The Duke of Sussex is set to make a return to the UK for a special ceremony commemorating the 10-year anniversary of the Invictus Games.
The Invictus Games, initiated by Prince Harry in 2014, marked its debut in London as a remarkable sporting event exclusively designed for wounded and ailing military personnel and veterans.
Prince Harry is set to attend the thanksgiving service at London’s St Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday, May 8th. It is anticipated that he will participate by giving a reading during the service.
Since 2020, he and his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, have been living in the US with their two children, Archie and Lilibet.
Harry will be arriving in the UK for the first time since his visit to his father in February, where he received the news of King Charles’ cancer diagnosis. Buckingham Palace recently announced that King Charles will be resuming his public royal duties next week, as he has been responding positively to his cancer treatment.
Prince William will be visiting the UK for the first time since his sister-in-law, Kate, shared her own battle with cancer. The Duchess of Cambridge had been absent from public appearances for several weeks before her diagnosis was made public in March.
Prince Harry’s return for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games marks his first major event in Britain in quite some time.
It remains uncertain whether any other members of the Royal Family will attend the service, or if the Duchess of Sussex and their children will accompany him on the trip.
The service will feature readings from Harry and the British actor Damian Lewis. Wounded veterans and members of the Invictus community are also expected to attend.
The organizers have announced that the event will celebrate “ten years of transforming lives and preserving lives through sports.”
After the event, Harry and Meghan will travel to Nigeria. They received an invitation from the chief of defence staff of the west African country. The chief of defence staff had previously met Harry in Germany during the Invictus Games Dusseldorf in September.
According to Nigerian media reports, the couple is scheduled to meet with service members and their families during their visit. Additionally, they will take part in various traditional cultural activities. Although further details about the visit have not been disclosed at this time.
According to local newspapers, Defence Headquarters expressed their delight and honor upon receiving the news that Harry and Meghan, who has Nigerian heritage, accepted their invitation.
This will be their inaugural trip to Nigeria as a couple.
Earlier this month, Harry made it official that he is now a resident of the United States. His travel company, Travalyst, has filed the necessary paperwork notifying British authorities of his move and stating that he is now “usually resident” in the US.
After four years of stepping away from their royal duties, Prince Harry and Meghan have finally received a formal acknowledgement. They made the decision to leave behind their royal life in North America, initially residing in Canada before settling in Montecito, Southern California.
This move highlights the growing distance between the prince and Britain. In his memoir, “Spare,” set to be released in 2023, Harry opens up about his complex relationship with his older brother, the Prince of Wales, along with other issues within the family.
Harry has rarely returned to Britain since he left, mainly for significant occasions like the funeral of Queen Elizabeth in 2022 and his father’s coronation in May 2023.
