The royal family was noticeably absent from a ceremony celebrating the Invictus Games, a worldwide sporting competition for injured veterans that marked its 10-year anniversary. Prince Harry, the founding patron of the organization, created it after working closely with injured soldiers during his military service. The Invictus Games Foundation has experienced significant growth in recent years, with its annual income rising from $1.2 million to $2.5 million between 2018 and 2022, according to the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, a Service of Thanksgiving was held at St Paul's Cathedral in London, which Prince Harry attended. Notably, he was the only member of the monarchy present at the event, although other royals have supported him at previous Invictus Games events.
King Charles III, who recently resumed public duties, hosted an annual garden party at Buckingham Palace with Queen Camilla on the same day as the Service of Thanksgiving, choosing not to attend the ceremony. Despite the absence of the royal family, Prince Harry reunited with his late mother Princess Diana's siblings, Earl Charles Spencer and Lady Jane Fellowes, at the event, as captured in video footage published by The Daily Mail.
Prince Harry's relationship with the royal family has been strained since he and Meghan Markle stepped back as senior royals in January 2020. However, he has shown support for King Charles III, attending his coronation in May 2023 and visiting him following his cancer diagnosis. Despite his efforts, a spokesperson for Harry and Meghan confirmed that the Duke of Sussex would not be able to meet with the king during his latest visit to the UK due to the monarch's busy schedule.
Prince William also did not attend the Service of Thanksgiving, and he did not cross paths with Prince Harry during the latter's visit in February. Reports suggest a longstanding rift between the brothers, exacerbated by Harry's public discussions about their relationship in his Netflix series and memoir.
Following Kate Middleton's announcement of undergoing preventative chemotherapy, Harry and Meghan released a statement expressing well wishes for her health and privacy. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not publicly interacted with the Prince and Princess of Wales since Kate's diagnosis.
