Prince Harry is moving ahead with a series of high-profile charity engagements in Britain, including events for the Invictus Games and WellChild, after Buckingham Palace circulated guidance reiterating that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex no longer represent the monarchy and carry out their charitable and commercial activities privately.
The distinction has taken on added significance after Uganda withdrew from the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda's Chief of Defence Forces, invoked King Charles III while announcing the decision and disparaged what he called "Harry-Meghan nonsense."
Harry's UK schedule includes the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards, the launch of an education initiative tied to the Games and an appearance at the WellChild Awards. The engagements underline how Harry has continued to maintain a substantial public charitable profile despite leaving his role as a working member of the royal family.
The latest clarification came in a letter sent by the Lord Chamberlain to government and military officials and Lord Lieutenants after Harry and Meghan returned to Britain. The communication didn't change the couple's legal status but restated arrangements that have applied since they stepped away from official royal duties in 2020.
According to the guidance, Harry and Meghan's HRH styles remain in abeyance and their charitable activities aren't undertaken on behalf of the monarch. Their current position was described as "akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests."
People close to the Sussexes have challenged the characterization, arguing that Harry and Meghan remain prominent public figures even though they no longer perform official royal duties. The couple received roughly an hour's notice before the Palace communication became public, according to reports.
The Palace guidance also reinforced a distinction that has followed the Sussexes since their departure from royal duties: their visibility doesn't confer an official role. Harry can organize charitable initiatives, attend public events and work with organizations he supports, but those engagements aren't classified as duties carried out for the King.
That distinction has become entangled with the Invictus Games after Uganda abruptly ended its participation. The country had joined the Invictus community only in July, becoming its 26th participating nation and the first from East Africa.
Harry had personally welcomed the Ugandan delegation in London as preparations were under way for the 2027 Birmingham Games. Kainerugaba subsequently said Uganda wouldn't participate in activities that could be interpreted as conflicting with the wishes of King Charles.
The general's public comments connected his decision rhetorically to the British monarchy, but there is no independent evidence that Buckingham Palace requested Uganda's withdrawal or that its guidance directly caused the decision. A Ugandan government spokesman confirmed that Kainerugaba speaks for the country's military but said he didn't know whether the withdrawal was connected to the Palace letter.
People close to Harry have argued that the impact of Uganda's decision would ultimately fall on wounded and injured service personnel who otherwise could have participated in Invictus. ITV News has similarly noted that a direct causal link between the Palace communication and Uganda's withdrawal hasn't been established.
Harry founded the Invictus Games in 2014 as an international sporting competition for wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans. Birmingham is scheduled to host the next Games in 2027, bringing the event back to the country where the project originated.
His latest UK visit includes the rollout of INSPIRE, an education program built around the experiences of Invictus competitors. The initiative will provide curriculum-linked materials covering subjects including mathematics, English, science, technology, engineering, art, physical education and personal, social, health and economic education.
Harry is also expected to participate in a school assembly and play pickleball with pupils before attending the first Invictus Spirit Awards. Those activities are being undertaken through Invictus rather than as engagements on behalf of the Royal Household.
The Duke will separately attend the WellChild Awards, continuing one of his longest-running charitable relationships in Britain. Harry became patron of WellChild in 2007 and is expected to meet children with serious and complex health conditions along with their families, carers and healthcare professionals.
