King Charles has one big hope for Prince Harry's Invictus Games returning to the UK next year, but he remains cautious about public perception, according to a friend of the monarch.
Royal Support for Invictus Games
The Duke of Sussex founded the Invictus Games for wounded servicemen and veterans in 2014 after serving in the British Army. Next month, he is expected to return to the UK for a one-year-to-go event ahead of the 2027 Birmingham Games. Speculation has surrounded whether any Royal Family members will attend and what the King thinks of the event.
A source close to King Charles revealed his true thoughts on Harry's passion project. According to the Daily Mail, the King is "keen to show his support" for the Invictus Games. A friend of Charles said: "Like the rest of the Royal Family, His Majesty believes that Invictus is a very worthy cause. He hopes that the Games will be a big success for Birmingham next year and is aware that a lot of taxpayers' money has been spent on it."
Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment.
Harry Named Among Most Influential in Sports
It comes as Harry was named by Time magazine as one of the world's 100 most influential people in sports in 2026. The magazine unveiled its inaugural list of the most influential people in sports, aiming to showcase those shaping the sports landscape today. The Duke of Sussex appears in the Leaders section, with other categories being Icons, Titans, and Innovators.
Appearing first on the list, Harry is praised for founding the Invictus Games. He told the magazine: "I thought, 'Wow, look at the power of sport, look at how it is literally changing lives in front of my very eyes. It was so clear to me. Let's invite as many countries as possible to make it international, because clearly more countries need to benefit from this.'"
He added: "When you are wearing your nation's flag on your arm, on your chest, once that's removed, there's something that's missing. What we've managed to achieve through Invictus over the years is not only to give people their purpose and their meaning back, but give them their identity back."
