Prince Harry and Meghan Markle blame King Charles’ royal status letter for Uganda’s Invictus Games boycott
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly attributed Uganda’s withdrawal from the Invictus Games to King Charles’ recent clarification of their royal status. Uganda’s decision followed the palace’s letter stating that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are not working royals, despite their return to the U.K.
Letter linked to Uganda’s withdrawal
On September 9, Ugandan General Muhoozi Kainerugaba announced that Uganda would withdraw from the competition without the King’s approval. According to a source close to Harry, the Sussexes believe the timing of the palace announcement, issued by the Lord Chamberlain on September 7, influenced Uganda’s decision.
Commenting on Uganda’s withdrawal, the source told ITV News, “Intended or unintended, this is clearly a consequence of the Lord Chamberlain’s guidance regarding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that was rushed out without consultation on Monday. Sadly, the only people who will suffer are the Invictus Games competitors.”
Uganda walked away from the games
Kainerugaba, son of Uganda’s president, stated that Uganda had “withdrawn support” from the Invictus Games as tensions between the Sussexes and the monarchy persisted. Speaking to The Times, he said, “I have factions in the Ministry of Defense that support that Harry-Meghan nonsense… I had to quash it straight away. I support the monarch. Period.”
This development follows a recent event in London where Ugandan Defense Minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka appeared with Harry to celebrate the country’s entry into the games. At the Chatham House event in Central London, Kiwanuka praised Kainerugaba for “championing our team’s entry” into the competition.
The letter ‘surprised’ the Sussexes
Harry and Meghan reportedly stated they were not properly consulted before the palace issued its statement regarding their status in the Royal Family. In fact, Harry is said to have learned of the letter three minutes after it was released to the public.
However, the Daily Mail reported that palace sources gave a different account, stating the couple had been informed about the letter before its release. Nevertheless, the pair were reportedly “surprised” by the King’s unexpected clarification.
Sussexes set to continue U.K. public work
The Sun previously reported that Meghan plans to “rekindle” her involvement with U.K. charities following her return. She and Harry are also said to be developing a new “fair” structure for media coverage of their public engagements and charitable work.
The 2027 Invictus Games are scheduled to take place in Birmingham, running from July 10 to 17. Harry launched the games in 2014, and they have since been held seven times in locations around the world.