This is the calm before the storm – there’s so much happening this weekend, so this should be just an FYI for everything we’re going to cover in the coming days. Tonight, we have the Critics Choice Awards, which will be a pretty low-key event, and we’ll have some fashion coverage on Sunday. There are other awards shows this weekend too, notably the DGAs and PGAs, both held on Saturday in LA. Then we’ve got the Super Bowl on Sunday, and the Super Bowl tends to dominate all of the news for at least 24 hours. But also happening alongside all of that: the Invictus Games. The opening ceremony in Canada will be on Saturday as well. According to GB News, Prince Harry and Meghan are flying up to Canada today:
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to arrive in Vancouver today for the 2025 Invictus Games, making the nearly three hour journey from Santa Barbara via private chartered jet.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will check into a city centre hotel ahead of the international sporting event for injured and sick military veterans.
I’m honestly a little bit surprised they haven’t come even earlier – there are so many advance events, receptions and meetings happening around the games. I also hope Meghan is coming with Harry today and that she’ll be there for the whole Invictus games. In any case, we’ll obviously have lots of Invictus coverage too, especially if we get some good photos.
As I’ve been saying, all of the highly visible events over on Isla de la Saltines have been pretty obvious. I would assume that the Windsors have made so many plans and schemes for how they will try to “thunder-steal.” GB News did a separate story about how “senior royals will be hoping Harry’s attention stays firmly fixed on Canada and that the Duke of Sussex does not distract from the Royal Family’s brilliant start to 2025.” Meaning, the Windsors are focused on what’s happening in Canada and they’re going to throw themselves in front of every camera for the next week.
Last thing: Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer sent his best wishes to the British Invictus team. It would shock me if any of the Windsors even tweeted “good luck” to the veterans participating in the games.
Wishing the best of luck to Team UK ahead of the @InvictusGames25 on Saturday. https://t.co/Y95mfmKNq6
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) February 6, 2025
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Cover Images, Invictus.
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- Whistler, CANADA – Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, were seen engaging with attendees on the second day of the ‘One Year to Go’ event before the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025, held at Mountain Square in Whistler, Canada. The royal couple’s visit highlighted their continued support for the Invictus Games and its participants. Pictured: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle BACKGRID USA 15 FEBRUARY 2024 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Vancouver, CANADA – Prince Harry makes a surprise appearance without wife Meghan ahead of the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, Canada, played between the CFL sides (Canadian Football League) Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Toronto Argonauts. Harry walked onto the pitch briefly before kick off. He did not make a speech and got a hug from a well wisher as he walked off the field. The half-time show for the prestigious event was provided by The Jonas Brothers. Pictured: Prince Harry BACKGRID USA 17 NOVEMBER 2024 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the IG25 and Team Canada Reception at the Hilton Hotel during the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany. Featuring: Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex Where: Dusseldorf, Germany When: 15 Sep 2023 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the IG25 and Team Canada Reception at the Hilton Hotel during the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany. Featuring: Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex Where: Dusseldorf, Germany When: 15 Sep 2023 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the IG25 and Team Canada Reception at the Hilton Hotel during the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany. Featuring: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex Where: Dusseldorf, Germany When: 15 Sep 2023 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the IG25 and Team Canada Reception at the Hilton Hotel during the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany. Featuring: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex Where: Dusseldorf, Germany When: 15 Sep 2023 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex attending the One Year to Go Event before the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 at Mountain Square Featuring: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex Where: Whistler, Canada When: 14 Feb 2024 Credit: Dutch Press Photo/Cover Images **NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE NETHERLANDS OR FRANCE**
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- Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex attending the One Year to Go Event before the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 at Mountain Square Featuring: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex Where: Whistler, Canada When: 14 Feb 2024 Credit: Dutch Press Photo/Cover Images **NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE NETHERLANDS OR FRANCE**
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- Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex with Michael Buble and his wife Luisana Lopilato attending the final day of the One Year to Go Event before the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 and go curling at the Vancouver Curling Club at Hillcrest Community Centre Featuring: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex with Michael Buble and his wife Luisana Lopilato Where: Vancouver, Canada When: 16 Feb 2024 Credit: Dutch Press Photo/Cover Images **NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE NETHERLANDS OR FRANCE**
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- Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attending the final day of the One Year to Go Event before the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 and go curling at the Vancouver Curling Club at Hillcrest Community Centre Featuring: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex Where: Vancouver, Canada When: 16 Feb 2024 Credit: Dutch Press Photo/Cover Images **NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE NETHERLANDS OR FRANCE**
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- Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attending the final day of the One Year to Go Event before the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 and go curling at the Vancouver Curling Club at Hillcrest Community Centre Featuring: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex Where: Vancouver, Canada When: 16 Feb 2024 Credit: Dutch Press Photo/Cover Images **NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE NETHERLANDS OR FRANCE**
The fact that the British government sent support only makes the BRF look worse for their silence. Seriously – a brief message encouraging the athletes is so obviously the right thing to do. Instead they just look petty and peevish.
Oh and I rolled my eyes at the GB News’ “senior royals say they hope a massive & beloved charity sports event that does wonders for mental health doesn’t overshadow the Windsors’ busy work and ribbon cutting” comment (my paraphrase!)
It doesn’t just make the RF look worse, it makes them look irrelevant. Every year, what they think matters less and less.
Both of you are absolutely right! It also makes them look incompetent in their incredibly low bar jobs. They are putting their family soap opera ahead of their duty as head of state/soft diplomacy agent/public servant or whatever they call themselves. Their propaganda machine keeps blasting how they dedicate their lives to service and they do not! I hope the international press, nato or british institutions will call them out.
The King is head of the armed forces, he should have sent a message wishing his soldiers, sailors and airmen/women luck.
Other than the first year that Harry started Invictus, have they EVER shown support, publicly or privately? The gnawing jealousy is an out of control monster now. Seriously, Harry and/or Meghan could find a cure for cancer and all you’d hear is crickets from the Left Behinds.
Well QEII did the year it was in Orlando – that’s when she made the video with Harry. I dont remember if anything was said on social media though; same with the Toronto year.
Wasn’t the first year the time that Kate felt the need to drive herself to the hospital and publicly announce that she was, like, six or eight weeks pregnant with the second kid LITERALLY the day IG opened?
Oh, no, looked it up and she announced on September 8th 2014, IG 2014 started September 10th. So two days before. Couldn’t POSSIBLY wait six days when IG was over, on the 14th.
How supportive.
No I doubt any Windsor will wish the British veterans good luck. What a shame. Taking it out on the veterans. Hope the games will be a big success like they always are for Invictus. Can’t wait for pictures of Harry and Meg doing their thing. As for the leftovers well they are leftovers and nobody really likes leftovers.
I’m wondering since they are only a 3 hour flight maybe they will bring Doria and the Kids. Meghan did say she would love to bring the kids someday and this would be much safer than taking them to the UK.
I hope that the aim of Starmer’s tweet was to shame the Windsors for their childish stupidity.
Recruiting officers should be up in arms about their silence. Anyone contemplating joining any of the services should be made aware of how they will be treated by the RF should they be injured during their time in the service of their king and country.
Charles is commander in chief and patron of RBL and won’t give good luck wishes to Team GB. The BRF got dragged a bit for no support for the Dusseldorf Games in 2023. The BM and BRF don’t want the public crying about that.
Charles is commander in chief of the Canadian military, Australian military and New Zealand military and his pettiness over his own son is making him look foolish. A general congratulatory tweets to all veterans who served in militaries under which he commands is required.
That’s fake news chuck is not the commander of the Canadian military
Complete fantasy. They will be staying in a center hotel. Complete speculation. I suspect the private plane thing is as well.
GB news, worse than the fail, if that is possible.
Why Charles & Wm don’t wish the UK & indiv Commonwealth teams is self-defeating & stupid branding. Reflected glory is better than none. Gracious warmth TOWARDS THE PARTICIPANTS ,hists& organizers inc his child is the boss move. They get such terrible advice.
The fact the BRF can’t stop being petty and self centered for even a moment to write well wishes to injured vets from their own country says it all. Very bad look for them, especially when they prance around in their military costumes all the time.
This!!!! All day long!!
A jar of jam could distract from the royals “brilliant start to 2025”.
Exactly, aside from Kate saying she was in remission I can’t think of one memorable thing they have done/said so far this year!
You’re forgetting the release of the Blair Witch photo. That was the most unhinged thing I’m likely to see in 2025 😂😂
I would love to see these games some day. Good luck to all the participants and thank you all for your service.
Aw, I’m excited. The opening ceremony is on Saturday! The whole thing is going to be epic. The beautiful location, the athletes, Meghan’s coats. Just realized they’re also going to be there during Valentine’s Day. Date night in Vancouver? The Windsors look soooooo bad for saying nothing. They’re the head of the military and even if they have issues with Harry the fact that they can’t even wish the athletes luck. That’s bad bad. There is no coming back from that level of nastiness, my god.
They had Harry’s birthday at the Düsseldorf IGs.
Remember the cakes, the whole arena singing Happy Birthday, and H&M dining at a brewery pub?
The RF are such a charisma vacuum, especially with that distracting from the brilliant start stuff. So they do know about IG, but couldn’t care less about British veterans. What a way to show how small-minded and butthurt they are.
Why don’t the BM worry about what they’re paying for? A helicopter being use as a car for a hour trip on the road.
They will have every airport and Hotel stake out, the Sussexes do cause these lazy heifers to earn their Kibble, when there are no leaks from KP or CH.
By the way IG do have a CEO, (old one is stepping down after these games) David Wise, and other top level staff, that can and do attend to business.
I know Trump would never do it. But since this is about military. I wish the government would give them a helicopter just like Williams to fly to wherever they need to be. Then I would like for William to complain about it. And then see what the backlash to him would be.
How would GB News know this? All they do is copy and paste make up stories from the tabloids. Starmer sending best wishes means the Royal Family is not going to say any thing about Invictus.
I love the part about “almost 3 hour journey,” like they’re climbing Mt. Everest or something. I suppose the tabloids are used to the RF being exhausted after a short hop in a helicopter.
Seriously. That’s the shortest flight they’ve had to Invictus in years. Hope everyone has a fantastic week!
The Invictus Games is such a busy time for Harry. It’s possible that he’s just getting there today, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s already there. We’ll have to wait to see if Meghan is there for all of it or if she’ll show up mid-week. I honestly doubt GB knows anything about where they are and how they got there.
They just haven’t seen them but they’ve probably done a lot of advance work and a lot of the team are probably already there.
Meghan and Harry all week?! Over under on how many pub visits they send Willy? Nothing like rage and hot beer to get you through your younger, more successful and happy brother living his best life with his best girl.
Rage and Hot Beer is a great band name!
I’m excited! It’s going to be a fun and busy week for the Sussexes.
Given how relatively busy W&K have been, I expect 2-3 events from each of them next week (a few weeks ago I would have said just for William but now I think both will be “busy.”) the royals are going to try to do everything they can to pull focus which just shows you how pathetic they are and how unimportant actual philanthropy is to them.
W&K are so zero-sum game, aren’t they?
The BAFTAs are coming up so it’s likely they are both attending this year.
It’s sad how they are only motivated by doing a one up of whatever Harry and Meghan do.
Yeah, because Harry only has to exist to “distract from the Royal Family’s brilliant start to 2025”. The bar is in hell for Harry to distract from this worthless lot.
Can’t wait! I hope Meghan comes for the entire time. She and Harry will be so chic in their winter finery and the athletes and crowds will adore them. Slumlord Willy and CopyKate will have big shoes to fill if they want to “steal focus”. She’ll be all jazz hands and freakish grinning, while tossing her wiglets. Slumlord Willy will be sporting his hideous facial hair, making cringey comments, and trying to play the distinguished statesman to his cronies on Salt Island.
Neither of them will be more glamorous, industrious, authentic, or empathetic than Harry and Meghan merely comfortably interacting with the wounded warriors and their families.
I love this for the Left Behinds. Keep crying and keep trying. Nobody does it better than H&M.
Maybe the Keens will show valentines day cards from the children to try to pull focus.
@Tessa, Without a doubt. We’ll soon hear how Louis lives for watercolor.
Countdown…3…2…1…
Don’t give them ideas. I bet they are reading here…
Meghan always looks so cute and chic in her winter gear and meanwhile I feel like a big puffy blob when I need to wear a winter coat and beanie lmao.
@Becks1, I feel ya. I always feel like a beached orca in those puffy winter coats! Duchess Meghan makes those coats look good.
LOL, same.
I can’t wait to see her boots. When se was there for the initial event she had some really fantastic ones.
Yes, BOOTS!
Reportedly is the key word. No definitive statement, just implying that Harry “uses private jets” which is a constant thing with bots.
No reason to believe GBNews report. H and M would never reveal where they are staying.
The British royals should be embarrassed to withhold support from veterans, but they have no shame, so …
I just cannot imagine being this petty.
Aren’t both Chris Martin and Katie Perry both appearing at the opening ceremony and don’t they both live in LA? Maybe Harry, Katie, and Chris will Airpool.
Looking forward to seeing the ceremonies and some of the games. Will they broadcast on YouTube? Or stream somewhere?
[ 2027 Summer Games are in UK (boo), but silver lining is that they won’t be in DC during our current shitshow ]
OMG, imagine if they chose DC instead. I didn’t like it at the time, but it was a wise decision to consider a Trump’s victory.
what we know publicly is that Harry and Meghan are blanking the family. If that’s the case I think it’s the one thing that is infuriating to William. For Harry to apparently carry on living his best life and not in any way acknowledge or look over his shoulder at William is such a sick burn. No wonder William looks terrible.