World touring royal Prince Harry confirmed in a new video message to attendees today that he will be attending the Invictus Games in Germany next month.
The Duke of Sussex admitted he was both “excited and nervous” a month before the event, which begins the day after the Queen’s death anniversary.
Harry, who is currently in Asia with his best friend Nacho Figueras for a charity and polo tour, will fly from LA to Dusseldorf to attend the event, which begins September 9th and ends September 16th.
In a video message recorded at his Montecito mansion before he left for Japan – but which was released online today – Harry insisted: “It’s going to be the best games ever.” He also commended the attendees for making the next steps on their “healing journey” and stressed that the event, which he described as a “home of respect,” was part of his own.
During the virtual call, he grinned and said, “I hope you’re excited and probably a little nervous.” I’m both. But I can’t wait to see you all and have the whole community together again. It’s been too long’.
Prince Harry says he can’t wait to attend the Invictus Games in Germany next month
Harry praised the competitors for taking the next step on their “healing journey” – and said he was on the right track
Addressing the athletes, he said, “You are all at different stages on your healing journey,” before adding, “We all are – we always will be.”
“Good luck for the remaining weeks, have fun, looking forward to it.” Being nervous is a good thing. We have 21 nations this year and can’t wait to have represented every continent. Except Antarctica – but I’m still working on that,” he said, laughing.
“Thank you for your service, for your dedication and determination to get to this point.” We’re going to have a lot of fun and look forward to it. We are ready to accommodate you. It’s going to be the best games ever, the best games yet.”
According to reports, Harry will be in Dusseldorf throughout the games. Meghan is expected to be around halfway there, including Harry’s speech at the closing ceremony.
A source told the Rheinische Post that “this very emotional element from Meghan, Duchess of Sussex needs to be watched in person.”
His late grandmother, the Queen, died on September 8 last year. It is not yet known if Harry will travel to the UK before Germany.
Last week, palace sources denied the royal family was “snubbing” Harry and Meghan on the Queen’s death anniversary – while King Charles prepared to spend the day in quiet reflection at Balmoral.
The Chron revealed there were no plans to mark the occasion publicly with members of the family and His Majesty would spend the day quietly reflecting on the moment at Birkhall, his home on the Balmoral estate.
After The Sun claimed the Sussexes had been left out of the commemoration, a source said it was “plain untrue” to say they had been snubbed and that there were no plans for a public event or private family gathering to mark the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death.
While various family members will be in and out of Balmoral in the usual way over the summer holidays, Their Majesties will spend September 8 “quietly and privately” as Queen Elizabeth used to do on the anniversary of her father’s death, they stressed.
Queen Elizabeth always spent the anniversary of the death of her late father, King George VI, privately at Sandringham.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrive at City Hall on September 6, 2022 during the Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023 – One Year To Go events
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex react as they watch the 2022 Land Rover Driving Challenge in The Hague
But William and Kate will send a message to the British people to honor the legacy of the late monarch and to look “forward” to the future, a source told the Mirror.
The final details for the speech are still being finalized and a decision needs to be made as to whether it will be in person, on television or via social media.
A royal source said: “Her Majesty’s death was an event that truly marked the end of an era.” The royal family has been in transition since then and with the coronation and the end of the summer holidays, everyone will be excited to see what comes next. “
From today’s video, it emerged that Shj left for the next leg of his boys-only Asian tour after a two-day trip to Japan, while his wife partied with friends watching Taylor Swift in LA.
The Duke of Sussex travels to Singapore where he will take part in a polo match in aid of Sentebale, his charity which supports children and young people in Lesotho in southern Africa.
Harry is with his best friend, polo player Nacho Figueras, but not with Meghan or their two children, Archie, four, and Lilibet, two.
The old friends appeared to be having a blast as they boarded a flight in Tokyo’s Narita after playfully posing with women’s sunglasses. Nacho posted on Instagram that they are “shopping for our wives” – some fans have described them as “real brothers” amid the Duke’s strained relationship with Prince William.
Harry and Nacho were at an Itoya Top Drawer branch in downtown Tokyo and tried on Kolo glasses, which retail for $175 (£137). The store specializes in merchandise that “makes travel easier” and prides itself on its “stylish sustainability.” As one commenter on the Instagram post put it, “Happy women, happy lives!” Another said, “Best duo eveeeeeeeeeer!”
Meanwhile, Meghan could be spotted enjoying a girls’ night out and watching the final night of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Los Angeles, though the megastar reportedly turned down an appearance on royal podcast Archetypes, which ended after one season.
The Duchess and thousands of other Swifties reportedly jumped out of their chair to sing along “You Belong with Me” after the singer told the crowd, “Let’s go back to high school.” The former actress was with her British friend Lucy Fraser, who starred in the Sussexes’ Netflix explainer series.
A smiling Prince Harry departs Tokyo today for Singapore as his Asia tour continues
Harry and Nacho had fun in Japan and attended a panel discussion at the International Sports Promotion Society
Harry and Nacho play polo in Singapore for a good cause
Harry’s next assignment is a polo match in Singapore this Saturday to raise funds for young AIDS sufferers.
Prince Harry and Nacho Figueras took time out to shop for their families in Tokyo today while posing with aviator sunglasses
In a post on Instagram, Nacho Figueras wrote, “Shopping for our wives.” A big thank you to Tokyo for their generous hospitality and kindness to us. And of course for your continued support of Sentebale!’
Meghan Markle is believed to have attended a Taylor Swift concert with her friend Lucy Fraser (centre). Page Six claimed she got up from her chair and danced
The Duchess of Sussex is believed to have been in the crowd at Taylor Swift’s concert in Los Angeles
Meghan was at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood while the Duke was speaking at events in Japan across the Pacific, reports Page Six.
And now he’s going to Singapore.
Harry will play on the Royal Salute Sentebale team at Singapore Polo Club.
Nacho, his friend and Sentebale ambassador, becomes captain of the Singapore Polo Club team.
The Sentebale Polo Cup returns to Singapore for the first time since 2017.
The event, which has been running since 2010, has raised £11 million (US$14 million) during that time.
The 38-year-old prince landed in Japan on Tuesday, where he received a warm welcome and later told an audience he would “live happily here if you had me”.
The duke, who praised the “warmth, compassion and generosity” of the Japanese people, made the comments during the summit organized by the International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS) on Wednesday.
Harry and Nacho spoke at the summit about their charity, Sentebale, which helps children and young people in southern Africa affected by HIV and AIDS.
And this morning they seemed to have traded work for pleasure as they went shopping for their families in Tokyo.
The couple posed in aviator sunglasses for a photo with the caption, “Shopping for our wives.” A big thank you to Tokyo for their generous hospitality and kindness to us. And of course for your continued support of Sentebale!’
Arriving at the summit in Tokyo, Harry was greeted with thunderous applause after saying, “Well, first of all, hello everyone.”
The beaming 38-year-old son of King Charles III. told the crowd, “I’ve been involved with many charities most of my life and it gives me enormous satisfaction to give back to as many people as possible.” “My life is charity, always has been and always will be.”
Taylor Swift performs at SoFi Stadium in LA last night – in front of fans including the Duchess of Sussex
The stars thronged the crowd for the final show of their record-breaking tour
Haruhisa Handa, founder of ISPS Handa, and Prince Harry laugh during a chat in Tokyo on Tuesday