Prince Harry Faces Major Setback As Key Member Of The Invictus Games Resigns
Prince Harry’s beloved Invictus Games is facing fresh turmoil as another major departure sparks new concerns behind the scenes
A streak of misfortunes continues for Prince Harry as a key figure has decided to quit the Invictus Games Foundation just months before their UK return. The charity has always meant a great deal to Harry, but its impact goes far beyond him. For many wounded veterans, both physically injured and mentally scarred by their experiences in combat, it has given them a renewed sense of purpose, confidence, and belief in themselves again.
But now, according to the Daily Mail, Melloney Poole, a trustee and vice chairman of the board, has resigned before next year’s games in Birmingham. Poole has built an impressive career over the years, spanning law and public service. The 77-year-old previously held major roles at the Heritage Lottery Fund and also chaired the board of governors for the Regional Committee of the National Lottery Charities Board. She currently serves as chair of the Florence Nightingale Foundation.
Her reputation was so strong that in 2015, the Ministry of Defence asked her to create and lead the new Armed Forces Covenant Fund, which has since gone on to become an independent charitable trust. That is why bringing her on board in December 2024 was seen as a major win for the Invictus Foundation.
However, a spokesperson for the organization recently revealed that Poole has now decided to step down to focus on her other commitments. They said, “Melloney has decided to step down to focus on her other interests—not least the Florence Nightingale Foundation.” The spokesperson added that her “extensive leadership experience” had been key in helping lay the groundwork for next year’s Games.
More recently, the Invictus Games have also been facing growing scrutiny over finances, with critics raising concerns about how the charity is being run. Reports claimed that the 2025 Games in Canada spent too much money on staging the Games rather than directly helping the ex-servicemen and women. There has also been debate over taxpayer funding and whether enough transparency is being provided. The growing backlash has turned into one of the biggest challenges the Invictus organization has faced in years.
Critics are questioning whether Harry could be facing another painful setback, especially after what happened with Sentebale, a charity he co-founded in 2006 in honor of his mother, Princess Diana. The charity was set up to help vulnerable children in Southern Africa, a cause close to the late Princess's heart, but things took a turn for the worse in recent years. By early 2025, Harry's relationship with the charity's chairwoman, Sophie Chandauka, had reportedly become so strained that there was no way forward, eventually leading to his exit. It has been reported that he was deeply upset when he stepped down as patron of the organization.
Moreover, Sentebale also filed a defamation case against Harry, claiming that he played a role in fueling negative press coverage about the charity. A spokesperson for the Duke denied all accusations, saying, “It is extraordinary that charitable funds are now being used to pursue legal action against the very people who built and supported the organisation for nearly two decades, rather than being directed to the communities the charity was created to serve.”
