Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, is reportedly considering canceling his in-person appearance at the Invictus Games 10th Anniversary Service at St. Paul's Cathedral in London on May 8, following a recent legal setback over his security arrangements in the UK. Sources close to the royal indicate that he may opt to participate via video link or a pre-recorded message instead.
The Duke, who founded the Invictus Games to aid the rehabilitation of wounded veterans through international sporting events, is currently engaged in discussions with his security team to determine whether attending the event in person is feasible. The decision comes on the heels of a recent court ruling that dismissed Harry's bid to appeal his case against the Home Office over police protection, leaving him without the automatic right to use royal security services while in the UK.
"Whenever Harry travels to the UK, his trips are always dependent on how secure he is," a source told an outlet. "Before deciding whether to attend the Invictus Games anniversary event, his security team must be sure that St. Paul's is adequately protected by the Metropolitan Police and his own security needs are met while he's in London."
Since stepping back as a working royal and relocating to the United States with his family, Prince Harry has been engaged in a two-and-a-half-year legal battle with the Home Office over his right to pay for police protection when visiting England. The UK government's stance is that his security, when in Britain, should be self-funded, except during official royal events or when accompanying the royal family.
"Harry wants to spend more time in the UK with his family," the source noted. "But there's no way he can do that while a question mark hangs over his security detail."
Last week, court documents revealed that Prince Harry's application to appeal the ruling was rejected by the judge, as was his request to pay just 40 percent of the government's costs, which exceeded £500,000. The judge ordered him to pay 90 percent instead, meaning the Duke now faces an estimated cost of £1 million, including his own legal fees.
"Harry is extremely disappointed by the decisions made regarding his security," the insider explained. "His request for security was not just for his personal safety but also for his family, the public and the officers assigned to him."
Despite the setback, the source emphasizes that Prince Harry remains committed to the Invictus Games and its participants. As he finalizes plans for the upcoming 10th anniversary service, the Duke may need to settle for a virtual appearance if his plans don't align with the security arrangements on offer during the event.
"Discussions with the relevant departments are ongoing," the source continued. "Harry won't attend if his team feels like his security might be compromised in any way."
The uncertainty surrounding Prince Harry's attendance at the Invictus Games anniversary event comes amidst revelations that he has updated his records in the UK to reflect his new primary residence in the United States. Filings published by Companies House show that the Duke's "New Country/State Usually Resident" is now listed as the USA, following his eviction from Frogmore Cottage last June.
