Prince Harry hits back at bombshell new Invictus Games claims with fiery statement

The Duke of Sussex’s Foundation has issued a statement after extracts of a new royal book were serialised online.

Prince Harry first launched the Invictus Games in 2014 (Image: Getty)

Prince Harry has hit back at some explosive new claims about his Invictus Games initiative in a forthcoming royal book. In his forthcoming book, Betrayal: Power, Deceit and the Fight for the Future of the Royal Family, extracts of which have been serialised by The Times Magazine, Tom Bower delves into the ongoing, strained relationship between the Houses of Sussex and Windsor.

The magazine cites alleged internal concerns, including from former Invictus Foundation head Dominic Reid, that sport and competitors were being overshadowed and that the Games had become “the Harry and Meghan show”. It also cites the poor attendance of events and claims crowd “padding” took place for the cameras, as well as alleging that competitors and families were being overshadowed by tightly managed photo opportunities.

A spokesperson for the Invictus Games Foundation said: “It is disappointing to see The Times give prominence to commentary that appears driven by a long-established agenda rather than a genuine understanding of the Invictus Games and the community it supports.

The Foundation exists to support the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans from around the world.

“Attempts to question the legitimacy of competitors or diminish the experiences of those living with both physical injuries and invisible wounds such as PTSD are deeply disrespectful to the men and women the Games were created for.

“The focus should remain where it belongs – on the courage, recovery and camaraderie of those who have served.”

The Invictus Games are Prince Harry’s passion project, first launched in 2014 to help wounded, injured and sick military service personnel, both serving and veterans, both physically and mentally.

In the book, Mr Bower makes some explosive claims about how Meghan allegedly wanted to use Prince Harry’s Invictus Games platform as a “global stage for genuine admiration and cheering fans”.

He writes: “Meghan needed a global stage for genuine admiration and cheering fans. To her good fortune, Harry agreed that she could star at the Invictus Games, which he was about to open in Canada. Just before flying up to Vancouver in a private jet, she alerted her Instagram followers.”

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Mr Bower alleges Meghan Markle wanted to use the Games as her own ‘global stage’ (Image: Getty)

He recounted how Harry and Meghan “insisted” on being addressed as “Ma’am and Sir” and claimed the organisers thought of them as being “pushy.”