Prince Harry’s highly anticipated return to London took place on Tuesday of this past week. He attended a service at St Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Invictus Games. However, it was only a brief visit for the Prince, as he departed just hours after the service in order to join his wife Meghan for their trip to Nigeria.
Royal Visit to Nigeria
The royal couple’s journey to Nigeria was on the invitation of the Chief of Defence Staff, the highest-ranking military official in the country. Harry had previously met the Chief of Defence Staff at the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf last September. During a conversation with HELLO! at the event, Harry’s friend and Director at Invictus Games Foundation, David Wiseman, spoke about the significance of the trip. Wiseman highlighted the goal of assessing the progress in establishing and developing sports recovery in Nigeria, and celebrating the achievements made in this area.
Meghan’s Nigerian Heritage and Bond with Nigerian Team
During last year’s Invictus Games, Meghan spent significant time building bonds with the Nigerian team. To commemorate their connection, the Nigerian team even bestowed Meghan with a Nigerian name of her own. Nigeria holds a special place in Meghan’s heart due to her Nigerian heritage, which she revealed on her former podcast, Archetypes. Meghan shared that she discovered she is forty-three percent Nigerian through genealogy and expressed her intention to explore this further.
The service at St Paul’s Cathedral was led by The Very Reverend Andrew Tremlett, Dean of St Paul’s. Representatives from various Invictus Games participating nations, including wounded, injured, and sick service personnel and veterans, were in attendance as guests of honour. Actor Damian Lewis also participated in the event by reciting the poem ‘Invictus’ by William Ernest Henley. Prince Harry established the Invictus Games to support the rehabilitation of injured and sick military personnel and veterans worldwide, providing them with opportunities to compete in sporting events similar to the Paralympics.
Prince Harry’s Emotional Visit
Wednesday’s event marked Prince Harry’s return to the UK for the first time since flying over to visit his father, King Charles, following his cancer diagnosis in February. Upon his arrival, he went to Clarence House, where he spent about 45 minutes with his father. It was a poignant moment as his father had delayed his journey to Sandringham to spend time with his younger son.
On a different note, there is speculation that Meghan may not return to the UK anytime soon. The Telegraph’s Royal Editor Hannah Furness shared insights on why this might be the case, mentioning a prevailing narrative that suggests Meghan and their children will not return until security concerns are resolved to their satisfaction. However, Prince Harry is expected to make occasional trips back and forth between the UK and locations of interest.
Prince Harry’s brief visit to London and subsequent journey to Nigeria for the Invictus Games anniversary highlighted the royal couple’s commitment to supporting sports recovery initiatives and celebrating progress in this area. The event at St Paul’s Cathedral brought together representatives from around the world to commemorate the enduring impact of the Invictus Games on injured and sick military personnel and veterans. The emotional visit also underscored the importance of family bonds and connections in times of need.
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