The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the Invictus Games 2023

[MrsMaxDeWinter]

Most of the Invictus threads seem to be filling up, or focused on fairly parochial issues, so I thought, now that Meghan is in Dusseldorf, I would lead us off with a general new thread about Harry and Meghan at Invictus 2023.

Some initial thoughts from me.

The UK tabloid narrative about how much Harry and Meghan are loathed globally is blown apart by the warm and rousing welcome they both received, both separately and together. So the UK tabloids have to dig deep to write eye-rollingly silly stories about Harry being "humiliated" because he did not score a goal during a fun, light-hearted TV appearance to promote the Games.

Invictus clearly means everything to Harry, and it is lovely to see Meghan supporting him, and to remember that it was at Invictus in Toronto that they first went public. The event must have such lovely memories for them both.

Favourite picture: Meghan with Glory Essien, the Nigerian athlete.

The Nigerians have really lit up the tournament. A Kenyan senator who met Harry last week posted on X that she would work on Kenya to be the next African team.

After everything in the last year, it's so lovely to see that Invictus is getting bigger, that Harry is as committed as he has always been to the Games he started, and that Meghan is there to support the veterans, and her husband.

I do wonder why the Mail are giving them such positive press so far since she's arrived. Probably storing up all the vitriol until MM does something heinous like smiling too much ;)

Well said.

The criticism of Meghan is so pathetic it makes me laugh out loud. Angela Levin took the biscuit on her mean girl take on it. And no I didn't go looking for it, I was trying to find Meghan talking to the attendees and it was marauding like a genuine clip on YouTube.

I read that Harry was silent because she is there now. Should he have grabbed the mic and talked over her ?! 🤣

Meghan hasn’t received any criticism as far as I can see.

I loved her jacket today but reallllly not into the shorts. Her dress last night was lovely as well. There are some great photos of them both from today.

'The UK tabloid narrative about how much Harry and Meghan are loathed globally'

'The Duke and Duchess receive a rapturous welcome' The Daily Mail.

You seem to want to drive this negative narrative, the tabloids certainly aren't.

Granted there'll be crap on Twitter but that isn't 'the tabloids' is it.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12512917/Meghan-Markle-attends-Invictus-Games-event-Prince-Harry.html

Yes well they will give the odd positive-ish article but they know the nasty stuff sells more. I am doing my best to avoid them because I feel so positive about the games and I am still thinking of the series and what I have learnt from those athletes about coping with trauma. I really do find them all very motivating. I woke up in pain the other day and such a low mood about it, I didn't want to exercise at all but I thought of how they all get up and push through because they know it helps so I did the same. There are lots of people that inspire me in a similar way but having them on now means I can watch them as I work out :) it helps all my issues, mental and physical so definitely worth it.
Meghan and Harry are both clearly appreciated there, and I think you can tell that they get a lot out of it too. Meghan also mentioned they want to bring their children in the future. I think it wise not to take them when they're so young.

They're brilliant

I've seen criticism of her for talking about herself (hair, make up, childcare). Presumably from people who think she should have been showcasing the participants and the project, not herself.

Also, that she is 43% Nigerian seems to have resurfaced (because of the hug) - something I'd missed when she was first talking about it

I've seen criticism of her for talking about herself (hair, make up, childcare). Presumably from people who think she should have been showcasing the participants and the project, not herself.

Yes what a ridiculous argument. One sentence. Another example of how she can't do a thing without being criticised. How absurd they can make no reference to their own life, fortunately that doesn't seem to be how the people in the games view things and thats who matters.

The pathetic tabloids are, as expected, at it again. Anyone who thinks this wasn't going to happen hasn't been paying attention.

A few examples. carefully copy-pasted to avoid clicking and giving them click-revenue:

Meghan Markle using her kids to shape public image in calculated move
Meghan Markle gets slammed for ‘ludicrous’ move upon arrival in Germany
Meghan Markle disappoints fans by posing as ‘adoring political wife to Prince Harry
Meghan Markle wanted to show 'closeness' with Prince Harry and 'it was important to her that they appear side-by-side
Meghan Markle wears skimpy outfit she never would have got away with in the royal family
bla bla blah

Yep, the ridiculous nonsense above is from actual tabloids, and there's without a doubt a LOT more coming.

But who cares about these losers? Because honestly, they'd have to be to enjoy a job consisting of spewing out witless anti Harry & Meghan articles 24 hours a day...

Luckily, there are a lot more journos happy to celebrate and encourage vets, their families and entourage, and use Invictus as an opportunity to educate the public about veteran issues.... while regaling some royal fans.

It would be a very sad look for Harry if the participants and their families did not give him and his wife a rapturous welcome. He is well loved by those participating, thats for sure, and he has pulled together a wonderful event which has touched the lives of a lot of people who have faced some very tragic circumstances.

Sadly, it appears it didn't garner the interest of the general public or those outside of the military and the vets, I watched part of the wheelchair rugby, the stadium was quite empty, although it did look like it was a massive stadium to be fair, I watched it on the Invictus live channel and there were not many of us watching it, a little more than 100 viewing it at the same time as I was, although there may have been more at the beginning of the game.

Hopefully it will grow into something more mainstream with a much wider audience, similar to the paralympic's. I feel Harry (and Meghan) need another few years of good PR before they can put the fallout from Oprah, Netflix and Spare behind them. The positive media reports from Invictus and, what looks to be a new PR strategy, are all steps in the right direction.

Wow, I haven't seen any of those kind of headlines. While It hasn't been wall to wall coverage that's for sure, there have been some nice articles and some lovely touching photos, Harry's opening speech was covered positively, as well as Meghan's speech.

Looks like a really nice positive headline to me.

It seems a bit like groundhog day where the same complaints about the tabloids happen every time regardless of what the tabloids are actually doing. In reality I don’t think the press takes things that personally - they are bigger than any one person and care about engagement more than anything else. It just proves that if you do something positive, you get positive coverage.

Did you not hear all the booing? The whole thing is all about H&M instead of the amazing athletes. It’s really sad.

What booing?

I said there is a tabloid UK narrative about how loathed they are globally.

All those endless"polls" about how they are not popular, etc. My point is that this simply is not true. they are not loathed globally, as Invictus shows. It's so transparent. Meghan and Harry are the only private citizens who are polled so extensively, and repeatedly, in the US media, and certainly, for the purposes of polling, UK tabloids appear to treat them as Royal Family members even as they moan that they are cashing in by still claiming to be members of the Royal family. My favourite recent one included one where people were asked whether Meghan "should be removed from the line of succession".

!!

As if she was even there. They added Kate, Camilla and Sophie, presumably for "balance" and must have been gutted when more people thought Camilla should be removed from the LOS than Meghan, never mind that she's not in it either!

Less reported are the polls like Lord Ashcroft's, who found that in 12 of the 14 realms, Harry and Meghan are believed over members of the family. In those countries the UK tabloids, and the Murdoch media, have no influence at all.

As for this from @themessygarden :

Sadly, it appears it didn't garner the interest of the general public or those outside of the military and the vets

I am not sure why this is sad: it has garnered the interests of those who matter the most, the participating veterans, the governments and military who are supporting their participation, the families of the veterans, the long term partners and sponsors, the volunteers from all over the world willing to be part of it, and the enthusiastic crowds who support the Games.

It's hardly Strictly Come Dancing or Love Island and was never going to be the kind of event that enthrals or titillates the general public.

But the fact that the Games are growing in size and scope, and are now truly global as all continents are now represented (Korea has just put in a bid to host) is a sign that this is very much a success, no matter how the "general public" might view it.

https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2023-09-11/national/diplomacy/Korea-launches-bid-to-host-Invictus-Games/1866502

You have started a thread to initiate a Sussex bun fight, why? The evidence is there the tabloids are commentating favourably. Of course they are, too much respect for the vets to do otherwise.

Harry is having a taste of positivity and is lapping up the limelight, lovely! It may make him more positive going forward. What's not to like? Yes their speeches tend to meander a bit but the vets like them it's a worthwhile cause and if Harry is hanging on to their coat tails to improve his rep, well meh. He's done far worse.

The UK tabloid narrative about how much Harry and Meghan are loathed globally is blown apart by the warm and rousing welcome they both received, both separately and together.

I think that it’s more than apparent that the relentless negativity when it comes to reporting on/commenting about them has been kept in check due to the veterans. I think Meghan finally appears to have stopped tying herself in knots to avoid criticism. It has been interesting that the print media has been as positive - the most fervent H&M detractors have continued their criticisms online and on TV so will need to see how this progresses. Overall, at the midpoint, the games seem to be going well and so a very well done to Team Invictus.

Love it. It looks like the Sussexes are having an amazing time - as are the participants and their families.

From Team Nigeria:

"They're being presented with a plaque from the Chief of Defence in Nigeria - and Meghan's even been given a new nickname: Amira Ngozi Lolo.
Amira is a warrior princess from a legend, Ngozi means 'blessed' and Lolo is 'royal wife'."

Meghan's even been given a new nickname: Amira Ngozi Lolo.

I love that! I love the way Nigerian (well, I know Ngozi is Igbo) names are so rich in meaning.

@Janiie

I am aware you dislike the Sussexes, but this is not a bunfight thread. I am sorry you have mistaken it for one. Precisely because I do not want it to descend into one, I prefer not to get into a ding dong with you.

@skullbabe

Very well done to Team Invictus indeed.

Here is one of my fav pictures from today's events. Meghan is really going all in with the Nigerian support!

It's not clear which nation in Nigeria her enslaved ancestors were from, but if they were from the two largest, she could be given the Igbo name, Chidinma, and if Yoruba, Ireoluwatomiwa or Abeni.

Would go well with Harry's Sesotho name, Mahale!😀

@queentim

Snap!

Your post came through as I was typing.

Amira is from Hausa, it means Princess, while Ngozi is an Igbo name that means Blessing.

It was actually my initial suggestion, but I really love Chidinma.

Lolo, or, better known, Lola, is the diminutive for the Yoruba name Omolora (you see how I love my Nigerian names), and it means an expected child!

I love all three names.

Thank you! This is all so interesting!

'am aware you dislike the Sussexes, but this is not a bunfight thread. I am sorry you have mistaken it for one

Your lengthy op is full of comments about loathing and the horrid UK media. Would you like to comment on the favourable link that I posted from the Daily mail or are we sticking with the Evil UK Media narrative?

Just admit it it's had very favourable coverage, because of the participants obviously but they are of course what it is all about.

I laugh at the crazy mental gymnastics necessary to think these two are worthy of your fawning