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.
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The Invictus Games are Prince Harry’s passion project (Image: Getty)
“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.”
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.”
He claimed Nick Booth, the chief executive of the Games, had been “parachuted into the post” after the dismissal of two Canadian executives who “resented” Harry and Meghan.
Mr Bower writes:“Booth was classed as a sycophant by the ousted executives. As Harry’s doorkeeper, Booth used the prince, alias an ‘attractive asset’, as a fundraiser to secure more money, to arrange TV coverage and tilt the media’s focus firmly towards the glamour of Harry and Meghan.”
He alleges the departed executives found Meghan to be “a distraction from the injured veterans,” with one of them saying: “She’s bling, not rehabilitation. Harry can’t decide whether Invictus should be styled on the Olympics or a more intimate warrior games embracing the military family.”
The execs allegedly warned that the competition would “once again be ignored by the media after the star-studded opening pop concert at the BC Place stadium.”
Mr Bower claimed: “Their criticism was echoed by Dominic Reid, the long-time head of the Invictus Foundation. Past coverage, admitted Reid, had been ‘disappointing’.”