Prince Harry has seemingly suffered another blow after a Ugandan spokesperson announced the country would be pulling out of this year’s Invictus Games competition
Prince Harry has suffered what appears to be another major blow after a major country pulled out of the Invictus Games, Following the King’s seemingly unceremonious description of he and Meghan as “private citizens”.
Ugandan officials are fed up with the chaos caused by the Sussex’s return, and so have decided to step away from the event as in their view neither the Games, nor Harry himself, have the King’s “approval”.
The Invictus Games is an international sporting competition for wounded, injured and sick military personnel and veterans. Prince Harry founded the tournament in 2014 after seeing a similar event for US troops and remains its patron.
Uganda only joined the Invictus community in July, becoming its 26th member and the first east African nation to sign up. Its troops were due to make their debut at the eight-day Birmingham Games in July 2027, using sport to support their recovery and rehabilitation.
At the time, Ugandan Defence minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka credited President Museveni’s described the introduction of his country’s servicemen and women to the competition as marking “a new chapter”.
However, according to a Government spokesperson, Uganda will be leaving the games due to its connection to Prince Harry, as per a report by The Times.
In a post on X, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba wrote that, “In order not to be construed as being opposed to His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom, whom we deeply revere, Uganda hereby withdraws from the Invictus Games.”
“We shall not participate in anything that does not have His Majesty’s approval. I have factions in the Ministry of Defence that support that Harry-Meghan nonsense. I had to quash it straight away. I support the monarch. Period.”
The surprising drop out, which will no doubt be of huge disappointment to both Harry and tournament organisers, comes after a letter written on the King’s behalf described his son and daughter-in-law Meghan as “private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.”
According to the letter, which was written on behalf of the monarch by Lord Benyon, the Sussexes return to the UK will see them take up a role that is “distinct from the state and royal duties undertaken by the working royal family” and they will be afforded the “personal latitude . . . in respect of financial independence and protection of their privacy as they would wish”.
Meghan and Harry are said to be “surprised” by some of the contents of the letter, whilst reports have suggested that the King’s views are in line with those of Harry’s brother Prince William.