S Poddar
The sight of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle grinning from the stands at Vancouver’s BC Place stadium, surrounded by roaring crowds and the electric energy of the Invictus Games, felt like a vivid reminder of their enduring commitment to the cause closest to their hearts. Wearing a clean, pressed suit, Harry was sitting forward attentively, looking intently down at the procession of athletes passing on the arena floor below; meanwhile, Meghan wore a shiny white coat with blue pom-poms held up as the British entered the hall: a place for both revelry and subtle resolve, both values the occasion reflected.
This year’s Invictus Games, the seventh edition of the competition Harry founded in 2014, was a symbolic homecoming of sorts. Not only was it the first time the Games incorporated winter sports like skiing and snowboarding, but it also represented a return to Canada, where the couple’s relationship first captivated the world during the 2017 Toronto Games. As the opening ceremony started, the stadium throbbed with a feeling of togetherness, so eloquently spoken by Harry through his speech to the gathering: “We gather here in Vancouver in a spirit of togetherness,” he declared to the crowd steadily, but not without a small tremor. “Beyond any differences, here at the Invictus Games, we are grounded in mutual respect—competing fiercely but believing in one another.”
His words were heavy with meaning against the backdrop of global tensions, though he studiously avoided any direct references to current events. Instead, he honored Canada’s Indigenous communities, celebrating their stewardship of the land, and honored the competitors themselves. “Over the past decade, I’ve lost count of the times we’ve heard you say the Invictus Games saved you,” he said. “Respectfully, I disagree. Invictus didn’t save you.”. You saved yourselves.” The line was met with thunderous applause, a testament to the unyielding spirit of the 500-plus athletes from 23 nations gathered to compete.
The evening’s festivities were a blend of spectacle and raw, personal stories. Chris Martin of Coldplay, a longtime supporter of the Games, performed the event’s anthem—a song he wrote a decade ago—accompanied by a choir of veterans. Canadian icon Nelly Furtado delivered a soaring rendition of her hit I’m Like a Bird, joined onstage by ILL-Abilities, a dance crew whose members live with disabilities. Katy Perry closed the night with a powerhouse set, belting out anthems like Roar as military personnel and athletes swayed in unison.
But even as the couple basked in the warmth of the Games, the specter of external drama loomed. Hours before the ceremony, former U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in on Harry’s immigration status during an interview with the New York Post. “I’ll leave him alone,” Trump said when asked whether the prince should face deportation over past drug use disclosed in his memoir, Spare. “He’s got enough problems with his wife. She’s awful.” The insults, dripping with old-fashioned contempt, were reminiscent of his earlier attacks on Meghan, whom he had once described as “horrible.”
The insult reignited a feud that has been festering for years. Meghan, an outspoken Trump detractor during his presidency, had called him “divisive” and “misogynistic” in a 2016 interview, while Trump has rarely failed to take a shot at the couple since they left royal life. His latest words, however, had sharper undertones. A conservative think tank, the Heritage Foundation, sued to get Harry’s immigration records, claiming he may have gotten special treatment or lied on his visa application. U.S. immigration law does not automatically exclude applicants for previous drug use, but lying on official forms can result in deportation—a scenario Trump had hinted at months earlier but now seemed to dismiss.
The couple, predictably, ignored the noise. Instead, they centered their attention on the event that has become the bedrock of their post-royal identity. For Harry, the Games are deeply personal. His two tours in Afghanistan left him haunted by the struggles of injured comrades, and the 2013 Warrior Games in Colorado inspired him to create a global platform for healing through sport. Since its London debut, the event has grown into a movement, with competitors like former British Army Captain Dave Henson—a double amputee who credits Invictus with helping him “reclaim my life”—embodying its mission.
Meghan’s role, too, has evolved. At the 2017 Toronto Games, she was Harry’s girlfriend, discreetly supporting him from the sidelines. By the 2022 Düsseldorf Games, she had become a vocal advocate, delivering speeches and mingling with families. In Vancouver, her presence felt both relaxed and intentional. Between cheers, she exchanged animated conversations with attendees, her laughter occasionally caught by cameras. The pom-poms she waved—a playful touch—contrasted with Harry’s more reserved demeanor, highlighting their complementary dynamic.
Yet beneath the bonhomie, unstated tensions hung in the air. The Games took place under tense circumstances for Harry and his family, not least since the revelations of his book Spare and the couple’s 2021 Oprah interview. No senior British royals came to the Vancouver event, but Prince William made a gesture in writing to congratulate the winners. Harry appeared to focus much of his pent-up energy on the athletes themselves at one point holding the hand of a Ukrainian competitor whose tears spoke volumes.
As the ceremony wound down, Katy Perry’s Firework lit up the stadium, its chorus—“Baby, you’re a firework!”—echoing over a sea of flags and uniforms. For a moment, the divisions Trump alluded to, the royal rift, and the relentless media scrutiny faded into the background. What remained was the image of Harry and Meghan, side by side, their faces illuminated by the glow of the arena—a portrait of defiance, hope, and quiet triumph.
The Invictus Games have never been about just the medals and spectacle. They are a statement to the human capacity for reinvention, something Harry and Meghan have personified themselves in their own tumultuous journey. Their stories will take center stage as the athletes prepare to compete over the next nine days. But in the stands, two familiar figures will keep cheering, their presence a reminder that even in moments of fracture, there’s power in standing together.
