Prince Harry is halfway through his beloved Invictus Games, which are being hosted in Canada, and now he is flying solo after Meghan Markle left the event to fly back home to California
The 2025 Invictus Games are at its halfway point – and now Prince Harry is flying solo.
After putting on a loved-up display with wife Meghan Markle during the opening ceremony and then appearing inseparable during the first few days of the tournament, the Duke waved goodbye to the Duchess of Sussex and she is now back home to California with their two children, Archie and Lilibet.
Aides had been keeping Meghan’s travel plans under wraps for security reasons – it is understood it had always been planned she would leave the Games early. However, Harry is expected to stay at the Games until after the closing ceremony this Sunday.
After returning to sunny Montecito, Meghan posted a photo of Invictus themed goodies she took home for the kids, including green-coloured shirts with their names on. The haul also included an Invictus Games related teddy and a number of sweets and chocolates. Writing on her Instagram, Meghan said: “A taste of Canada and The Invictus Games for our little ones! Cheering you on from home!”.
Despite the couple now spending the next few days apart, including Valentine’s Day, it hasn’t stopped several bombshells from emerging from their trip to Vancouver and Whistler. Here we look at the latest revelations from the event – including Meghan’s hidden message to the Royal Family during the visit…
Secret date night
After spending the first few days of the Games in Vancouver, the Sussexes then moved on to Whistler, where they met up with celeb pals Michael Buble and his wife Luisana Lopilato.
Prince Harry with singer Michael Buble (Image: Humphrey Nemar)
And the foursome couldn’t resist having a secret date night at a special place for Harry and Meghan. They all went to Whistler restaurant Il Caminetto and spent over two hours tucking into delicious food. The Duke and Duchess previously visited the restaurant on Valentine’s Day last year.
At the dinner Meghan wore a pair of earrings that were a gift from her husband with a Carolina Herrera cape and Aquazzura pumps, having changed out of the cream Mackage jacket and Sorell snow boots she wore all Monday afternoon.
It was Meghan and Harry’s second time dining with friends Michael and Luisana since the Games began. They all enjoyed a low-key date night on Saturday at Vij’s Indian, with the restaurant’s chef, Vikram Vij, taking to social media to praise their visit. He wrote: “Another incredible night at Vij’s. When food brings people together, magic happens! We were honoured to once again welcome Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Michael Bublé, and Luisana Lopilato for another unforgettable evening at Vij’s.”
Meghan’s shock
However, it wasn’t all relaxed dinners with pals as the Sussexes also welcomed the hundreds of competitors to Whistler for the first-ever winter sports events at the Invictus Games.
Harry and Meghan attended a special ceremony in Vancouver where Harry was introduced on stage by Michael Buble, who excited the 1,000-strong crowd with a rendition of Feeling Good. Welcoming Harry on stage, Canadian singer Michael said: “I know how difficult something like this is, so I wanted to make sure I did this right. Without the incredible effort of this young man, none of this would have happened, so please welcome my friend, Prince Harry.”
Harry joked that Meghan was going to sing (Image: Humphrey Nemar/staff Photographer)
Meghan joined Harry on stage at the end of his speech before he joked: “Now she’s going to sing!” leaving his wife horrified. However, according to body language expert Judi James, the pair seem to be in tune with their fun sides. She told the Mirror : “Harry loves playful behaviour and banter, but he usually adopts a different tone with Meghan, sticking to more romantic narratives.
“Here though he brings her into his routine with a flapping hand that suggests good humour rather than any royal graciousness. There is some synchronicity here though as she actually seems pretty much in tune with his more fun side.
“At first there is the usual mutual hugging, and Meghan shows empathy by rubbing Harry’s hand to thaw it out in the cold air. But when he jokes about her singing, her response is speedy as she looks shocked but then equally playful.
“The last image of the pair leaning forward into the mic to take their goodbyes is one of the better images of them working as an upbeat, casual and relaxed team of two.”
Hair-raising experience
Meanwhile, Meghan did leave the winter sports to the competitors, she also got involved herself by trying her hand at tubing down a snowy slope.
Meghan prepares to have a go at tubing (Image: meghan/Instagram)
Meghan slides down the snow run(Image: meghan/Instagram)
She shared a clip on her Instagram Stories screaming as she spins down the slope while seated in a purple inflatable inner tube. In earlier clips, she could be seen walking hand-in-hand with Harry towards the slope, before being given instructions about her tubing run.
Meghan can then be heard asking about “keeping your body weight back” on the inflatable, before saying “No, I really don’t want to do it” during a countdown.
Meghan’s bold message to royals
And in another eye-raising move by Meghan she appeared to flash her royal cypher – despite previously ditching it.
Eagle-eyed royal watchers spotted that at Invictus Games in Canada, the Duchess of Sussex had been sporting a brand new signet ring on her pinky finger on her right hand.
Royal watchers noticed Meghan wearing a new signet ring(Image: WireImage)
It appears the ring features Harry and Meghan’s royal cypher (Image: WireImage)
And it seems that the new piece of jewellery is engraved with Prince Harry and Meghan’s joint cypher that they unveiled when they married back in 2018. The monogram is made up of the letters ‘H’ and ‘M’ in cursive writing. The logo is topped with a coronet with two cross pattées, four fleurs-de-lys and two strawberry leaves.
The monogram was used on their previous Sussex Royal website and social media accounts – and even after they dramatically quit as working royals back in 2020, they continued to use the logo on their letterheads.
Meghan isn’t the only royal to wear a pinky finger signet ring. King Charles also wears one with the Prince of Wales feathers and he gifted one to Princess Diana the night before their wedding in 1981.
Early exit
But despite appearing as close as ever, it emerged that Meghan didn’t plan to stay for the full duration of the Games when it was confirmed yesterday she would be heading back to California.
The couple left their children Archie and Lilibet behind at home in Montecito and after five days away, the Duchess made the decision to get back to her children. The Games have come after a tough time for the Sussexes, who were branded ‘disaster tourists’ in the wake of visiting victims of California wildfires. They were also the subject of a scathing Vanity Fair article about what it is really like to work for them.
Meghan left the Games yesterday (Image: Humphrey Nemar/staff Photographer.)
And according to PR expert Edward Coram James, the CEO of Go Up, Meghan should have rethought going to the Invictus Games altogether. He told the Mirror: “Meghan should leave the Invictus Games to Harry. It’s his project, and he’s more than capable of drumming up support and publicity for this incredible cause. Their joint brand has become tainted over the years — not through any fault of their own, but due to woeful PR.
“Meghan’s presence was always going to be a lose-lose situation — damned if she did, damned if she didn’t. But ultimately, it’s a distraction for many people. That said, from a PR standpoint, she handled it well. She was engaged but not overbearing, affectionate but not too performative. Still, she needs to recognise that no matter what she does, her critics will say she’s making it about herself.”
Harry’s telling three words
Meanwhile, Harry revealed how he felt about having Meghan Markle “by my side” during his Invictus Games – just days before she flew home without him.
And speaking to PEOPLE magazine before Meghan flew home, the Duke of Sussex revealed what it was like to have her with him at the event. He said: “To have my wife here supporting me is amazing. I love that she’s by my side. It’s such an important piece to this whole adventure.”
