Meghan Markle WILL join Prince Harry at the Invictus Games

April 11, 2022

Meghan Markle WILL join Prince Harry at the Invictus Games in the Netherlands this week – after the couple missed Prince Philip’s memorial service over security fears

Meghan Markle to make first official trip outside US since quitting royal family
She will join husband Harry at the Invictus Games The Hague in the Netherlands
Couple will go to event in the Netherlands after missing Prince Philip’s memorial
The royals will be joined by a Netflix crew for their Archewell Productions project, with insiders promising a ‘big surprise’ to launch the event

Meghan Markle will join Prince Harry at the Invictus Games in the Netherlands this week ‘for the first few days’ – marking her first trip outside of the United States since quitting the royal family.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will cross the Atlantic for The Hague despite refusing to join Harry’s family at Westminster Abbey for his late grandfather’s remembrance service just two weeks ago.

A spokesperson for the couple has confirmed this evening that Meghan will join her husband at the Invictus Games, which is set to begin this weekend, for the first few days.

The international competition will take place in the Netherlands, from April 16 to 22 after being delayed by the pandemic.

Harry founded the games to aid the rehabilitation of injured or sick military personnel and veterans from across the globe, by giving them the challenge of competing in sporting events similar to the Paralympics.

It comes as earlier today, Team UK competitors said they would like to see Meghan, and the couple’s children, two-year-old Archie and nine-month-old Lili, at the Games.

Despite royal insiders slamming the move in the wake of Harry’s high court battle over his family’s security, the pair will be joined by a Netflix documentary crew for the six-day event, according to the Mirror.

Meghan could even join Harry on stage at the opening ceremony of the games, with one source suggested there would be a ‘a big surprise to launch the event’.

They continued: ‘Meghan is excited to travel with Harry for the event, which is certainly close to his heart.’

Harry and Meghan are expected to arrive in the Netherlands on Friday after travelling from their £11m Montecito mansion in California.

It comes as the High Court heard the duke did not feel safe in Britain without Scotland Yard officers with him. Harry wants to bring his children to visit from the US, but is ‘unable to return to his home’ because it is too dangerous, a legal representative previously said.

But he is still jetting across the world to The Hague. Police and security services in the Netherlands have refused to say whether he will get royal protection in Holland, although it is likely because one of the event’s partners is the Dutch ministry of defence, which is also in charge of the country’s security and terrorism.

The Duke of Sussex and Meghan will cross the Atlantic for The Hague shortly after refusing to be with Harry’s family at Westminster Abbey for his grandfather’s service of thanksgiving less than two weeks ago

Meghan made her first appearance at an official engagement attended by Harry on September 24 2017 when she attended the Invictus Games opening ceremony in Toronto, Canada, although the pair sat about 18 seats apart. Pictured: Meghan attends a Wheelchair Tennis match during the Invictus Games 2017

Earlier today Team UK competitors said they would like to see Meghan, and the couple’s children, two-year-old Archie and nine-month-old Lili, at the Games

The decision for Harry to miss Prince Philip’s memorial service, particularly one which honoured his much-loved grandfather, is likely to add further tension to the strained relationship with his family

Harry and Meghan’s Archewell Productions first announced its Heart of Invictus Netflix docu-series last April.

Their official website describes the project as ‘a multi-episode production that will spotlight a group of extraordinary Invictus Games competitors from around the globe – members of the military community who have experienced life-changing injuries or illnesses – on their road to Invictus Games.’

The High Court heard the duke did not feel safe in Britain without Scotland Yard officers with him. Harry wants to bring his children to visit from the US, but is ‘unable to return to his home’ because it is too dangerous, a legal representative previously said.

But he still plans to jet more than 5,500 miles across the world to The Hague.

Police and security services in the Netherlands have refused to say whether he will get royal protection in Holland, although it is likely because one of the event’s partners is the Dutch ministry of defence, which is also in charge of the country’s security and terrorism.

Harry is set to travel to the Netherlands for the Invictus Games and used a surprise video call to the UK team

The Duke of Sussex also joked recently he was learning Dutch and wore orange – the national colour of the Netherlands

Former Met Inspector Ken Wharfe, who was protection officer for Princess Diana, Prince William and Harry, questioned why the royal would feel any safer in the Netherlands than the UK.

He told MailOnline last week: ‘[Harry] would have travelled to his grandfather’s memorial service with his brother or father and received protection from the Met. It’s not like he would have been turning up at Westminster Abbey on a bike’.

He added: ‘The Dutch police will be doing their own security assessments and liaising with Harry’s private security.

‘But my view it is more of a risk to go to Holland to support a charity with a military link than coming to London last week’.

The Invictus Games was where the couple chose to make their first public appearance together almost five years ago.

The following day, the pair emerged hand in hand to make their first official public appearance together at the wheelchair tennis.

Daniel O’Connor, 31, from Hereford, is competing in archery and indoor rowing, and said Harry is ‘someone who cares a lot’.

Mr O’Connor, who suffers from chronic pain, said: ‘He has in his mind the things he wants to achieve in his life, the things he’d like to see change, and he tries to work towards them.

‘And if everyone had that attitude you can imagine how different the world would be.’

Asked if he would like to see Meghan at the event, Mr O’Connor said: ‘I think everyone in the Games, all the competitors, are bringing friends and family, and I think if we have the right to bring friends and family then surely Prince Harry does.’

He said anyone who wants to support the Invictus Games is welcome with open arms, adding that Meghan has been to previous Invictus events.

‘So she has shown a continued support of the Games.

‘I think she’s doing a great job,’ he said, adding: ‘I would love to see her at the Games.

‘If she is, great, and I hope they bring the kids as well so they’ve got the whole family there.’

Lucy Holt, 29, from Lincoln, said it would be ‘a nice surprise’ if the family turned up.

Ms Holt, who is competing in powerlifting, indoor rowing, wheelchair basketball and athletics, said Harry’s family are very supportive of the Invictus Games.

‘I think it’s a great way to kind of highlight to his family what he has achieved and what he is still achieving,’ she said.

Ms Holt said the Games are great for children to see as they showcase what can be achieved with disabilities.

Jason Finlay, 50, who lives in Amesbury, said he found Harry ‘very relaxing’ to talk to on the couple of times they met.

Mr Finlay, who is competing in sitting volleyball and athletics, said: ‘It was great to meet him, to be honest.

‘You can see the military ethos that he has through his military service.’

He said it would be nice to meet Meghan, adding she would be a good ambassador for Invictus.

Mr Finlay, who left the Army in 2005 on a medical discharge, has had several operations on his legs, has struggled with his back, and has suffered from depression.

He said that he felt “a little bit lost”, and looking back on one of his first training sessions, he added: “I remember just sitting next to a stranger and we talked at such depth, not only about my physical but mental problems, and them the same.

“And it just felt, it felt natural and normal to be back in that military environment and even though I didn’t miss the military when I left, I missed my comrades – the ability that I could sit next to anyone and trust them, I could open up at a deeper level than I would with most of my civilian friends to be honest, and the process has just made it so much easier.”

Mr Finlay added: “It’s been an amazing journey up until this point and beyond.”

Charity Help for Heroes is responsible for the selection, training and welfare of UK competitors.

A couple of weekends ago, Team UK’s friends and family cheered them on from the sidelines at the training camp, supported by the Royal British Legion.

Team UK will compete in nine sports at the Invictus Games: athletics, archery, wheelchair basketball, cycling, powerlifting, indoor rowing, wheelchair rugby, swimming and sitting volleyball.

Harry played an instrumental role in bringing the Games to the UK in 2014 when 300 competitors from 13 countries took part in the inaugural competition in London.

A trip to the Warrior Games in Colorado a year earlier had been the inspiration, as Harry saw first hand how sport helped inspire recovery and support rehabilitation of wounded troops.

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