Meghan Markle has returned to California from the 2025 Invictus Games in Canada, where Prince Harry remains on site in Vancouver and Whistler until the event ends on February 16. The Duchess of Sussex, 43, departed early to reunite with the couple's two children-Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3-while Harry, 40, continues to fulfill his role as patron of the Invictus Games Foundation.
This arrangement was pre-planned to accommodate Meghan's family focus, even as she continues developing her solo projects, including the upcoming Netflix show "With Love, Meghan." Observers of the Games say her presence alongside Prince Harry underscores their united front. Harry launched the competition for wounded, injured, and sick service members in 2014 and has remained deeply involved since its inception.
At the start of this year's Games, an onlooker in Vancouver told People: "I think it's great that she's coming. There is a lot of speculation about them and their marriage, but this reinforces one thing to me, at least - there is no separation. It looks like they present a united front when it comes to matters they both care about."
Before returning home, the Duchess picked up mementos for her children. Derrick Cobbinah, team manager for Nigeria, told People: "We did one for him [Harry] and one for M and for the kids. They said they would be excited to have them. She was very, very excited."
Meghan's public appearance at the Games' welcome reception on February 7 provided an inside look at how the couple manages busy mornings at home. She recounted: "With families...the big rush in the morning and getting ready for school and packing the lunchboxes and making breakfast and my husband is in all of that with all of us. And then he'll be on his phone, and Archie will say, 'Papa, why are you on your phone?' and he's like, 'Because it's Invictus, I'm getting ready for Invictus.'"
Reflecting on Harry's investment in the event, Meghan noted: "It means so much to him. You are his family, just as we are his family. And I hope you recognize how much of his heart he has poured into every single beat that has gotten all of you to this week that is going to be spectacular."
She then formally introduced him to the crowd with a heartfelt acknowledgment: "...the father of our very sweet, excited children who are cheering you on from California, Prince Harry, founder of the Invictus Games, the Duke of Sussex." Meghan's remarks highlighted their shared dedication to supporting a competition that remains close to both their hearts.
Prince Harry has also spoken about how the Games serve as a teaching moment for his son. "I showed Archie a video of wheelchair basketball and rugby from the Invictus Games in Sydney, and he absolutely loved it," Harry told People in 2022. He added that discussions of the competitors' injuries "gave me a chance to talk about my mum, his grandma," referencing the late Princess Diana's work on clearing landmines.
While the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will miss spending Valentine's Day together this year, they reportedly enjoyed an early celebration on February 10. Town & Country reported that the two dined at the Italian restaurant Il Caminetto in Whistler with singer Michael Bublé and his wife, Luisana Lopilato, where Meghan wore diamond earrings believed to be a Valentine's Day gift from Harry last year.
