Prince Harry set for UK return – and it raises questions for William and Kate

Prince Harry looks set to have another date in his diary for a trip to the UK as his Invictus Games in 2027 are set to be held in Birmingham – and it could pose questions for the likes of King Charles and the Prince and Princess of Wales

Prince Harry looks set for another trip back to the UK after his Invictus Games charity made a huge announcement.

Today it has been revealed that Birmingham has won the bid to host the sporting competition for wounded, injured and sick military personnel and veterans in 2027.

It will be the second time that the Games will be held in the UK after the inaugural event took place in London in 2014. As founder of the Games, it is more than likely that he will travel to the UK for the event in three years time.

But a competition on home turf for Harry will no doubt raises the question as to whether Harry’s father King Charles, brother Prince William, sister-in-law the Princess of Wales or other members of the royal family will attend to support the event. Charles and William backed Harry when he launched the major venture 10 years ago, joining him at the opening ceremony and later flanking him as they watched the athletics together in high spirits.

Harry and Meghan at the last Invictus Games in Dusseldorf
But much has changed in the years that followed, with Harry stepping down as a working royal with wife Meghan and moving to the US. He faces a strained relationship with his father and an ongoing rift with his brother, exacerbated by the criticism he levelled at Charles, the Queen, William and Kate in his Netflix documentary and memoir Spare. In fact, on his most recent visit to the UK in May, Harry did not meet with his father the King, who is undergoing cancer treatment.

Meanwhile, it is not yet known whether Meghan will accompany Harry during the 2027 Games. S he nearly always makes high-profile appearances during the event and she was last seen publicly in the UK at the late Queen’s funeral in 2022 – but the couple’s security situation in the UK may prove a stumbling block for the pair.

Earlier this year, Harry lost a High Court battle over the loss of his UK police protection when he is in the country after quitting Britain for the United States. . During the legal hearing, Harry said in a statement he believes his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet cannot “feel at home” in the UK if it is “not possible to keep them safe” there. He also added: “The UK is central to the heritage of my children and a place I want them to feel at home, as much as where they live at the moment in the United States.

Both Prince William and King Charles attended the inaugural Invictus Games in 2014 in London
“That cannot happen if it’s not possible to keep them safe when they are on UK soil. I cannot put my wife in danger like that and, given my experiences in life, I am reluctant to unnecessarily put myself in harm’s way too.” Harry has been allowed to appeal against the decision, but if it does not go in his favour before the Games in 2027, both he and Meghan may have to make a big decision on whether she should attend.

Meanwhile, today Harry has issued a statement congratulating Birmingham, with the event to be staged at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in July in three years’ time. The Midlands city was backed with £26million from the UK government and saw off competition from US finalist Washington DC.

Three new sports – pickleball, laser run and esports – are expected to feature in the 2027 Games. Harry, said Birmingham’s strong ties to the military community had made it a “formidable contender”. He said in a statement: “Congratulations to Birmingham, UK, on winning the bid to host the Invictus Games 2027. Your city’s strong ties to the armed forces community made it a formidable contender from the very start.

“Over the years, we’ve seen each city bring a unique spirit and vision to life for competitors, their families and spectators. We have no doubt the people of Birmingham will join in celebrating the unwavering respect and admiration we have for our veteran and service community, showing the world how their courage ignites hope and unites us all — something your city knows well.”