The decision is in about the location for the 2027 Invictus Games, and one of the two contenders, Washington, D.C., lost. Prince Harry and his team have decided on Birmingham, England, to mark the return of the athletic event to the U.K. for the first time in 10 years. Was this a strategic move for the Duke of Sussex in the wake of the royal family feud?
Well, he certainly didn’t allude to the rift in his official statement, via People, he only praised Birmingham for its “strong ties to the Armed Forces community” which “made it a formidable contender from the very start.” He continued, “Over the years, we’ve seen each city bring a unique spirit and vision to life for competitors, their families, and spectators. We have no doubt the people of Birmingham will join in celebrating the unwavering respect and admiration we have for our veteran and service community, showing the world how their courage ignites hope and unites us all — something your city knows well.”
The British government went all-out courting Prince Harry back in March when the Ministry of Defence Grant Shapps announced they were investing a huge sum to back their bid — and the palace had no say in the matter. “The Government has announced funding of up to £26million to back the UK’s bid to host the Invictus Games in 2027,” the official Ministry of Defence X account wrote. That financial investment amounts to over $33.5 million, just to secure the Invictus Games alone. There was no way Prince Harry was going to turn that down.
Now, the royal family is going to have to deal with almost three years of headlines about Harry coming home. The palace was already criticized for not sending at least one royal family member to the 10th-anniversary celebration in May. “This all seems very logical inside the Palace bubble, but the trouble is that people who don’t particularly care about such things, who are dimly aware that the royals spend their days visiting community centers and opening supermarkets, are going to wonder why they are boycotting this terrific charity that is headed by the king’s son,” a source told The Daily Beast.
Princess Diana’s family showed up to support Prince Harry instead, and it showed how lines are drawn in the sand when it comes to the ongoing family feud. Three years may seem like a long time, but royal watchers know that the battle has already been going on for four years after Harry’s exit with Meghan Markle. Hopefully, the two sides will be able to come together and celebrate another milestone with Harry’s successful Invictus Games.
Before you go, click here to see family feuds we can’t believe played out in public.
Leave a Comment