montecito.

Their arrival came on the same day that Meghan announced she had signed a new podcast deal with Lemonada Media after she and Harry parted ways with Spotify.

A convoy of cars collected the famous duo and whisked them away to Whistler where they are due to be on Wednesday and Thursday before they return to Vancouver for an event in the City of Glass on Friday.

The pair are then expected to travel home to California on Friday afternoon to be reunited with their children.