As founder, Prince Harry considers the Invictus Games to be one of, if not the most, important event on his working calendar. And this week, he will make his trip to the sporting event in the Netherlands even more special by bringing along his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
A spokesperson for the Sussexes confirms to BAZAAR.com that Meghan will join Harry in The Hague this weekend, marking their first joint visit to Europe since stepping back from their working royal roles in 2020.
The duchess is expected to spend the first few days of the games alongside the Duke of Sussex, who will remain in the country for the duration of the international competition, which runs from April 16 to 22.
This is the fifth Invictus Games and will see teams from 20 different countries—including South Korea, Estonia, Canada, Australia, Poland, Iraq, and the United States—compete in events such as athletics, archery, wheelchair basketball, cycling, powerlifting, swimming, sitting volleyball, and indoor rowing. The Netherlands was originally due to host the games in 2020, but the event had to be delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The games—one of the largest sporting events, akin to the Paralympics—were launched by Harry in 2014 and provide a chance for sick or injured military personnel and veterans to compete.
Harry and Meghan made their first public appearance as a couple at the Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada, in 2017, where they were seen walking hand in hand. And in 2018, the pair watched the games in Sydney, Australia.
Last week, Harry surprised Team UK athletes at their final training camp before they travel this week to The Hague. The duke made a video call to members, including 33-year-old team captain and British Royal Air Force veteran Rachel Williamson, wishing them luck.
"For a lot of you, you've already, as far as I'm concerned, you've already won gold by just getting to this point," he told them via Zoom. "The fact that you are sitting there now wearing that strip and you are able to wear the Union Jack on your arm again, that means so much to every single one of you."
Omid Scobie is BAZAAR.com’s Royal Editor at Large and has covered the lives and philanthropic work of the younger members of the British Royal Family for over eight years. As well as spearheading exclusive coverage of major royal milestones (including the weddings of both the Cambridges and Sussexes), Scobie has traveled extensively with Harry, Meghan, William and Kate on their engagements in the U.K. and around the world. As ABC News’s Royal Contributor, Scobie is a regular on Good Morning America and host of the network’s forthcoming podcast, The Heir Pod.
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