Prince Harry is coming to face a dangerous reality about his beloved Invictus Games and the intervention from King Charles has only made things worse rather make it better.
Uganda had withdrawn from the Games, which Harry had founded in 2014 which sees participation from wounded, sick and injured army vets, after the Ugandan Chief of Defence labelled it “the Harry-Meghan nonsense”.
The move was made after King Charles affirmed Harry and Meghan as “private citizens” following their return to Britain. It took a phone call from the King’s private secretary Sir Clive Alderton to say that it was okay for Uganda to participate.
Harry did not issue a reaction to the matter but Invictus Games CEO welcomed the nation back in the event. However, former royal correspondent Jennie Bond believes Harry must be “fuming” behind the scenes as his worst fears come true.
The Duke of Sussex has mentioned his desire to be independent from the monarchy but this episode has proved to him that his work will always lead a path back to the King.
“The fact that Uganda has now rejoined following reassurance from King Charles shows just how closely Harry’s work can still be connected to the wider royal institution, whether he wants it to be or not,” PR expert Mayah Riaz told the Mirror.
“Harry has spent years building Invictus as something independent and centred on veterans, but this episode has demonstrated that royal politics can still have a very real impact on the organisation.”
She explained that there is “a very real danger” Invictus becomes more about Harry’s relationship with his family than the veterans the Games exist to support, which is a “PR nightmare”.
“The King stepping in does give Invictus an interesting boost in terms of perceived institutional credibility, but it also becomes awkward for Harry,” she added. “Because if a country feels it needs reassurance from Harry’s father before participating in an event he founded, it inevitably raises questions about how independent Invictus really is from the Royal Family.”
