I watched Harry introduce Meghan to the world at Invictus Games – now she’ll snub them to avoid boos, says royal expert
PRINCE Harry is set to return to the UK next week for an Invictus event, but Meghan Markle may “snub” a visit to “avoid boos”, claims a royal expert.
ITV News‘ royal correspondent Chris Ship shared how he’d witnessed Prince Harry excitedly introducing Meghan as his girlfriend at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto.
A besotted Prince Harry and his then-American actress girlfriend had looked every inch the loved-up couple being spotted hand-in-hand at their first public engagement together.
Speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show, Chris said: “The first one [Invictus event] was in London and then there was one in Florida, and we’ve had Toronto where he first introduced Meghan to the world.
“I remember being there as she walked into that court, in Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto.”
Following Meghan’s triumphant Invictus introduction and later their fairytale royal wedding in 2018, support for the couple initially was huge.
However, seven years down the line Chris claims Meghan now will skip the upcoming event on Wednesday over fears of a negative reception.
Chris told The Sun’s Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson: “He’s [Harry’s} coming back to mark the 10th anniversary of Invictus.
“He’s going to give a reading at St. Paul’s Cathedral.
“Meghan’s not coming with him, so no Duchess of Sussex.”
The Duchess of Sussex, 42, has reportedly opted to stay in the couple’s £12million Montecito mansion in California with their kids Archie and Lilibet over fears about a “hostile reception“.
The couple’s brutal attack on the royals in their March 2021 interview with pal Oprah Winfrey was followed by their Netflix series Harry & Meghan.
Harry gained more criticism for his hard-hitting memoir Spare, published in January, 2023.
The couple have lashed out at King Charles, Camilla, William and Kate since quitting The Firm and moving to California.
Following Harry and Meghan being booed as they exited their car at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, Chris claimed that Meghan is now terrified of it happening for a second time.
He said: “The difficulty is you remember last time they went to St Paul’s Cathedral, which was for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, they got booed.
Megxit timeline
- November 2016 – Harry formally reveals he is in a relationship with Suits actress Meghan Markle.
- September 2017 – Meghan tells Vanity Fair the couple are in love and happy together.
- September 2017 – The couple make their first public appearance together holding hands at the Invictus Games in Toronto.
- November 2017 – Prince Charles issues a statement revealing Harry and Meghan are engaged.
- May 2018 – Harry and Meghan tie the knot, becoming Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
- October 2018 – The couple announce they are expecting their first child while on their first overseas tour in Australia.
- March 2019 – Harry and Meghan set up their own household, splitting their joint operation with Prince William and Kate.
- May 2019 – Meghan gives birth to a baby boy named Archie.
- October 2019 – Harry reveals his rift with his brother William in a bombshell documentary.
- January 2020 – The couple stun the Queen by announcing plans to quit senior roles and settle in North America. After ten days of talks at Sandringham, it’s agreed the couple will no longer be working royals and will give up their “Royal Highness” titles.
- March 2020 – Harry and Meghan carry out their last official engagement and move to California.
- September 2020 – Netflix announces a huge deal with the couple.
- February 2021 – Buckingham Palace announces the couple’s split as working members of the monarchy is permanent and they will lose their royal patronages.
- March 2021 – The palace says it is “very concerned” about allegations of bullying made by former staff of Harry and Meghan, launching a probe.
- March 2021 – Meghan tells Oprah Winfrey Archie wasn’t made a prince after “concerns and conversations” about “how dark” his skin would be when he was born. She claims Kate “hurt her feelings” and made her cry before her wedding. Harry says Charles has stopped taking his calls and he has been “cut off” financially.
- January 2023 – Harry publishes his tell-all memoir Spare, launching scathing attacks on William, Kate and Camilla. He says he and William once got into a physical fight over Meghan.
- April 2023 – Harry has a “heart-to-heart” talk with his dad before agreeing to come to the Coronation in London.
- September 2023 – Harry rejects an offer to spend the anniversary of the Queen’s death at Balmoral with his father.
- February 2024 – Prince Harry flies to the UK to be with his father as royal experts claim their four-year rift could be put aside. They meet for half an hour before Harry flies home. He does not meet William.
“We heard the boos for them. We should be clear there was also people cheering for them, but there were definitely boos at St Paul’s Cathedral.
“So going back there I can see why Meghan may not wish to accompany Harry there.”
An insider added that Meghan had “shown no interest” in coming back to the UK.
She has not been in the UK since attending Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022.
The difficulty is you remember last time they went to St Paul’s Cathedral, which was for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, they got booed
Chris Ship
Harry and Meghan’s Nigeria trip
After Harry’s short trip to Britain, he and Meghan will head to Nigeria for the next stop on his Invictus Games tour.
However Meghan, who is of Nigerian descent, will join Harry afterwards as they head to Africa.
The couple will take part in “cultural activities” after they were invited by the west African country’s chief of defence staff.
In Harry and Meghan’s first trip to the country as a couple, they will meet service members and their families, and participate in traditional cultural activities, according to Nigerian media.