Sussex Source Ties Uganda's Invictus Exit to King Charles's Letter — Warns Veterans Might Pay the Price
Uganda emphasized that the president is the ultimate authority in the military, implying that the military's stance will remain unchanged.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's return to the UK last month has sparked considerable speculation about their working status. However, King Charles's latest guidance letter reaffirmed the terms of the Sandringham summit and stated that the Sussexes remain 'non-working royals'. This move may have led to international repercussions, as Uganda announced its withdrawal from the Invictus Games, scheduled for next year in Birmingham, within 48 hours of the palace guidance.
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of the Ugandan president, announced on X: “In order not to be construed as being opposed to His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom, whom we deeply revere, Uganda hereby withdraws from the Invictus Games. We shall not participate in anything that does not have His Majesty's approval.” He further confirmed his decision in an interview with The Times, noting that factions within the Ministry of Defense backed the Harry-Meghan situation, which he quickly dismissed, reaffirming his unwavering support for the monarchy.
Meanwhile, Harry's office was quick to link General Kainerugaba's decision to the letter made public by Buckingham Palace, which stated that any charitable activities undertaken by the Sussexes will remain personal and conducted privately. "Intended or unintended, this is clearly a consequence of the Lord Chamberlain’s guidance regarding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, that was rushed out without consultation on Monday," a Sussex source claimed.
"Sadly, the only people who will suffer are the Invictus Games competitors," the source added.
ITV News sought clarification from the Ugandan government regarding its withdrawal from the Invictus Games. Government spokesperson Alan Kasujja stated that General Kainerugaba represents the Uganda People’s Defense Forces and emphasized that the president is the ultimate authority in the military, implying that the military's stance will remain unchanged unless the president alters his position. However, the spokesperson could not clarify if the announcement was a direct result of the letter. There are no indications that Charles is going against the noble cause, as he attended the inaugural event in 2014 and remains proud of his son's achievements. Furthermore, a royal source confirmed that the King supports all organizations that aid wounded service members.
The Duke and the Duchess asserted that they were not adequately consulted before the release of the letter by his Lord Chamberlain on Monday. Though they withdrew from the Royal Rota system in 2020, the Sussexes have continued public engagements and charity work. The news of the withdrawal follows an event in which Ugandan Defense Minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka praised Kainerugaba for promoting the country's entry into the Invictus Games. Uganda was the 26th nation to join, marking its participation in the 2027 games in Birmingham, which would have been the second African nation to do so, The Sun reported.
