Prince Harry has been left stunned as he relinquished his position on the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, with Mike Tindall set to step in.
Reports indicate that Prince Harry will be making a return to the UK in May to commemorate the milestone of the Invictus Games, an event he co-established back in 2014, with festivities scheduled to take place at St Paul’s Cathedral.
The Duke of Sussex is gearing up for his return to England in just a few weeks, following his hurried trip back home to visit his ailing father after receiving the distressing news of his cancer diagnosis.
Last week, Prince Harry hastily jetted off to London for a brief 25-hour visit upon learning of the monarch’s illness.
However, his upcoming trip back to the UK is not to reunite with the King but to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games instead, as reported by the Mirror.
Despite only having a brief 12-minute meeting with His Majesty last month, the Sussex spokesperson remains optimistic that his attendance at the Invictus Games anniversary may offer him a chance to mend ties with the royal family during this challenging period for the institution.
Prince Harry is anticipated to return in May to partake in the celebrations for the 10th birthday of the Invictus Games, an event he played a pivotal role in founding six years ago, although Meghan Markle will reportedly be excluded from the occasion.
The recent developments unfolded against the backdrop of the UK government’s announcement of a substantial financial bid to secure the hosting rights for the Games in Birmingham in 2027.
John Mercer, the Minister for Veterans Affairs spearheading the bid, expressed enthusiasm about bringing the Games back to the UK, vowing to go all out to secure victory.
In an interview with the Express, it was revealed that Harry has signaled his willingness to participate in a UK-based Invictus Games, highlighting the enduring support the Games have received from the wider royal family.
However, a source close to a Palace Insider divulged that the purpose behind summoning Harry for the Invictus Games’ 10th anniversary may not be as positive as initially perceived.
Speculations suggest that Harry will be stripped of his patronage role, with potential replacement candidates being considered.
Mike Tyndall has emerged as a frontrunner for the position, poised to assume the mantle on the anniversary date.
The Invictus Games, a joint initiative of the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, was brought to fruition through collaborative efforts with the Ministry of Defence, led by Keith Mills and Edward Lane Fox.
A royal expert criticized the decision to solely feature Harry as the face of Invictus, asserting that diversifying the representation could significantly enhance the charity’s impact.
Former sports personalities Sarah and Mike were proposed as more suitable ambassadors, contrasting with the current occupants who have faced criticism for their alleged mismanagement of charitable funds.