Prince Harry Under Fire Over Invictus as Meghan Markle Carves Out Solo Success
Prince Harry faces mounting questions over his future after a fresh Invictus setback, while Meghan Markle continues forging her own path.
The Sussexes are rarely outside of the web of controversies, but amid the chaos, Meghan Markle seems to have somehow carved a way out for herself. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about Prince Harry. While he remains dedicated to philanthropy, Harry is now facing yet another setback, and this time it is for a passion project close to his heart.
While Markle has thrown herself into growing her lifestyle brand, As Ever, Harry's path is looking far more complicated. The Duke has come under renewed pressure around Invictus, with some calling for him to step down as patron, especially after his departure from Sentebale. He is facing backlash, particularly over remarks about his Afghanistan kill count in Spare, which some veterans saw as inappropriate.
Col. Tim Collins, who is a retired army veteran, described Harry’s comments as "crass," telling Forces News, “Amongst his assertions is a claim that he killed 25 people in Afghanistan. That's not how you behave in the army; it's not how we think. He has badly let the side down. We don't do notches on the rifle butt. We never did.” The former soldier also went on to accuse Harry of taking part in a “tragic moneymaking scam to fund the lifestyle he can't afford.”
That was not the end of it. Other Afghanistan veterans too condemned the prince's comments, with one former paratrooper saying he had “never heard anyone talk about kill counts," calling the remarks “crass” and “frankly cringeworthy." He said, “Taking a life is the most serious thing you can ever do on ops; serious people don't talk it up as a game to shift a few books.”
Previously, Invictus Games board member Melloney Poole stepped down as trustee and vice chairman of the foundation, ahead of the 2027 Birmingham event. Poole, who has been described as “instrumental” to the team, only took on the vice chairman role in December 2024 in what was seen as a big win for the charity. A spokesperson of Poole said, “Melloney has decided to step down to focus on her other interests—not least the Florence Nightingale Foundation.”
Her departure has since been described as a “second heartbreak” for Harry, with Invictus being one of the projects closest to his heart. The setbacks did not stop there, though. Shortly after Harry and Markle returned from their Australia trip last month, it was revealed that the Australian government had cut funding for Invictus Australia. The decision could have major consequences, with concerns growing that Australia may struggle to send a team to the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham.
Adding to the pressure, a source recently told Page Six that “money is tight” for the Sussexes. According to the report, the royal couple reportedly need at least $6 million a year to cover their expenses, including the mortgage on their $15 million home and an estimated $3 million annually on private security.
