The Invictus Games opening ceremony is now underway at Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium, with musical performances from stars such as Katy Perry, Nelly Furtado and Chris Martin
Prince Harry’s Invictus Games are now underway in Vancouver-Whistler, Canada, with a star-studded opening ceremony featuring the likes of Katy Perry, Nelly Furtado and Coldplay’s Chris Martin.
Held in the city’s 40,000-capacity BC Place Stadium, the glittering ceremony began at 9pm UK time, ahead of what is anticipated to be the biggest and best Invictus Games to date.
After Team United Kingdom entered the stadium, the camera then cut to Harry and Meghan watching from the stands, both received huge cheers as they smiled, with Harry seen waving to the crowd. The whole stadium then stood for the national anthem after hosts Canada entered to a standing ovation.
The crowds cheered as Harry and Meghan smiled (
Image:
PA)
Indigenous leaders from the traditional territories of the Four Host First Nations of Lílwat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil Waututh, where the Games are being held, raised wooden paddles in a symbolic welcome gesture to the competitors.
More than 500 competitors, from 23 countries, will take part in the Games. They entered the stadium in an Olympic-style parade while escorted by Canadian Armed Forces Cadets carrying placards displaying their country’s names.
Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado played some of her best-loved hits to enthusiastic applause as attendees settled in for a night of music and celebration.
Harry and Meghan watched the action unfold from the stands (
Image:
Humphrey Nemar/staff Photographer.)
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin then performed the Invictus Games anthem, which he composed the score for back in 2014.
Martin paid tribute to Prince Harry and could be seen joking with him. Harry and Meghan could also be seen on screen laughing
Crowds were on their feet as Martin sang Coldplay hit Viva La Vida – including Harry and Meghan. Meghan also appeared to be filming Harry on her mobile phone.
Master Corporal James Gendron led “a shared moment of healing” on his bagpipes. The serviceman, who previously suffered psychological injuries in Afghanistan after playing at 63 separate funeral-style ceremonies for fallen soldiers, was then joined on stage by more pipers, as well as drummers, who helped him create a cacophony of sound inside the arena. Harry spoke about the Team Canada competitor at the closing ceremony of the last Invictus Games.
Coldplay’s Chris Martin laughed and joked with harry from the stage (
Image:
Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Prince Harry paid tribute to injured veterans at the Invictus Games tonight, telling them: “We need you… and we’ll always need you.”
Harry, 40, was speaking on stage at the event’s opening ceremony, which included performances by pop stars Katy Perry, Chris Martin and Nelly Furtado.
The former soldier, who completed two tours of Afghanistan, said: “The Games were born more than a decade ago, from a promise I made to myself. A promise to uphold my obligation—a sacred obligation after my own decade and privilege of military service —to do whatever I could to help my fellow brothers and sisters heal, and to champion everything we stand for.
“Over the past decade I’ve lost count of the times we’ve heard you tell us that the Invictus Games saved you. Respectfully, I disagree. Invictus didn’t save you. You saved yourself. It was you, who pushed through the doubt and despair.
“You, who summited your own mountain and brought us along with you. It was you who kept going even when you didn’t think you had any more to give. We didn’t do that. You did.
“The Games simply reveal what is already within you. That scarcest—and most precious—of the world’s resources: character. A spirit—of fortitude and perseverance that can never be defeated. That is the magic of the Invictus Games.”
As Meghan, 43, proudly watched on from the crowd, Harry added: “Today, and for the next week – warriors unite. In this moment of difficulty and division in many parts of the world, we gather here in Vancouver in a spirit of unity.
“We represent 23 nations. Speak many different languages and reflect the full breadth of the world’s religions and faiths.
“Beyond any differences, here at the Invictus Games we are grounded in mutual respect, competing fiercely, but believing in one another. Supporting one another. And rooting for one another.”
The Sussexes could be seen sharing a kiss in the stands (
Image:
Karwai Tang)Harry and Meghan had earlier been treated to huge cheers from the 40,000 crowd inside Vancouver’s BC Place stadium after they were shown together in the crowd on the arena’s giant jumbotron.
The two-hour show ended with a high-energy performance by US star Katy Perry, who is a pal and neighbour of Harry and Meghan in Montecito, California.
She belted out a number of her biggest songs, including Roar, Part of Me and Firework, alongside soldiers from The Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy, the 15th Field Regiment Band and The Royal Canadian Artillery Band. The ceremony also included a performance by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Noah Kahan.
Former soldier Harry delivered a heartfelt speech (
Image:
Humphrey Nemar)Performers later transformed the floor of the stadium to resemble the waters of the Pacific coastline, while giant models of whales and dolphins flew over the audience, who waved blue pom-poms to create the illusion of water.
The show also featured art and music by members of all four separate First Nations, including singers, drummers and even a DJ, who combined electronic music with traditional Indigenous rhythms.
Men and women from the Canadian Armed Forces also starred throughout the ceremony, including during a rendition of the Canadian national anthem by band members.
Soldiers and cadets formed an honour guard, under the direction of Lieutenant Ben Van Slyke, before Governor General of Canada The Honourable Mary Simon gave a speech welcoming the more than 500 competitors and their families from 23 different countries.
The Invictus Games Flag entered the stadium escorted by Canadian Rangers before being passed to Chief of Defence Jennie Garignan and Chief Warrant Officer Bob McCann. And there was an emotional moment when Master Corporal James Gendron led “a shared moment of healing” on his bagpipes.
The serviceman, who previously suffered psychological injuries in Afghanistan after playing at 63 separate funeral-style ceremonies for fallen soldiers, was then joined on stage by more pipers, as well as drummers, who helped him create a cacophony of sound inside the arena.
It was a night of music and ‘unity’ (
Image:
Humphrey Nemar)
This year marks the first time the Invictus Games will include winter sports such as alpine skiing, snowboarding, and Nordic skiing. Kicking off today (February 8), the Games, which are known to be Prince Harry’s passion project, will continue until February 16.
Prince Harry first founded the Invictus Games in 2014 with the aim of championing wounded, injured, or sick service personnel and veterans. The prince is known to be very hands-on with a project regarded by many to be his legacy, which, given his own years as a soldier, holds a deeply personal significance.
Meghan could be seen waving blue pom poms as she watched the show (
Image:
Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Organisers have said that this year’s event, which comes after previous Games’ were held in London, Orlando, Toronto, Sydney, The Hague and Dusseldorf, will be the biggest yet. It will take place at eight separate venues in Vancouver and the ski resort of Whistler, located on the traditional territories of the Four Host First Nations of Lílwat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil Waututh.
The ceremony is now underway (
Image:
@meghan/Instagram)
The Duke and Duchess landed in Vancouver yesterday (
Image:
@meghan/Instagram)
Chief Executive Officer Scott Moore said: “We will deliver the best ever Invictus Games over the next nine days. These Games will be life-changing.”. Mr Moore added: “I was lucky enough to do eleven Olympic Games in my career. People ask me what is the difference between the Olympic Games and the Invictus Games. The Olympic Games changes lives… the Invictus Games saves lives.”
Prince Harry and Meghan were seen arriving in Vancouver yesterday evening after landing in the city via private jet from Santa Barbara, close to their home in Montecito. Harry’s ongoing commitment to the project was highlighted yesterday (Friday 7) at an evening welcome reception for competitors, where Meghan warmly described participants as “family”.
Addressing attendees, Meghan said: “You will see him throughout this week, you will see him at the Games, you will see him probably curling with you, cheering you on. He wants to be there with you, he is in it with you.
“What you won’t have seen is all of the moments in the lead-up to these Games. All of the moments with, as you know, with families, the big rush in the morning, and getting ready for school and packing the lunch boxes and making breakfast and my husband’s in all of that with us.
“And then he’ll be on his phone, and Archie will say, ‘Papa, why are you on your phone?’. He’s like, ‘cos it’s Invictus… I’m getting ready for Invictus’. It means so much to him.”
This year’s event is expected to be the ‘best ever’ (
Image:
@meghan/Instagram)
The Sussexes have described participants as ‘family’ (
Image:
@meghan/Instagram)
Meghan continued: “You are his family, just as we are his family, and I hope you recognise how much of his heart he has poured into every single beat that has gotten all of you to this week that is going to be spectacular. I need you to know that, I need you to know how much it means to him and how much each of you means to you.”
This comes at a tricky time for the Sussexes, who have been subjected to considerable scrutiny in recent weeks.
A recent Vanity Fair piece, published January 17, cast a critical eye over the couple’s five years outside of the palace fold, with the couple having famously stepped back from their duties as senior working members of the Royal family back in 2025.
The usually supportive publication spoke with various insiders about what it was like to work for the power couple, and there were some less than rosy accounts of Meghan’s allegedly “painful” management style towards staff members.
A source who worked on Sussex media projects told the outlet: “[It was] really, really, really awful. Very painful. Because she’s constantly playing checkers—I’m not even going to say chess—but she’s just very aware of where everybody is on her board. And when you are not in, you are to be thrown to the wolves at any given moment.”
The article, titled ‘American Hustle,’ also addressed speculation over the alleged state of Harry and Meghan’s marriage, which the couple have strongly denied. It even speculated on rumours that Meghan had been approached to write a ‘post-divorce’ book. However, it also stated that this was not on the cards for the Duke and Duchess, with another source revealing their “love is real”, while asserting they are “still hot for each other.”
Now, a new book by royal author Tom Quinn has seen the Sussexes come under scrutiny once again, with its numberous revelations including the claim that Meghan allegedly didn’t care for hers and Harry’s first “small” home together, Nottingham Cottage.
The couple has faced some criticism in recent weeks
In Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants – which has been excerpted in The Times – Quinn penned: “‘Meghan felt it was so small that it must be a reflection of how the royal family were belittling her husband. She just didn’t understand that real royals don’t care much about houses and material possessions because, having always had them, they take them for granted, said one member of staff who helped out regularly at Nottingham Cottage.”
He continued: “A rather beautiful house in the grounds of a famous palace hardly seemed to Harry the equivalent to being forced to live in a shed at the end of the garden. But for Meghan, things were more complex. She saw Kate and William living just a few yards away in Kensington Palace itself with teams of live-in servants.”
