Prince Harry and Meghan Markle get set for a warm welcome as they arrive for the Invictus Games in Canada today – with their Montecito neighbour Katy Perry and Chris Martin performing at the opening ceremony of the games

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle might be getting the cold shoulder in California, but they can expect a much warmer welcome in Canada when they arrive for the Invictus Games today.

Despite the freezing conditions they are likely to be welcomed by locals whose enthusiasm for the couple is in stark contrast to those across the border in the US.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex‘s popularity has taken a nosedive with the US media turning against them. Residents in the super rich enclave of Montecito where they live in a £10m mansion have also reportedly been less than enthralled by their presence.

Celebrity magazine Vanity Fair put the pair on the front cover with the headline ‘America Hustle’ publishing a devastating take down of their life in America.

They were also recently criticised in their charity endeavours to help people left homeless after the devastating fires that swept across Los Angeles and accused of being ‘disaster tourists’ while Meghan’s gushing Instagram video over securing some Billie Eilish T-shirts has been panned.

But in Vancouver, which hosts the Prince Harry inspired Invictus Games for injured and sick military veterans, many of their fans are eagerly awaiting their arrival later today.

The couple are expected to make the 2.5 hour flight from Santa Barbara airport in a private chartered jet and check into a city centre hotel.

It will be the fifth time they have attended the Invictus Games as a couple having previously brought their star power to Sydney, Australia, The Hague in Holland and Dusseldorf in Germany in 2023 where Meghan was mobbed by enthusiastic fans. 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to arrive in Canada today ahead of the opening of the Invictus Games

The couple’s Montecito neighbour Katy Perry is set to perform at the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games

Coldplay front man Chris Martin is also in line to perform on Saturday at the opening ceremony in Vancouver

With finishing touches being put to venues across the city, workmen have been braving sub-zero temperatures around sites such as the city’s Convention Centre where sporting events for wounded and injured military veterans will be held over the following week.

Black and yellow banners with the games slogan ‘I Am’ were being erected around the waterfront centre which will host all the indoor sports, including wheelchair basketball and volleyball.

Pavements around the venue in the coastal Canadian city and the BC Place stadium, where Harry will welcome the 500 competitors from 23 countries, were being cleared of snow and the ground gritted.

Temperatures will barely get above freezing with snow flurries expected all week – a big difference to the warm winter weather enjoyed in sunny California.

Their Montecito neighbour Katy Perry will perform at the opening ceremony on Saturday along with Chris Martin from Coldplay in front of a sell-out crowd of 40,000 spectators. Nelly Furtado, who previously performed at the 2007 Concert For Diana, has also been invited to take the stage by Harry.

Coldplay front man Martin will sing the Invictus anthem having been asked to compose the song by Prince Harry for the event. It will the first time he has performed the song for a live audience.

Harry will also make a speech welcoming the wounded athletes and their families to games which will be split between Vancouver and the Whistler ski resort where daytime temperatures are expected to plunge to -14.

Locals have said they are looking forward to seeing both the Prince and Meghan.

‘I think they will be very warmly welcomed here,’ said Will Kostlivy,42.

‘I’m from Toronto where Meghan filmed ‘Suits’ and have been a big fan of hers. She gets a bad press, but I still like here.’

Prince Harry, pictured with his wife Meghan in Whistler last year, are remembered fondly by the Canadian public after the couple moved to Vancouver Island in 2020

Katy Perry previously performed at King Charles’s coronation concert in 2023

Nelly Furtado, who previously performed at the Concert For Diana in 2007, has also been included on the setlist for the opening ceremony

Aayush Damathia,27, said he was pleased the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would put the spotlight on the city and praised their efforts in highlighting problems faced by servicemen and women.

‘I think they do a very good job and do their best to help people’ he said.

‘I know that the people of Vancouver will love having them here. I know they are not in the royal family anymore, but so many people like them’.

Harry and Meghan are fondly remembered in Canada having moved to Vancouver Island in 2020 when they quit royal duties in what became known as ‘Megxit’.

They later relocated to Montecito in California but Harry has made two trips back to the Vancouver, known as the city of glass due to the large number of high rise tower blocks, to promote the 2025 Games.

At the last games in Dusseldorf, Germany in September 2023, Meghan was given a rock star welcome each time she attended events – mobbed by fans and posing or selfies.

Locals expect similar scenes at the Vancouver Convention Centre where the indoor sports are held and later in the ski resort of Whistler where adaptive winter sports such as alpine skiing and snowboarding will be staged.

Colin McCallum and his family had flown from their home in New South Wales, Australia to attend the games.

Navy veteran Colin will be competing in four events and spoke highly of Harry and his dedication to promoting the Games and concern for the welfare of injured and sick servicemen and women.

‘He has done a fantastic job and I it would be great to meet him,’ said Colin who was in Vancouver with his wife Kerryn and children 11 year old Josh and 13 year old Stephanie.

Joanne Smit said she was a big fan of the Royal family and said it was sad that Harry was no longer involved.

‘He is such a good guy and was so popular. It is a shame that he does not go back to his family, but I guess he has his own life now’.

Prince Harry waves to fans prior to the start of a TV interview before the start of the 2024 Grey Cup at BC Place

Denise Anderson said:’ Everyone knows who Harry and Meghan are and it is great that they are here and doing such a good job in making people aware of the games’.

Other locals also voiced their approval of the couple.

Meghan Davies, 35, said: ‘I really like Meghan and how she stands up for herself. There are a lot of people that want to take her down but he is very strong’.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will make their first appearance together on Saturday at the opening ceremony.

Harry will welcome the 500 competitors from 23 countries with his praise for those taking part setting the tone for the week of events.

Meghan will be attending but is not scheduled to speak.