Prince Harry has confirmed that he will return to the United Kingdom for a special event that will mark 10 years of the Invictus Games.
This will be his first visit in an official capacity since his father was crowned King on May 6th, 2023.
He last returned to his homeland in a personal capacity in early February after news of his father’s cancer diagnosis was made public.
WATCH NOW: Prince Harry places the Invictus Games flag over the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The anniversary will be celebrated with a special Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral in London on May 8, and will “mark a decade of changing lives and saving lives through sport.”
According to a spokesperson for the Invictus Games, the Duke of Sussex will give a reading during the ceremony. Buckingham Palace has yet to confirm if any working royals will attend the event.
It is unlikely that Meghan Markle, or the couple’s two young children Archie and Lilibet Sussex will join Harry after the 39-year-old lost a court appeal about his access to security in the UK earlier this year.
The news comes just over two months since it was reported that the father-of-two was in talks with the UK government to bring his family with him.
“Harry is very keen for his entire family to join him. It’s important for him that they show a united front and focus on building bridges with the rest of the Royal Family,” a source shared with the Express in February.
“The move to bring the Invictus Games back to Britain is seen as an opportunity for Harry and he is very keen to take it,” the unnamed source added.
Meghan Markle was last in the UK in September 2022 for the Queen’s funeral while the Sussex children were last in their ancestral homeland in February of that same year for their great-grandmother’s Diamond Jubilee.
As a full-time working royal, Prince Harry had automatic police security, but after stepping back from his duties in January 2020 these privileges were downgraded.
There is an ongoing legal dispute between the royal and the UK Government over the issue.
However given the same government has high hopes to bring the Invictus Games to Birmingham in 2027, the matter may soon be resolved.
Who founded the Invictus Games?
The Invictus Games were founded by Prince Harry in 2012 after he met with a group of wounded and ill military personnel who had just participated in the ‘Warrior Games’ in America.
Touched by how sport could uplift, inspire, and most importantly aid in the mental and physical recovery of former defence workers, the Duke set about to organise a similar event, but on a much larger scale.
And thus the Invictus Games was born, the first being held in London in September, 2014.
What is the point of the Invictus Games?
According to the official website of the Invictus Games, the event was created to support the recovery and rehabilitation of participating servicemen and women.
Through the power of sport, the annual event has been designed to help participants find the motivation to gain a new place in life, and to not let themselves be defined by the mental and physical trauma they may have suffered whilst on active service.
Is Prince Harry still involved with the Invictus Games?
Despite no longer being a working royal, the prince has continued to promote and support the games.
He is currently a patron of the games, alongside Lord Charles Allen of Kensington who is Chairman of an extensive board of trustees.
The Executive Team of the Invictus Games is currently led by CEO Dominic Reid OBE.
Where will the Invictus Games be held in 2024?
After its inaugural year in London, the Invictus Games were then held in Orlando (2016), Toronto (2017), Sydney (2018), The Hague (2022), and Dusseldorf (2023).
In 2024 The Invictus Games will be held in Vancouver.
