Prince Harry will return to Britain in just a few days for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games in his first visit since Kate Middleton revealed her cancer diagnosis.
A spokesperson for Invictus Games confirmed that the Duke of Sussex will attend the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday 8 May.
Actor Damian Lewis is expected to recite the poem Invictus at St Paul’s to mark the anniversary of the games for wounded servicemen and women.
A statement posted on Invictus Games’ social media read: “The Invictus Games Foundation will celebrate 10 years of changing and saving lives with a ‘Thanksgiving Service’ at St Paul’s Cathedral on May 8.
“We will be joined by our patron, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, actor Damian Lewis and members of the global Invictus community to mark the occasion.”
However, there is no mention of Meghan Markle. Since the event is just two days after her son Archie turns five, she will likely stay home.
The couple lives in Montecito, California with their two children, Archie, four, and Princess Lilibet, two.
The visit is the first time the Duke of Sussex has visited the UK since his last 26-hour trip in February, after his father King Charles announced his cancer diagnosis.
It is unclear whether the prince is planning a visit to his sister-in-law, who recently revealed that she is undergoing cancer treatment.
Prince Harry will return to Britain in just a few days for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, but he will likely come alone while Meghan stays in Montecito.
Prince Harry and Meghan on the fourth day of the Invictus Games 2023 at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany
It is unclear whether the prince plans to visit his sister-in-law Kate Middleton, who recently revealed that she is undergoing cancer treatment.
A statement published on the Invictus Games social networks confirmed the prince’s attendance
Harry and Meghan attended a preview event for the games in the United States last year.
The Prince, 39, opened the games in March 2014 at London’s Copper Box stadium and will return to the UK after the Government launched a £26 million bid to host the event.
This comes after the Duke of Sussex lost a High Court appeal against the Home Office over a decision to downgrade his taxpayer-funded personal security when visiting Britain.
Harry took legal action over the move by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) after he was told he would no longer receive the “same degree” of publicly funded protection when in the UK, which would include any Visits related to Invictus Games.
Last month, Harry was in Canada for Vancouver Whistler 2025’s One Year to Go celebrations, which aimed to raise awareness of the Invictus 2025 Games, which will take place between February 8 and 16 next year.
While in Canada, the Duke of Sussex spoke with Good Morning America reporter Will Reeve about King Charles’ shocking cancer diagnosis, his life with his family in California, and his thoughts on becoming a U.S. citizen.
The Duke of Sussex and Michael Bublé curling on the final day of the event One year before the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 on February 16, 2024
Harry and Meghan attend the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistlers 2025 One Year To Go Winter Training Camp on February 15
The Duke of Sussex revealed he was “grateful” to have seen his father Charles III in person during a brief 24-hour visit to the UK and hopes the diagnosis can have a “reunifying effect” on the Royal Family.
The royals will need to take a stance on whether they support the event, which they did at the first games in 2014, when then-Prince Charles, Camilla and Prince William appeared alongside Harry for the opening ceremony.
But at the time, he was a full-time working royal, and tensions and disputes were not aired in public.
Since 2014, the Invictus Games have become a popular global sports competition in which 22 countries and more than 500 athletes have participated.
It’s an incredibly important job for Prince Harry and one of his last remaining legacies from when he was a full-time working royal, and one he’s very proud of. Gaming also allows you to reconnect with other military veterans.
Earlier this month, Prince Harry updated his records in this country to make clear that he no longer lives in Britain.
Documents published today by Companies House for ‘Prince Henry Charles Albert David Duke of Sussex’ record that his ‘new habitually resident country/state’ is now the United States. It was previously registered as United Kingdom.
The move raises questions over whether the prince will stay at Frogmore Cottage during the games after the King asked him and his family to leave.
It comes shortly after it emerged that doctors had given the King permission to return to public duties after he was diagnosed with cancer.
Her Majesty is not yet free of the disease and is still undergoing treatment, but her medical team is understood to be “pleased with the progress made so far” and “remains positive” about her recovery.
King Charles greets Kate during an event at the Royal Albert Hall in September 2021. The king’s offer praised the princess’s “courage” following her announcement.
To mark the good news, Buckingham Palace has also announced two major events, the first of many to be held in the coming months, and has thanked Their Majesties for all the well wishes they have received.
Kate and Charles are known to have formed a strong bond in the 13 years since her marriage to her son, Prince William, when she was welcomed into the Royal Family.
And this relationship is said to have been “cemented” because both royals underwent operations at the same time in January.
Kate referred to “all those whose lives have been affected by cancer” in her public video message, adding: “You are not alone.” And this has also been seen as a clear nod to Charles.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are understood to have contacted the Prince and Princess of Wales “privately” after Kate announced her cancer diagnosis.
They also issued a statement to Harper’s Bazaar magazine, saying, “We wish health and healing for Kate and her family.”
In her statement, the Princess of Wales revealed that she had been diagnosed with cancer following “planned abdominal surgery” in January.
She said she had delayed making any public announcement so she and her husband, Prince William, could tell their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
His statement came amid growing speculation about the princess’s whereabouts in the months following her surgery.