The Invictus Games are geared up for a triumphant return to the UK, with Birmingham confirmed as the host city for the 2027 iteration. This highlights a homecoming for the event, last staged in Great Britain at its inaugural year in London back in 2014.
The games’ originator, Prince Harry, is tipped to be the centrepiece of the proceedings, however his wife Meghan Markle, who has consistently attended the games alongside Prince Harry since their pairing, may however remain absent this time.
The Duchess of Sussex last set foot on British turf in 2022 during an airport layover, and has cited security concerns for her and Harry’s limited visits.
Jennie Bond, former BBC Royal correspondent, gave her insight during a recent conversation with OK!, suggesting that security considerations shouldn’t prevent Meghan from attending the Invictus Games, reports the Mirror.
Combating the insinuation that Meghan’s potential absence may be viewed as ‘the ultimate snub’, Jennie stated: “There is the whole issue of security. Unless this is resolved and Harry gets the guaranteed police protection he feels he needs for himself and his family – a demand that I have some sympathy with – I can’t see him bringing Meghan and the children here.”
Speaking frankly, she stated: “The security issue always provides a credible excuse for Meghan and the children not coming to the UK. Personally, I don’t think she ever wants to come here again, but I think she will be acutely aware that her absence at something like the Invictus games – her husband’s greatest achievement – would signal more than a concern about safety.”
“It would tell us that nothing is going to drag her back to the UK, even though it is the land of her husband’s birth and Harry has said he wants his children to know and understand their heritage.”
Looking forward, Jennie expressed optimism around the possibilities of 2027, adding that an “awful lot can happen in three years.”
Currently, it’s hard to imagine an Invictus Games without Harry, as the cause has always held great meaning for him since its inception in 2014. However, Jennie noted: ” it would be extremely telling if his wife decided not to attend the games in Birmingham….especially as it will be exactly ten years since she was introduced to the world as Harry’s girlfriend at the Toronto Games.”
Jennie Bond has speculated that a potential visit by Prince Harry and Meghan, could serve as the “perfect opportunity” for the Royal family to bury the hatchet and move past their recent disputes.
However, she expressed doubt about a meaningful reconciliation, citing missed “perfect opportunities” such as the passing of Prince Philip, the Queen’s death, and the coronation of King Charles III.
Despite these chances, reconciliation hasn’t occurred yet, with the Duchess reportedly made it “very obvious” she doesn’t wish to return to the UK, as evidenced during her recent trip to Nigeria, as although she had a connecting flight at Heathrow, she didn’t leave the VIP area of the airport.
However, if the couple decides to visit together, there could be an opportunity to extend an olive branch to the Royal family. This is particularly true as the Invictus Games are set to take place in July 2027, coinciding with Queen Camilla’s milestone birthday.
In what Jennie described as a “fairytale” scenario, she said: “That’s the month that Queen Camilla will be 80 years old and I think we can expect a celebration to mark that.
“In an ideal world, Harry and Meghan and their children would be over here, attending the Invictus games and celebrating with the rest of the family this milestone in Camilla’s life. But that’s probably where the fairytale ends.”
