In about six weeks, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex might be in London for a very special Invictus Games anniversary service at St. Paul’s Cathedral. The service was announced, in a suspiciously roundabout way, back in February. It was packaged with the news that the British government has made a big, splashy bid to host another Invictus Games, this time in Birmingham. The first Invictus Games were held in London in 2014, and Veterans Affairs Minister Johnny Mercer is making a huge effort to bring the games back and use the games to invest more resources in British veterans. I’ve said before that while I believe Mercer’s motives are above-board, the whole “church service and Invictus bid” situation seems like a massive trap. The British government and British media are desperate for Sussex storylines and control, however fleeting, of Harry, Meghan and their children. This is all happening simultaneously as the British government has repeatedly refused to guarantee security for the Sussexes if and when they visit. Well, anyway, a date has been set for the anniversary service:
Prince Harry is set to speak at the Invictus Games 10th Anniversary Service to be held at St. Paul’s Cathedral on May 8. Express.co.uk has seen a copy of the official St. Paul’s Cathedral schedule with the Invictus Games event listed as taking place on Wednesday, May 8 at 5 pm. We have also learnt that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are listed as guests on the official running order and the Duke of Sussex is set to speak at the service.
“The dates and details are being kept very hush-hush, but the Invictus Games 10th Anniversary Service has now been confirmed at St. Paul’s Cathedral on May 8,” the source said. “Both Harry and Meghan are listed as guests and a speech has been scheduled, but there is still a question mark over whether Meghan will make an appearance. Her name has been pencilled in as a TBC (to be confirmed).”
The source adds that the 10th anniversary London service is being seen as a gentle push for Harry and Meghan to start weaving their way back into Britain’s consciousness.
“This event is being seen as a very important part of Harry and Meghan’s rehabilitation,” the source said. “It’s viewed as an important event that is almost on par with what a working royal would undertake. It’s a worthy cause where Harry is the key ambassador, and it will be a good starting point for the Sussexes to repair relations with the royal family and the British people at the same time.”
It was revealed last month that Harry was in talks to return to the UK for the service at St Paul’s Cathedral to mark a decade of the charity and that he very much hoped it would include Meghan and their two children, Prince Archie, four, and Princess Lilibet, two.
“The children’s attendance is still up in the air because they will only visit the UK if their mother [Meghan] decides to attend,” the source said. “Harry is hoping that they will join him so that they can all enjoy the service, and everyone can meet up with members of his family while they are over.”
If the Duchess of Sussex were to attend, it would be her first visit to the UK since Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022 and the children’s first since the Platinum Jubilee in the same year. The Sussexes’ children reportedly have next to no relationship with Harry’s family, so this could be a key visit.
“Charles and Camilla have very good relationships with their other grandchildren, and everyone is keen for them to have a stronger bond with Archie and Lily,” the source said. “Both Harry and Meghan are keen for the children to become closer with Harry’s family, but she’s very anxious about returning to England.”
The framing is giving me a panic attack and I’m not involved whatsoever. They’re really framing this as Harry and Meghan WANT to come in for the anniversary service, that they should feel grateful for the opportunity to be snubbed, maligned, harassed, abused and targeted again, because they must “repair relations” with their abusers and tormentors. This piece alone has convinced me that the anniversary service wasn’t even Harry’s idea and he’s probably only loosely confirmed his attendance – this is Mercer and the Tories trying to force him to visit. God knows the extent of the trap these people have set up. Anyway, hope Meghan and the kids stay far, far away. Harry too. It would be amazing if he canceled at the last minute.
Photos courtesy of Cover Images.