Prince Harry has risked facing the “wrath” of his father, King Charles, after a decision was made relating to the next Invictus Games.
At the closing of the 2025 Games in Vancouver, Harry confirmed the next event will take place in Birmingham in June 2027.
Daily Mail commentatory Ephraim Hardcastle says it is a move than could “irk” the King as it would clash with his lavish plans for Queen Camill’s 80th birthday.
The King is said to be planning to “pull out all the stops” to celebrate the Queen’s personal milestone, with events set to centre around a thanksgiving service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor. The Queen will mark her 80th on July 17, 2027.
Hardcastle, added: “The arrival of Harry’s bandwagon at the same time will be an unwelcome distraction. However, he is unlikely to lose sleep, given his fractious relationship with his stepmother.”
According to the commentatory, the King has been planning the milestone celebrations since 2023.
The King celebrated his last major milestone, his 75th birthday, with a lavish dinner at Clarence house, surrounded by friends and family.
Harry has been critical about the Queen, calling her “the Other Woman” in his memoir Spare, and calling her “the villain” during an interview with 60 Minutes host Anderson Cooper, reports Cambridgeshire Live.
He confirmed the Invictus Games will take place in the UK in 2027, despite his security concerns.
But questions have been raised about whether Harry and Meghan Markle will travel to Birmingham for the Games.
The Duke of Sussex lost a High Court challenge over his right to state-funded police protection in the UK last year. Harry has previously said believes the UK is unsafe for Meghan, as well as five-year-old Archie and three-year-old Lilibet.
However, speaking at the end of the Vancouver Games last week, the 40-year-old told a 20,0000-strong crowd “the Games will go on”.
Speaking from the Rogers Stadium, Harry said: “So long as our brothers and sisters are striving to heal and grow, the Games will go on.
“So long as there are those around the world who view you with sympathy, rather than admiration and respect, the Games will go on. And so long as the challenges around us demand it and require it, the Games will go on. Bring on Invictus Birmingham 2027.”
Birmingham fought off competition from six other cities to be awarded the 2027 Games. It was eventually named the successful host city after a final round of voting saw it finishing ahead of Washington DC, USA.
