Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have found themselves at the center of controversy once again, following their recent announcement regarding the Invictus Games, which coincided with the release of a new photograph of Prince George in celebration of his 11th birthday. The timing of the announcement has drawn criticism from royal commentators, who accuse the Sussexes of overshadowing the young prince’s special day.
On Tuesday, it was revealed that the Invictus Games will be held in Birmingham in 2027, marking the first time the event will take place in the UK since its inaugural edition in London in 2014. The announcement came just hours after the Prince and Princess of Wales shared a new photo of Prince George, leading to accusations that Harry and Meghan intentionally sought to steal the spotlight.
Dan Wootton, former host of GB News, did not hold back in his criticism. “This is also really terrible. Prince Harry upstaged young Prince George’s lovely birthday release of those pictures by Catherine Middleton by announcing on the same day that the Invictus Games are going to be held in Birmingham in 2027,” Wootton said on his Outspoken program.”It does just show you how pathetic Prince Harry is. He knew it was George’s birthday, he knew the picture was going to be released. He wants to steal the thunder with his Invictus Games announcement. It’s just pathetic gameplaying yet again.” Wootton continued.
Royal commentator Angela Levin echoed Wootton’s sentiments, suggesting that Meghan Markle has a pattern of orchestrating events to coincide with significant royal moments. “It’s such a shame. I think Meghan likes to do that, we’ve seen that so many times. Every time the Royal Family do something, she has to do something just before and it’s all carefully controlled. I’ve been told many times she knows exactly what she’s doing, it’s not a mistake, she’s very cautious. And Harry I suppose was told this is what he had to do.”
The Invictus Games, founded by Prince Harry, is a multi-sport event for wounded, injured, or sick armed services personnel and veterans. In his announcement, Harry congratulated Birmingham on its successful bid to host the event, highlighting the city’s strong ties to the armed forces community.
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“Your city’s strong ties to the armed forces community made it a formidable contender from the very start,” he said. “We have no doubt the people of Birmingham will join in celebrating the unwavering respect and admiration we have for our veteran and service community, showing the world how their courage ignites hope and unites us all – something your city knows well.”
In addition to the controversy surrounding the timing of the announcement, Meghan was also spotted out in Montecito, enjoying a casual dinner with “Father of the Bride” actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley. The sighting further fueled criticism, with some suggesting that the couple’s public appearances and announcements are strategically planned to draw attention away from other royal events.
Despite the backlash, the Invictus Games announcement was a significant moment for Prince Harry. He expressed gratitude to Dominic Reid, the former CEO of the Invictus Games, for his decade-long dedication to the organization.
“Ten years on from the inception of the Invictus Games, we proudly stand as a community of 23 nations spanning every continent, fulfilling our mission of saving and changing lives,” Harry said. “I am immensely grateful to my friend Dominic, whose dedication and leadership transformed the Invictus Games from an ambitious idea to an internationally recognized movement.”
Reid, who will continue to be involved with the organization, shared his thoughts on stepping down from his role. “Once a member of the Invictus family, you never leave,” he noted. “I have delivered the 10-year vision I set out, which includes the introduction of winter sport which is close to my heart as a former biathlete.”
