The Invictus Games likely hold a special place in Prince Harry’s and Meghan Markle’s hearts. Last year’s games marked Meghan’s first public appearance alongside her then-boyfriend, and she was spotted attending both the opening and closing ceremonies in Toronto. It seems only fitting, then, that the organization is featured during their engagement six months later. More importantly, it sounds like they’re due to attend this year’s games in Sydney in October.
Australia has long been favored tour destination for Harry and Meghan this year, and this was easily predicted given Harry’s reliable attendance of the games. Still, it’s exciting to have something about the couple’s post-wedding life nailed down, and a few reports noted that an earlier overseas trip is altogether likely before the autumn. That makes sense. There were roughly two months between the Cambridges’ wedding and their first foreign tour, so it’s fair to reason Harry and Meghan will be sent somewhere in July.
But back to today. Harry and Meghan turned up at the University of Bath’s Sports Training Village for an Invictus Games training session. It was reported a couple days ago that Meghan was in LA over the Easter holiday to see her mother, which fit in nicely given that she was required to briefly leave the country as part of the UK Visa process. Her mother, Doria Ragland, is due to arrive in London well ahead of the May 19 wedding to be a part of the festivities and last-minute preparations.
Today’s engagement started with the couple watching a shotput and short race.
Once inside, they watched volleyball trials.
It was in conversation with one competitor, Michael Mellon, that Meghan let it slip they were due to be in Sydney in October. He noted:
“We talked a lot about Canada last year and how hot it had been for that time of year and how impressed she was at the level of competition. She told me that she had never been to Australia but was going to this year’s event and was really looking forward to being there with Harry.”
#MeghanMarkle chats to @WeAreInvictus hopefuls in Bath pic.twitter.com/MPiz3GHu1N
— Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) April 6, 2018
The couple met with a number of former competitors and family members, several of whom have competed in past Games, including Toronto’s. One such athlete stated:
“What Prince Harry has done for servicemen and women is just remarkable. Invictus has been life changing for me. I can’t work at the moment but I am hoping Sydney will be the next stage in my recovery.”
Prince Harry and Ms. Markle speak to competitors watching the indoor sitting volleyball trials – one of the 11 adaptive sports of the @InvictusSydney games. #IG2018 pic.twitter.com/AwgD8jRmvB
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) April 6, 2018
Per the Mail:
“Meghan had been briefed all about the Fijian-born soldier, who was pronounced dead by medics at Camp Bastion after being injured in the roadside bomb in Helmand province in July 2007 until one of them preparing to put his corpse in a body bag spotted signs of life.
“’They just said it’s very good, Derek, that you’re back again today.’ She said: ‘I have seen the pictures and your story’ and she just wished me all the best for the Invictus Games.
“The ex-soldier, now a British citizen, said: ‘It’s brilliant for all the guys that the couple are here today to show their support. I lost nine mates during the tour. I suffered more than 22 injuries. So I can’t complain that I am here today.’”
To make a rather abrupt pivot, Meghan wore an Invictus-branded polo shirt with Mother jeans and an olive green Babaton for Aritizia trench coat. These drapey, open coats have really become a part of her public uniform, no?
It’s unclear when we’ll next see the couple, but rumor has it that they’re due to play a role during the Commonwealth Heads of Government meetings the week of April 16. Who knows, maybe William and Kate’s baby will have been born by then – there’s a lot up in the air timing-wise this month! In the meantime, we’ll return to some history this weekend, so see you then.