Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are preparing to visit the UK in May. The couple is set to attend a church service at St. Paul’s Cathedral, meant to commemorate the Invictus Games’ 10th anniversary.
It has been unclear if Prince Harry, who is the Invictus Games’ patron, will take his family with him to London. However, insider sources indicate he will be in the company of his wife, Meghan Markle.
What nobody seems to know is if the couple will take their two children with them on this UK visit. It is worth noting that the birthday of Prince Harry’s first-born son, Archie, falls on 6th April. This is only a couple of days to the Invictus Games’ celebration day.
Prince Harry’s Travel Details
London is slightly more than 10 flight hours from Los Angeles. Nevertheless, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are yet to disclose how early they intend to leave the US for the UK mission.
Some source indicates the duke is planning to leave California for London on May 7th, one day before the service at St. Paul’s. While in the UK, the source says, Harry will stay at an undisclosed place, but very likely, in the company of some relatives.
Harry’s Relationship with Royal Family Still Strained
Prince Harry and Meghan, who have made the US their home, last visited the UK in 2022. The reason for the visit was to attend the funeral of Harry’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth.
At the time, the tension between the couple and the rest of the Royals, especially Prince William and his wife, Kate, was palpable. This time, it is thought that Harry might wish to speak with his father and brother, and probably reduce the tension.
Under different circumstances, the Sussexes may have wished to spend more time with the Royals, and even celebrate Archie’s 5th birthday with them.
However, the Duchess is worried about the safety of her children in the UK. It is an open secret that she feels unwanted in Buckingham palace, even as the Royals and their minders find her aloof.
Harry’s Involvement in the Invictus games
The Invictus Games constitute a sports event that Prince Harry helped establish, which involve injured or ill veterans from different parts of the world.
The word “Invictus” was adopted from Latin, where its meaning is “unconquered”. The games are meant to get the minds of the servicemen and women away from their worries, and to give them hope.
The inaugural Invictus Games took place in 2014, and the venue was London. Different cities of the world have since had the opportunity to host the games. The next city to play host after London was America’s Orlando in 2016, after which came Toronto in 2017.
Sydney, the Hague and Dusseldorf then followed in 2018, 2020 and 2023, respectively. Dusseldorf has the onus of hosting the games again this year, while the following Invictus sports event is scheduled for 2025 in Vancouver, Canada.
Harry’s Strained Relationship with the Royals
The strain between Harry and his brother began when Harry decided to step down from royalty. He and Markle have paid few visits to the UK since relocating to the US, and Markle does not particularly believe their children are safe in the UK.
It is also important to note that Harry’s previous security protocols are no longer in place. Therefore, observers are keen to see how the UK is going to handle the issue of his security. The public and the media will be keenly watching, especially as he goes to St. Paul’s for the Invictus service.