Invictus Games stay updates: Meghan Markle steals the present from Prince Harry with VERY energetic show after his refined nod to her in a poignant speech

The 2025 Invictus Games in the cities of Vancouver and Whistler, Canada, begin today, with an opening ceremony of two-and-a-half hours, starting at 9pm GMT.
The nine-day sporting event – created by Prince Harry in 2014 for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women – will see more than 500 competitors from 23 countries come together.
From today until February 16, athletes will compete in the games’ core sports – indoor rowing, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball.
But this year, the Games will also feature new winter sports: Alpine skiing and snowboard, Nordic skiing and biathlon, skeleton – a form of sledding – and wheelchair curling.
Coldplay‘s Chris Martin, Nelly Furtado and Katy Perry are all due to perform at the opening ceremony tonight in front of a sell-out crowd of 40,000 spectators.
And the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are also due to make an appearance together at the event.
Follow along for live updates on the opening ceremony.
Live updates below
What now for the Sussexes?
Katy Perry gives the opening ceremony an absolutely spectacular finale
‘You’re gonna hear me roar!’: Katy Perry explodes on to the stage in high-energy performance
‘Sometimes, you don’t survive whole, you just survive in part’: Prince ends his speech with quote from American writer Toni Morrison
‘Invictus didn’t save you. You saved yourself’: Harry’s big moment came with his speech praising the Games’ ‘spirit of unity’ – and including some words of Indigenous language
Pictured: Electric atmosphere in impressive aerial shots of BC Place stadium
Rising American popstar Noah Kahan performs for the opening ceremony
Whoops! Audio issues on Invictus Games livestream plague remote spectators
Harry chats with his wife as opening ceremony gets in full swing – and shares a smooch too
Meghan is all smiles in loved-up display with Prince Harry
Invictus Games flag enters the stadium in preparation for start of tournament
Coldplay’s Chris Martin makes an affectionate joke about Prince Harry onstage
Chris Martin’s Invictus Anthem is based on the poem the Games are named after
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin takes to the stage to sing Invictus Anthem
Premier of British Columbia: ‘I’ll tell you as a politician, it doesn’t matter what the politicians say’
Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado takes to the stage
Canada’s governor general gives an impassioned opening address
Meghan whips out the pompoms
Parade of national teams comes to a close
UK team enters the stadium to standing ovation from the Sussexes
Prince shows off his dance moves ahead of the Invictus Games
Harry and Meghan spotted watching on from the audience
National teams arrive to cheers from the stadium
Star-studded opening ceremony line-up personally chosen by Harry
What are the Invictus Games and when were they set up?
Meghan posts to Instagram story as pair meet sport stars
Exclusive:Prince Harry and Meghan Markle get set for a warm welcome as they arrive for the Invictus Games
Exclusive:Harry and Meghan arrived at their £5,000-a-night hotel by private jet
Meghan made impromptu speech at private Invictus Games event yesterday
Build-up to opening ceremony of Invictus Games 2025 begins