Why Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Didn't Bring Archie and Lilibet to Invictus Games
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry did not bring children Archie and Lilibet to the 2025 Invictus Games in Vancouver, Canada because they wish to maintain their children's privacy, royal experts reveal.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have made their return to the public eye, and for a good cause, no less. The couple went to the prince's 2025 Invictus Games in Vancouver, Canada on February 9 and delighted royal observers with their joint appearance, but two notable guests were not in attendance—their two children, Archie and Lilibet.
During the opening ceremony for the games, Markle gave an impromptu speech that mentioned her little ones were back back home. "So it is my entire pleasure and complete honor to introduce to this stage my husband, the father of our very sweet, excited children, who will cheer you on from California," she told the crowd. According to royal experts, Harry and Meghan have a very simple reason for leaving the kids at home this time around.
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In the latest episode of Hello! magazine's A Right Royal Podcast, Emmy Griffiths and Andrea Caamano spoke with royal editor Emily Nash and ITV's royal journalist Lizzie Robinson about Archie and Lilibet's lack of attendance at the Invictus Games. "Given the fact that the children are able to live a much more private life than their cousins...for example, because their roles are different," Nash explained, "I don't see why they would put them in that arena at this point."
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"They have sort of kept the children incredibly private. I know we saw snippets of them in the Netflix docuseries, but really, the children have lived an incredibly private life," Robinson said, adding, "I think the next Invictus Games will be interesting, because it's in Birmingham in 2027. Meghan does usually go with Harry to the Invictus Games. Will she come to the U.K.? Because she hasn't...for a very long time."
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Elsewhere in the duchess's speech, she introduced Harry and gushed over the admiration that she has for him. "We are just thrilled to be here, and I would be remiss if I didn't take the opportunity to introduce someone who means a lot to me. And I know he means quite a lot to all of you," Markle added in her speech. "You will see him at the Games...He's in it with you, and you'll see him through all of those moments. He'll be there with you."
Expect to see more of Markle and Harry in the coming weeks—the Invictus Games will take place until February 16.