Prince Harry and Meghan Markle remain among the most closely followed public figures in the world. Since stepping back from official royal duties in 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have built new professional lives in the United States while continuing to support selected charitable causes. One of Prince Harry’s most enduring commitments is the Invictus Games, the international sporting event for wounded, injured, and sick service personnel and veterans.
With Birmingham confirmed as the host city for the Invictus Games 2027, public attention has turned to whether Prince Harry will return to the United Kingdom for the event and whether Meghan Markle might accompany him. While speculation has circulated online and in tabloids, only a limited number of facts have been confirmed by official or reputable sources.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Stepped Back From Royal Duties in 2020
In January 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced that they would step back as senior working members of the British royal family. Buckingham Palace later confirmed that the couple would no longer carry out official royal duties and would not use their HRH styles in a working capacity. This transition, commonly referred to as “Megxit” in the media, marked a significant shift in their public roles.
Following this decision, the couple relocated to California and settled in Montecito, where they now live with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Their move and change in role were confirmed through official palace communications and widely reported by reputable outlets including the BBC, Reuters, and The Guardian.
Life After Royal Duties: Media and Philanthropic Work
Since relocating to the United States, Prince Harry and Meghan have developed several professional projects. These include:
- A multi-year content deal with Netflix, confirmed by Netflix in 2020
- The release of the documentary series Harry & Meghan (2022)
- Meghan Markle’s podcast Archetypes, produced for Spotify and released in 2022
- Prince Harry’s memoir Spare, published in January 2023
These projects have been documented by official announcements from the companies involved and covered extensively by major media organizations.
At the same time, the couple has continued their philanthropic work through the Archewell Foundation, which supports initiatives related to mental health, online safety, gender equality, and community resilience. Archewell’s activities and grants are publicly documented through official foundation communications.
Prince Harry’s Ongoing Role With the Invictus Games
One area where Prince Harry’s commitment has remained consistent is the Invictus Games. He founded the Invictus Games Foundation in 2014 after being inspired by the U.S. Warrior Games. The event uses the power of sport to support the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded, injured, and sick service personnel and veterans.
The Invictus Games Foundation is an established international organization with official governance structures, annual reports, and partnerships. Prince Harry continues to serve as patron of the foundation, a role confirmed on the organization’s official website.
He has attended multiple editions of the Games since stepping back from royal duties, including:
- Invictus Games The Hague 2022 (Netherlands)
- Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023 (Germany)
Both appearances were covered by international media such as BBC News, Reuters, Associated Press, and Sky News.
Birmingham Confirmed as Host City for Invictus Games 2027
In July 2023, the Invictus Games Foundation officially announced that Birmingham, United Kingdom, would host the Invictus Games in 2027. This was confirmed through a formal statement by the foundation and welcomed by UK government representatives and local leaders.
This announcement makes it highly likely that Prince Harry will return to the UK for the event in his capacity as founder and patron. His involvement in previous Games strongly supports this expectation.
However, it is important to distinguish between reasonable expectation based on past behavior and official confirmation. As of now, no formal schedule for Prince Harry’s attendance at the Birmingham Games has been released, although his participation would be consistent with his role.
Will Meghan Markle Attend the Invictus Games in the UK?
At present, there is no official confirmation from the Invictus Games Foundation, the Sussexes’ representatives, or Buckingham Palace regarding whether Meghan Markle will attend the Birmingham 2027 event.
Meghan has accompanied Prince Harry to previous Invictus Games, including in Düsseldorf in 2023. Her attendance at that event was widely documented by reputable media outlets and confirmed through official appearances and photographs.
However, any claims suggesting that Meghan Markle has made special requests, issued demands, or imposed conditions on a potential UK visit are not supported by official sources. Such reports typically rely on unnamed “insiders” and tabloid commentary, which do not meet standards for verification.
A source quoted by The Express previously stated that certain claims about demands were “fabricated.” Without official documentation or on-the-record confirmation, these stories should be treated as unverified and are therefore excluded from factual reporting.
Security and Legal Context
What is verifiable is that Prince Harry has pursued legal action regarding his UK security arrangements. In 2023 and 2024, multiple reputable outlets including BBC News and Reuters reported on his legal challenge against the UK government over security provision when visiting the UK.
In 2024, the High Court ruled against Prince Harry in his challenge. This outcome is part of the public legal record and is supported by court reporting from established news organizations.
However, the details of any private security arrangements for future visits — including the Invictus Games — have not been officially disclosed.
What We Know for Certain
Based on reputable and official sources, the confirmed facts are:
- Prince Harry founded the Invictus Games in 2014
- Birmingham will host the Invictus Games in 2027 (officially confirmed)
- Prince Harry has attended multiple Invictus Games events since 2020
- Meghan Markle has attended some Invictus Games events outside the UK
- No official statement confirms whether Meghan will attend the Birmingham Games
- Claims about “demands” or special conditions are not supported by verifiable sources
Conclusion
The upcoming Invictus Games in Birmingham represent a meaningful moment for the UK and for the international veteran community. Given Prince Harry’s long-standing role with the Games, his attendance would align with established precedent and commitment.
Beyond that, any claims about personal conditions, demands, or internal royal tensions remain unverified and should be treated cautiously. Readers seeking accurate information should rely on official announcements from the Invictus Games Foundation, on-the-record statements, and coverage from reputable news organizations such as BBC, Reuters, and Associated Press.