No senior royals will attend the Invictus anniversary service on May 8th

Prince Harry’s confirmation that he will attend the Invictus anniversary service on May 8th was welcome news for the British tabloids. They were fully prepared to spend the next week screaming about how Harry’s family will snub him and Prince William “refuses” to meet with him and Charles will “refuse” to allow Harry stay on royal property. But those same tabloids were struck dumb when the Nigerian government confirmed that they invited the Sussexes to basically come and tour the country on behalf of Invictus. The Windsors and their media handlers thought they could run the same old operation on the Sussexes, about how Harry and Meghan are “out in the cold” and “nothing without the Windsors.” But as always, the Windsors look petty, small and closed-off from the world. Speaking of, no one from the family will attend the Invictus service at St. Paul’s Cathedral on May 8th. Bookmark this for every time the Windsors claim to support veterans or when they claim ownership of Invictus.

No senior members of the Royal Family are expected to join Prince Harry for the Invictus Games event in the UK. The Duke of Sussex, 39, will fly to Britain in just over a week for the first time since the Princess of Wales revealed her cancer diagnosis.

The Sussexes’ office nor Buckingham Palace have confirmed any plans for Harry to meet with either his brother Prince William, sister-in-law Princess Kate, or his father King Charles.

He will give a reading at St Paul’s Cathedral, London, on May 8 to mark the games’ tenth anniversary, but no mention has been made of the attendance of any senior royal or his wife Meghan Markle, 42, and their two children – Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

It is thought Harry will stay in a hotel during his stay in the UK – as he done on his previous recent visits – before days later jetting off to Nigeria to join Meghan.

[From The Daily Mail]

I genuinely hope Harry isn’t even in the UK long enough to need a hotel. Like, fly to Ireland and then just take a flight to London that morning and fly out the same day. As for “no senior royals” – the Windsors are just so bad at this. It would have been the easiest thing in the world for Charles to simply assign someone to go to this service in his place. Princess Anne, or Prince Edward or even the York princesses could go. Charles could make a big deal about how much he supports the Invictus Games and how he’s so proud of Harry for creating them. None of them can do or say that though, because they’re just seething with jealousy and rage. Can’t wait for Kensington Palace to brief everyone about how much William hates his brother AND Harry should have checked in on Kate.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Instar, Cover Images.

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98 Responses to “No senior royals will attend the Invictus anniversary service on May 8th”

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  1. rosa mwemaid says:

    If the King or William do not attend it will make them look bad, as if they don’t care about our wounded soldiers,

    • Tessa says:

      William and Charles already look bad

      • Lau says:

        Now they look even more despicable.

      • Where'sMyTiara says:

        Look on the bright side: the trash took itself out.

        I’m still worried for H – in country.

      • Tara says:

        They do. And it also feels as if they let it known, that without them there Harry is released for shooting. Do you say it like this? I translated it from a German saying. And as always, let’s trust Harry and Meghan in their choices and awareness.

    • Jais says:

      They’ve refused to acknowledge the veterans participating in the last two IG. That ship sailed a long time ago. This is just more of the same and nothing new.

    • SussexWatcher says:

      Rosa – they DON’T care about wounded soldiers and veterans. They don’t care so hard that they can’t even fake caring. They don’t care so hard that they’ll ignore them just to try to stick it to Harry.

      • HeatherC says:

        They’re probably grateful to Harry. Because they want to snub Harry they don’t have to pretend to care about wounded soldiers and veterans.

    • StillDouchesOfCambridge says:

      we should stop giving them ideas of how to look less despicable, petty and incompetent or give them really GREAT ideas that they could NEVER do and see if that works.

    • Jane says:

      I’m glad — they are petty and full of their toxic negative feelings about Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan #abolishthemonarchy

    • This is an insult beyond all comprehension.
      Is Charles being manipulated by William?

  2. Tessa says:

    I hope spencers attend

    • Em says:

      That will be wonderful as well as Harry’s friends

    • StillDouchesOfCambridge says:

      That would be GREAT

    • Hypocrisy says:

      I would love that for him.. I wish any of his relatives would stand up for him publicly because what his father, brother and their spouses have put him and his family through it’s sadistic and cruel.

    • Surly Gale says:

      Oh, me too. I really hope some Spencers show up. I really, really do.

  3. Concern Fae says:

    Fools.

  4. sevenblue says:

    No worries, they are probably gonna go to a podcast and talk about how much Kate loves swimming in the dark, which isn’t weird at all and certainly not about grabbing headlines.

    Also, are they even invited?

  5. seaflower says:

    And yet the snr royals give themselves all these fancy military titles and medals.

  6. lanne says:

    It always astounds me how terribly inept the royal comms people are. It would have taken so little to give support to the Sussexes and “look royal.”

    For as little as 3 phone calls to tabloids “Ease off Meghan”

    four official responses: “shame on you tabloids, we support Meghan and Harry” after the most egregious claims (crying story, Archie chimpanzee, assault Meghan in the street, and choose 1 other)

    10 texts of support (events, birthdays, holidays)

    4 solidarity appearances.

    That’s it. Do that over 7 years and Harry and Meghan are still there, working on behalf of the RF. I’m glad the royals are that stupid: Meghan’s behind the scenese life was likely horrific, and with minimal support, Harry might have been slower to notice all that was going on. The royals can’t even play Iago competently. If the goal was to get rid of Meghan and keep Harry, all they had to do was pretend to support her until she got fed up and left.

    That they weren’t willing to do even the tiniest things to support Harry, who they supposedly loved and relied upon, is astonishing. I have realized how thin the veneer of hospitality is over the base of pure racism even among the poshest of people. Idealistic me used to think the veneer was at least an inch deep. Now I know it’s about a micron, easily scraped off with a swipe of the thumb.

    • Nick G says:

      @Lanne: this is exactly right. Friends and I have learned this since 2016 when the veil was lifted from our eyes. The world’s a different place for me now.

    • aftershocks says:

      No, I do not think it would have been that simple @Lanne. That’s why such cease and desist phone calls to the BM never happened. British systemic racism cannot be overcome in the blink of an eye, eh. What happened to H&M in the U.K. and within the toxic BRF is about jealousy; hierarchy; patriarchy; racism; BM silent contract; classism; snobbery; Heir vs Spare; Charles’ weaknesses & Camzilla’s ambitions; delusions of Empire; fictional narratives of royal duty; and English rose expectations for Harry; along with Will’s need to cover up his ‘Rose affair,’ etc. 👀 😱 😳

      With all of this toxic ick in the mix, nope, phone calls to the media to layoff smearing Meghan were never going to happen. The Queen, at her age and on her way out, did the best she could to publicly signal her respect for Meghan. But many observers assigned to the increasingly ill and courtier-managed Queen much more power and independent ability to flout the royal way of doing things than she actually possessed, particularly circa 2017 forward with the overthrow of Sir Christopher Geidt and the retirement of stoic, yet ailing Prince Philip.

      • kirk says:

        I think @aftershocks read on this topic is totally spot on.
        BRFCo & Assoc did not do “support” functions in the case of H&M. They never intended any H&M “support” functions. Part of that is the design of the system, but it is reinforced by the egotism and paranoia of the principals, not to mention the backstabby connivery of CamelaConsort and the currently MIA consort-in-training.

        Recall Harry’s words in Spare (p 318): “British press slammed Meg for wearing ripped jeans. No one mentioned that everything she wore, down to the flats and button-down shirt had been pre-approved by the Palace. And by ‘no-one,’ I meant not anyone at the Palace.”

        Expressing regret and sadness over the treatment of H-M by BRFCo & Assoc is appropriate. Expressing regret and sadness over the loss of H-M’s utility to BRFCo and the empire is ridiculous.

      • aftershocks says:

        ^^ Exactly @Kirk! 💯 🫡

        It can be difficult, but it’s very important to separate out our complicated emotions regarding the fact that we know H&M provided great service to the monarchy, and that they could have truly benefited the Commonwealth countries in myriad ways as royal representatives. H&M excel at giving back and caring about others. They were a great asset to the U.K. and to the monarchy. But there were too many obstacles lodged against them being able to survive and thrive within that ancient institution. They showed what they were capable of positively creating and achieving together within the institution, but as a couple, they were brutally rejected.

        No matter who Harry married, he and any spouse would have faced problems. With Meghan, there was never a chance for all the reasons outlined, and more. Thus, bottom line, everything has happened the way it was bound and fated to happen. We need to understand and accept this reality.

  7. girl_ninja says:

    Lolo…there are no senior royals of any substance. Charles and Will have proven that.

  8. s808 says:

    That’s fine. I’m glad their lack of support is well documented.

  9. Brassy Rebel says:

    Since they can’t have IG as one of their “patronages”, they clearly want nothing to do with it. As far as they’re concerned, it doesn’t exist. Which begs the question, if GB gets the Games, are the left behind royals going to continue to ignore it? 🤔

    I also wonder if the reason Harry is coming in person on the eighth is because no other royals will be there.

    • windyriver says:

      The UK IG games team is selected and fielded by the Royal British Legion, a major British charity helping provide support for veterans and their families. Their Poppy Factory (whose employees include disabled veterans) makes those wreaths that we see placed by the royals at significant memorials – remember when the RF refused to allow the wreath made for Harry to be officially placed anywhere? TQ was patron of the RBL for her entire reign.

      Charles has not only declined to take over that patronage, but there was zero message of support from the RF for the country’s own IG team going to Dusseldorf last year. The opportunity is there for KC and the RF to get some IG shine for themselves, even if the organization isn’t under their control. But I guess it’s more important to demonstrate their absolute disdain for anything done by Harry than for the CIC of the Armed Forces to show support for his country’s veterans. Pathetic doesn’t even begin to cover it. If I were a royal, I’d hesitate to show up, because they rich deserve to be booed.

    • Amy Bee says:

      Harry’s going on the 8th because he’s the founder of the Invictus Games. Plus Harry told us that William was against starting the games in the first place and that he had to go behind William’s back to get the Royal Foundation board to approve it.

      • wolfmamma says:

        Most interesting is that the UK is contending for the Invictus Games that their Royals and the tabloids choose to very publicly not support !

  10. equality says:

    Anne and Ed aren’t vets. Why would either be needed? KC could make himself look good by going, but he’s not really needed either. Who says any of them were invited anyway?

    • Becks1 says:

      I saw this headline and I thought of the scene from Sleeping Beauty, when Maleficent appears at the betrothal/christening of Aurora and says something about not getting her invitation and Merriweather is like “YOU WEREN’T WANTED.”

      The senior royals AREN’T WANTED.

  11. Kristen from MA says:

    Eh, who needs ‘em? Good King Harry will be there.

  12. NemesisPuff says:

    I mean, for all we know Harry could have only agreed to attend if it DIDN’T include any royals. Seems like the way they got him was by bringing in veterans and friends—how could Harry “snub” them? And then Harry said, fine, but I’ll only go if the focus is ONLY on veterans and Invictus, and NO national pride victory pounding aka BRF drama and bullshart.

    • Amy Bee says:

      The royals have no involvement in Invictus so why would they be invited anyway?

      • JT says:

        Exactly. IG does not need a bunch of royals peacocking around with their fake medals. IG is successful and will continue to be because of Harry. The royals’ presence is not needed and they are too much of a distraction anyway.

      • Eurydice says:

        I don’t think one has to invite the King; the King invites himself. If Charles doesn’t go it’s because he doesn’t want to, not because he wasn’t invited.

  13. Hypocrisy says:

    While I doubt that any of the left overs would have been turned away, do you truly believe any of them were invited? I really don’t think so, but maybe that’s because if it was me I would make sure they weren’t.

  14. Jais says:

    Love how they’re so certain no members of the RF will attend. I’d laugh if Eugenie just randomly showed up. Isn’t one of Margaret’s grandsons in the military? What if he showed up lol. At the same time, I can see Charles inviting every single RF member and distant cousin to a garden party on may 8th. Bc that’s the Windsor brand of childish pettiness. Not saying any family members will show up to the ceremony but the press is also just riffing. Obv, Charles William Kate and Camilla will not but the family is much bigger than those 4.

    • Amy Bee says:

      None of the Windsors are going to turn up to this. They don’t want to be ostracised by the family.

  15. SussexWatcher says:

    The jealousy and insecurity of Chuckles and his workshy heir knows no bounds. My goodness! And they’re only hurting themselves because they just look soooo petty and pathetic! Shunning veterans to stick it to your (veteran) son is not a good look. Nice king ya’ got there, England.

  16. Harper says:

    Harry is a senior royal, despite his family throwing temper tantrums and trying to pretend he is not. There are only two sons of the King–Harry and the other brother.

    • Blithe says:

      Yup. Harry IS a senior royal — even if he’s not currently a “working” senior royal. His presence and support as founder of the Games will be enough. A week or so of manufactured “will they/won’t they” cross paths while Harry is in the UK stories is how these sad sad tabloids plan to pay for their keep.

      The working royals are making themselves look worse by their lack of support for veterans, their reliance on “snubbing” Harry and Meghan and their two small children, and their overall insistence on being out of touch with the people who pay their bills. Eh. Same old boring crusty resentful same old. I’m really looking forward to seeing the contrast between these people not realizing that their “snubs” don’t matter enough to have much value, and the rich warm welcome that Harry and Meghan will surely be celebrated with during their travels in Nigeria.

    • Lauren says:

      That was my first thought as well

  17. Serena says:

    Honestly, I’m glad no senior royals are attending since it just further shows how petty and stupid they are (and Harry well certainly be able to enjoy himself more without that dead weight).

    • Libra says:

      I know Mike Tindal is far removed from even being minor royal, but it would be a slap in the face to have him spontaneously show up. Wouldn’t put it past them.

      • Jais says:

        Doubtful anyone guest can just spontaneously show up. Security will be tight. If Zara and Mike show up, it would have been planned beforehand. That said, I fully expect to see them with Charles or William on that day or around that day.

      • Laura D says:

        [S] Given that the RR and the de-rangers are continuously touting the Tindals as “ideal” replacements for Harry then maybe they should show up! If they can turn up for some “Lookatme” carol service then as the “ideal” replacements then they ought to turn up for this. If they choose to avoid this ceremony then I don’t want to read/hear another word about them replacing Harry. [/S]

  18. Mel says:

    I wouldn’t be surprised if none of them were invited and part of his deal to go is that they didn’t. The Rota would never admit that .

  19. Faye says:

    It’s good for them not to attend, faking a positive relationship with Harry really does nothing. The Windsors would only use it when they’re in trouble to say “look, we’re not the ones with an issue!’. It would be another thing to continue bashing Meghan with as well. This is a public fallout not a private one only where you can appear in public together and pretend you get on.

  20. Kelly says:

    Omg at a certain point this has all become nonsense. Harry genuinely cares about Kate, he should stuff all this dysfunctional family rubbish and go check on her. He would be the only one to show legitimate concern for her. He also has two nephews and a niece that love him, and they probably could use his support about now.

    • Tessa says:

      Kate is harry s sister in law. She treated Meghan horribly. Why would he check on her. She let a lie about Meghan stay in the media. Kate is being taken care of. She and harry were not close. Harry s and Meghan s children were snubbed by Kate

    • Mimi says:

      Kate has a husband who should support her, and you should be exhorting him to step up. There is no evidence that Harry has any particular care or concern for Kate other than that which any decent human being would have for any living thing (which we don’t know that Kate is).

    • Faye says:

      Hmmm, the abuse of his wife, kids and even himself is nonsense?? If he hardly communicates with his brother how could he even have a relationship with his brother’s children?? He was hardly close to this woman years ago when they lived on the same island, I’m sure the years of animosity towards his wife has completely ruined his opinion of her.

    • equality says:

      So you would go uninvited and unwanted to visit someone else’s children? Someone with security and personnel who would turn you away? Harry had to make an appointment and deal with courtiers to visit his own grandmother, who supposedly loved him in return. Supposedly also, H&M were not informed about anything going on with W&K. How would he even know where to visit? If something terrible really has happened, he is better off far away, so as not to be blamed.

    • Joanne says:

      Why would you think Harry genuinely cares about a rude woman who lied about his wife, publicly snubbed her and ignored his children? Which of those actions would cause Harry to care about her? It was always pushed that they were close and Harry publicly refuted that in his book “Spare”. They were never friends, never close and never spent time together except for official engagements. Harry is always a gentleman and would acknowledge and assist Kate when William was ignoring her. Harry has no need to check on Kate. They are not friends.

    • WiththeAmerican says:

      Harry himself wrote he wasn’t close to Kate and in the last public events he refused to even make eye contact with the woman who bullied his pregnant wife.

      Harry does not care about Kate more than he cares about any human being. She is just a colleague he barely knew. She never had him over to their huge KP home or any other home.

      They. Are. Not. Close. He. Is. Not. Married. To. Kate.

      This KP Ma Middleton talking point is giving Kate stalker.

    • Amy Bee says:

      I think you need to read Harry’s book. It tells you what kind of relationship he had with Kate even before Meghan came on the scene.

    • Jais says:

      Harry has made zero eye contact with Kate the last two times they were seen together in public. I’m sure he wishes her a healthy recovery but anything more than that is just a made-up narrative from the tabloids and the Middletons. Like the man walked right next to her at the funeral and refused to look at her. He pointedly did not look at her.

      • WiththeAmerican says:

        Sorry this is OT but I just saw your reply from yesterday in the debate about Wales marriage changing in public in last few years and just wanted to acknowledge good points, I appreciate the discussion!

      • Jais says:

        Thx ☺️!

    • MrsCope says:

      The RF is not a family. It’s funny how confusing a concept that is for people. In PR we use the word family to mean a grouping of brands, programs, products, etc. If they were a family, don’t you think some of the “stepping up” all the royals have done would have also meant stepping in to take care of each other? Edward and Sophie could visit with Kate, have tea and crumpets while Will goes to work and fulfills his duty. For such a big, amazing family they sure act like a bunch of tiny, rich, islands. Anyone who is spouting “Harry should just…” followed by an action he should take to mend the rift, has bought into the narrative that the RF is the North Star and the moral center of this “saga.” The RF is not a family. Forgiveness does not equal reconciliation, Harry quit a job and corrected published inaccuracies that were about his life and interaction with his co-workers. Diana’s “boys” are now men and we’re not close and people who are more mad about someone saying what happened to them than mad it happened, that says more about them than the victims. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

    • Harper says:

      Don’t you mean you want Harry to go check on Kate and then issue a press statement telling us what is going on? Because for all we know, he may check on her regularly. He may know exactly what is wrong with her. The thing is, we don’t know. It feels like you want Harry to speak out on Kate’s condition and then, IDK, stop his public service in honor of her because of protocol? Or rank? Her status as a mother?

      • Tessa says:

        Harry is not her husband nor even an ex. He has his own family now. He would not be checking up on her.

    • Underhill says:

      Seriously. He can’t do this. He won’t do this. It ain’t happening.

      But can you imagine the Gutter Press articles if he did? The RR would all have a stroke, they’d be so excited. The hyperbole would be flabbergasting.

    • Eurydice says:

      OK, let’s suppose Harry does care about Kate. Both William and Kate have been reported to say they hate Harry and Meghan, that they can’t forgive them, that H&M make them uncomfortable, that they never want to see them again. Assuming that’s all true, why would any decent human being go where he’d be causing pain? This isn’t logical.

    • J says:

      @Kelly, Hi Angela. Please enjoy your retirement as the Queen’s dresser and keep mum instead of wading into hysterical fantasies.

    • Saucy&Sassy says:

      Kelly, spend a little time watching Harry when he (and Meghan) have been in the public with WanK. Harry doesn’t make eye contact with Bone Idle at all. Then go back and watch Bone Idle when she’s in public with H&M. What you see is that Bone Idle is aggressive toward Meghan.

      That all happened in public. You want to get a different narrative going? I suggest X (Twitter).

  21. WiththeAmerican says:

    The KP bots never stop. Anyway, I guess service isn’t universal after all. Only non-working royals do it.

  22. Amy Bee says:

    I’m glad none of the royals are going. It’s been clear for long time now that the Royal Family doesn’t care about the military and just use it to boost public support and their image. Plus they stopped acknowledging the Invictus Games the minute Harry announced that he was stepping back so why pretend that they care about it now?

  23. aquarius64 says:

    Current and future CIC not attending the Invictus memorial service. Exhibit 13A for why IG 2027 should go to the UK.

  24. Julie says:

    Since they never were really involved with the IG, I don’t believe they were invited.

  25. Renae says:

    I’m confused on why there is this church service at all!
    Not all IG members/staff are ‘Christian’. So, wouldn’t something like this be more properly held in a nondenominational setting?….plus, I don’t know of any other international sporting event that has a *prayer service* .
    Sounds more like this was an event made of whole cloth by the tabs and Harry took the bait.

    • Jais says:

      So no lie, I’m also baffled by the church service aspect. I’m assuming it’s going to be a nondenominational service? But either way, it’s weird to me. Maybe not to others in the uk idk? As for Harry, he’s honoring his ties to the place where it all started. But I do agree that something other than a church service would have been nice. A reception where people can get together and talk. Maybe there will be one after the formal ceremony?

  26. Lisa says:

    At least it is a easy decision not to hold the IG there! I’m sure that this will take them out of the equation! LMAO

  27. Jaded says:

    The irony is not lost on me that Charles is the Commander-in-Chief of the British military. And yet neither he nor his gormless twit of a son will show up for such an important event honouring the veterans of the very military he heads up. Sure they wear their faux-dictator uniforms and dozens of fakakta medals that are meaningless, but do they actually DO something for their veterans who were injured fighting for king and country? No…they can’t even be arsed to show up at a church service. It really makes me sick.

  28. Mary Pester says:

    Dear UK Royals.
    We must start by thanking you for not attending the church service to honour YOUR veterans, and the veterans from other countries. We must also thank you for not supporting, in any way, shape or form the last games.
    The actions you have (nt) taken and the words you have(nt) spoken have solidified our decision to NOT have the UK host our next games.
    On a final note, given your lack of support for your veterans,and your future veterans who are at present serving personnel, you should note that if, at any time in the future the UK is invaded, you must take the following steps, go to a quiet part of your palaces, stand with your back facing the mirror, now, BEND OVER AND KISS YOUR ARSES GOODBYE, because WE will show you, the same courtesy you have shown us.
    Signed, the combined heads of the British forces, invictus oh and our patron prince harry.

    • Saucy&Sassy says:

      Mary Pester, I don’t get it–I truly don’t. What about Anne’s husband–wasn’t he military? At least he would make sense. Shame on ALL of them.

    • Renae says:

      Bless you Mary Pester!

    • Patricia says:

      @MaryPester, oh, Mary that is perfectly written. So clear, so concise, so perfectly calling those morons out, but best of all, to bend over an kiss your arrses goodbye. I nearly choked on my drink. Those people are so stupid they make my teeth ache. And as long as the service personally are there, I think Harry is safe. Thank you.

      Best of all it is so good to hear from you, we were worried. You are a ray of sunshine and an amazingly sane voice in the RF FUBAR. Take very good care of yourself.

  29. Phlyfiremama says:

    What if…now hear me out…none of the senior royals were even INVITED?? IG knows what to expect from them~exactly nothing~ and decided to simply disinclude them could be a real possibility, right?!

  30. Debbie says:

    Whenever these people preemptively refuse a non-existent invitation, I always think to myself, “Were you invited?”

  31. Saucy&Sassy says:

    Would the King need to be invited? I’d think if KFC wanted to go then he would, or he could appoint someone in his stead.

  32. Over it says:

    You give your life and limbs for crown and country but those Windsors say a big f you to you . Why ? Because my petty grudges against Harry is greater than your sacrifice for us and the country.
    Chuck and company are shit .

  33. JJ says:

    No senior royals are attending and I hope that Mike Tindall stays away too. Imagine talking bad about Harry and then there are rumors that you want to take Invictus from him. It’s giving Single White Female energy.

  34. Lulu says:

    I know the tabloids make up rules that pertain only to Harry and Meghan, but I thought Harry is a senior royal but not a ‘working royal’. Doesn’t senior just denote where you are in the line of succession? So, Harry is still more senior than Anne and Edward I believe. As for Tindall’s, neither are royal nor have a military background, so why would the royal family involve them?

  35. Isabella says:

    I wonder which politicians will show up. If they hope to land the games, they need to up their game. But I can’t imagine Invictus would choose a country where Meghan and Harry and their kids aren’t welcome or safe.

  36. Fig says:

    The RF is so bad at this. Send Edward or Sophie to this at least, not because they deserve to be there but because it shows even a modicum of respect