Date Prince Harry will return to the UK revealed – but Meghan Markle’s attendance in doubt
EXCLUSIVE: The Invictus Games 10th Anniversary Service has been confirmed at St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Express can exclusively reveal. 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).”
Harry, 39, launched the games back in March 2014 at the Copper Box arena in London to celebrate injured servicemen and women and is currently in “government-level talks” to see them being hosted in the UK again after the British government launched a £26million bid to host the games in Birmingham in 2027. 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 idea of Meghan returning to British soil may come as a surprise to some. It is claimed she once vowed she would “never step foot in England again”. However, Harry and Meghan may believe that the moment has come for a return, particularly in the midst of King Charles and the Princess of Wales’ cancer battles.
“Harry and Meghan are very keen to mend the relationship with his family, but they know that now might not be the right time, especially in light of Kate’s cancer announcement,” the source said. “They [the Sussexes] are happy to wait until the time is right before working on mending fences and building bridges. That means Meghan might have to sit this one out until the feeling among the public indicates that it is the right time to return.”
The source concludes that William and Kate are not scheduled to attend the Invictus Games service on May 8. Harry and Meghan’s spokesperson has been approached for comment.
