Prince Harry's Office Blames King Charles' Letter for Uganda's Invictus Games Withdrawal

The fallout from King Charles' latest clarification of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal status has reached the Invictus Games, according to ITV News, with Harry's office linking Uganda's decision to withdraw from next year's competition to the Palace letter.

The letter reaffirmed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are no longer working royals, a restatement the Palace has said introduces no new policy.

Uganda had joined the Invictus movement only two months earlier, making its abrupt withdrawal particularly significant. Harry's office reportedly believes the timing of the decision is connected to the Palace correspondence, raising fresh questions about whether the royal family's latest clarification could affect the Sussexes' involvement with the Games.

Prince Harry's Office Links Uganda Exit to Palace Letter

According to ITV News, Prince Harry's office believes Uganda's decision was directly connected to the latest developments surrounding the Palace's guidance on the Sussexes' status.

The Invictus Games Foundation was reportedly told the letter had caused confusion within Uganda's defence department, the broadcaster reported.

A source close to Harry also told People that Ugandan officials had made it clear their withdrawal was linked to what they understood as guidance from Lord Chamberlain Lord Benyon.

The source suggested the decision was an unintended consequence of the letter being released and argued that Ugandan competitors would ultimately be the ones affected.

'The only people suffering as a result are the competitors from Uganda who would have been taking part in next year's Invictus Games,' the source claimed. The claim has not been independently confirmed by the Ugandan government.

ITV News reported that a government spokesperson did not know whether the withdrawal was related to the Palace letter, although General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda's Chief of Defence Forces, publicly linked the decision to allegiance to King Charles.

Kainerugaba's stated reason, allegiance to the monarch, differs from the explanation offered by Harry's office, which attributes the withdrawal to confusion caused by the Palace letter.

Uganda Withdraws From 2027 Invictus Games After Just Two Months

On Tuesday, 8 September, Kainerugaba announced that Uganda would withdraw from the Invictus Games and said the move was to support the British monarch.

'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,' Kainerugaba wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

'We shall not participate in anything that does not have His Majesty's approval,' he added. His announcement came one day after the Palace made public the letter clarifying Harry and Meghan's position as non-working royals, and Harry had personally welcomed Uganda to the Invictus community during an event in London in July.

When approached by The Times, Kainerugaba acknowledged that there are members of the Ministry of Defence who 'support that Harry-Meghan nonsense.' He clarified that his allegiance is to King Charles, saying, 'I support the monarch. Period.' Kainerugaba is also the son of the President of Uganda.

What King Charles' Letter Said About Harry and Meghan

The letter, issued by Lord Benyon on the King's behalf, reiterated that Harry and Meghan remain outside the working Royal Family and that their charitable activities are undertaken in a private capacity. It also confirmed that their HRH styles remain in 'abeyance and are not used.'

The Palace has maintained that the letter did not introduce a new policy, but restated arrangements agreed when the Sussexes stepped back from royal duties in 2020. ITV News reported that the correspondence was intended to clarify their position for government and military departments.

Harry and Meghan were reportedly surprised by the timing of the announcement after their team received the correspondence shortly before it was made public. The Sussexes have not publicly commented on the description of their status, and the Palace has not commented on Harry's office's interpretation of the letter's effect.

There is no suggestion that King Charles opposes the Invictus Games, with a senior royal source telling ITV News that the King supports organisations working with wounded service personnel. The Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 are scheduled to take place in July 2027.