Prince Harry & Meghan Markle beam as they kick off ‘special’ Canada trip in first appearance since rebrand
PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle have kicked off their Canada trip with a glitzy photo call in the first appearance since their rebrand.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex jetted off to Vancouver to launch next year’s Invictus Games and were today snapped beaming at cameras.
The pair made their way across the snow hand in hand, while hugging and greeting people on the way.
Just days ago Harry and Meghan were fiercely criticised for launching a new website as part of their rebrand, with one royal expert slamming them for “cashing in” on their royal ties.
Today they were all smiles as they arrived at Rockies Ski Resort, before they were set to head to a camp that included lessons in new winter sports added to the 2025 games.
They donned wool hats and snow boots as they braved the chilly weather.
The couple were surrounded by people who donned Invictus Games gear as they made their way over to people on the ice.
Harry could be seen crouching down to chat to people in wheelchairs, with Meghan at his side.
The prince then had a try in one of them, boasting a smile ear to ear.
Harry and Meghan are tomorrow expected to attend a wheelchair curling demonstration in nearby Vancouver.
It comes amid the couple’s latest rebrand, after ditching Archewell.com and replacing it with Sussex.com – in a bid to share “personal” updates with fans.
The couple did not consult the royals before launching the rebrand, The Sun understands.
Meghan today broke her silence on the new site, which has been slammed by royal experts.
It was designed by Article, a Canadian digital agency that Meghan previously used to build her lifestyle blog The Tig and Archewell.
In a fresh statement, the duchess wrote: “There is a reason I have worked with Ryan and the talented team at Article for a decade: their attention to detail, their creativity and care, and the thoughtful approach to design as well as to the user experience.
“They’re not just designers; they are collaborators who elevate your ideas into visual identities.
“They’re a very special company. Plus they’re Canadian, so I’m a fan.”
While in Canada, Harry is expected to tell crowds in a speech how much the country means to the royal duo, according to The Telegraph.
He fell in love with the “pace of life” on Vancouver Island when he and Meghan moved into a £11million mansion there after quitting as royals.
Harry wrote in his memoir Spare that the island offered him a “taste of freedom”.
He wrote: “What if life could be like that … all the time? What if we could spend at least part of each year somewhere far away, still doing work for the Queen, but beyond the reach of the press?
Couple to come 'under fire' over royal crest
By Matt Wilkinson
MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry are set to come under fire for using their royal coat of arms in their US-based rebrand.
The Duchess of Sussex worked closely with the College of Arms in London to create the design, Kensington Palace said at the time it was first revealed after their royal wedding in May 2018.
The crest – which harks back to their royal life despite walking away to live in the USA – has a blue shield representing the Pacific Ocean and rays symbolising sunshine of California
The lion relates to the Duke of Sussex and a songbird supporting represents Meghan.
Beneath the shield is California’s state flower the golden poppy and Wintersweet and was also depicted on the duchess’ wedding veil.
The three quills illustrate the power of words and communication.
The royal crest has barely been used by the couple before.
And a royal expert tonight slammed the Sussexes for “cashing in” on the crest.
Angela Levin told The Sun: “They are cashing in on their royal connections that they say they hate so much.
“Queen Elizabeth II would be furious because they promised they wouldn’t do that.
“They should be stopped from using a title that they spent years insulting
“They left the Royal Family because they didn’t want anything to do with it but now realise they can use Sussex rather than Archewell.
“Four years after they left they are trying to be royal and also setting up the ‘Office’ of Prince Harry and Meghan, it is so hypocritical.
“It is pathetic, they couldn’t use SussexRoyal so they have found a way round it.
“If we could just find a place the press didn’t know about, we said, Canada might be the answer.
“Meg got in touch with a Vancouver friend, who connected us with an estate agent, and we started looking at houses.”
Meanwhile, Meghan lived in Toronto for six years while filming TV series Suits.
Harry founded the Invictus Games in 2014 for international wounded, injured, and sick service personnel and veterans.
The Vancouver Whistler games – which are due to take place between February 8 and 16 next year- are to be the first winter sporting event in Invictus history.
Events will include alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, skeleton, wheelchair curling, indoor rowing, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair basketball, and wheelchair rugby.
The 2025 event will be held in British Columbia, Canada, and will see up to 550 competitors from around 25 nations take part in the sporting challenges.
This week, Meghan and Harry could take part in activities at the Participating Nations Winter Training Camp.
They are expected to also meet with members of the Invictus community, including team managers, coaches, and competitors.
It hasn’t been confirmed whether they will bring their two kids, Archie, four, and Lilibet, two, to Canada.