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.

People are allowed to hold opposing views to you without you descending into this kind of childish talk and saying that they are worried or any of the number of other words that I have seen used on here. You wouldn't like it if someone were to say things like that about you. It's called a discussion.

Alarmed, unhinged etc....

Unfortunately discussion is impossible on these threads. Some posters turn everything into extremes ie you say something not positive about M, you are a hater or a 'mean girl'. There's also the whatabboutery. This is a thread about M and H yet I see there are comments about Camilla and Kate's wardrobes. I'm not sure if Prince Andrew has been mentioned yet. It's tedious. I can't believe the energy some posters put into this topic.

horrid that this thread has just become about what someone wears. always the women, no one says oh I loved/hated what harry/william were wearing

theres no personal attacks by Roussette, if you see that you should report it. She is allowed to say her opinion too and the poster she's referring to has spent the last week repeating the same comments on multiple threads. In amongst a whole lot of positive vet stories she was repeating the same opinions she has once again shared here. SO people will comment on that negativity when it seems repetitive and disproportionate or out of place. Saying ' don't worry about it' is really quite mild so relax, and let @Roussette share her opinions too.

is this really worthy of a 'discussion or civilised response though:
perhaps they shouldn't dish it if they can't take it.
That's the comment @Roussette responded to. Some people object to constant critiquing of women's clothes and repeating the same criticisms ad nauseam on unrelated threads. It is tedious when one poster repeats the same things for days across multiple threads.

Of course Meghan is entitled to wear what she wants. I’m not sure why almost the entire focus is on that though. It has no relevance to the cause she is supposedly there to support. It’s not a fashion parade. She is the partner of the patron, nothing more, yet she’s become the sole focus. Not the veterans, not even Harry. Personally I feel that amongst a lot of other women who aren’t as wealthy as her she could maybe think it important to dress conservatively and not in designer labels, but obviously she’s used to wearing high end clothes.

What I find extraordinary is how quickly people
forget the really awful way they have both behaved. Airing their grievances publicly, moaning about not being given titles for their children, complaining about being cut off financially from the Bank of Dad . Participating and writing books embarrassing and hurting direct family members. Going on a talk show to complain and whine. Ignoring the dying Queen with absolutely minimal visits until she had died whilst continuing g their campaign of Poor Us. Then making a song and dance about being by the bedside. These are not the actions of people who are kind and caring, or who put others before themselves. Yet there they are, figureheads for a charity supporting those less fortunate. All the while, the main talk on this thread is about what Meghan is wearing and how wonderful she looks. It’s really stomach churning. This isn’t about racism or hate as so many posters claim, it’s about morality and the superficiality of their behaviour.

yet she’s become the sole focus

She hasn't. If you want the focus to be on the vets and the games, then you should focus on it yourself!

I’m not posting endlessly on here about how wonderful she looks, specific clothes etc. I am not interested in her clothes. I’m interested in what sort of person she is.

it’s about morality

If anyone on this board cared about this, they wouldn't support a monarchy, or a King who financially supports and enables predatory men- Peter Balls and his brother.

@Iwantcakeeveryday no I was just giving a general opinion about these threads.

The bottom line from me is... she can wear as much in the way of casual clothes as she wants. That's it really.

I have no idea why she is getting criticised for the clothes she wore.

I've not once brought up her clothes on here. I just responded to hose who did bring it up. And it appears to be those who don't like her probably because it's the only thing to criticise her about at Invictus! So predictable.

I am a touch confused about what she is there to do. She’s married to an ex serviceman yet is parading in casual clothes with ex vets instead of her husband, the actual ex serviceman.

It does come off as self serving. Why wear inappropriate designer gear to an event like this? Make it seem more about her image than the purpose of the games. It’s odd and it doesn’t do her any favours with the people who thing she’s self absorbed already.

Are there any other military wives taking part in this way or is it just the DoS?

Are there any other military wives taking part in this way or is it just the DoS?

Ummm, she is the wife of the founder! Are you saying she shouldn't be there at all? She shouldn't support her husband in something he set up nearly ten years ago that is obviously important to him? I've heard it all now!

The vets, their families, the children appear to be loving her input. I'm perplexed why anyone would think she shouldn't be there.

Should Kate not accompany William to Earthshot? Same sort of thing. He started it, it's his baby, why should his wife be there supporting him....

It is tedious when one poster repeats the same things for days across multiple threads.'

Well I find it tedious when the same posters wave their pom poms across multiple threads as if Harold's 5 year Pity Party has never happened. I like to offer a bit of balance, I know it spoils the Sussex appreciation posts but come on, he has behaved appallingly and you want to hold him up as some bastion of positivity?!!

What I find extraordinary is how quickly people forget the really awful way they have both behaved. I haven't forgotten

I don't hold anyone up as a bastion of positivity. I do however think Harry has played a blinder with Invictus and it would be nice to just have this short window of positivity on MN for what he has achieved this week before normal business is resumed and it's back to the countless negative threads. Not a lot to ask I feel....

I like to offer a bit of balance

You're all heart Janiie 🤣😂

I like talking about clothes, if you’re not interested just ignore, and no I don’t generally talk about men’s clothes because they’re boring

https://twitter.com/forcesnews/status/1702667273054363788

Okay, so who thought this would be a good idea? They really don't help themselves, they are completely unaware of where the line is🤦‍♀️

Nope sorry. He chose his hat, he's a victim, it isn't fair, they were horrid to him, they cut him off. He blabbed to the media about private conversations is that ok?? It wasn't when Thomas did it.

Harold wouldn't know trust and loyalty if it bit him on his arse.

The vets deserve an authentic patron. Someone who actually is positive and determined not someone who pretends to be while fake grinning and whooping.

It's not a good time to mention her denim dress then??

@Roussette

She had every right to be there. Of course. But support is very different to taking a starring role. Kate is at some Earthshot events and wear a nice frock but doesn’t lead parades or make speeches. On their US visit she’s organised her own events linked to her own charities. Meghan could have easily done this, surely.

Look, I know you love them and think that they can do no wrong. But don’t you think it undermines your credibility somewhat to never recognise when they make a misstep? No one is perfect. I don’t think they need to be hounded about everything but at the same time they don’t help themselves and appear to have taken some very bad advice (or not taken advice at all).

Good on Harry for being bringing things like Invictus to the attention of the public. It is a great achievement. I’m not sure it outweighs what he did to his grandmother in the final months of her life. They are going to have to work very hard to make people forget just how disrespectful there were to The Queen last Summer as she was dying. We know now that she had incredibly painful bone cancer in the time they were in the U.K. and they refused to see her anyway until the very last second when they realised how bad the optic were.

This is what I find very difficult about them- they complain about the RF and their faults but then seem utterly unable to recognise anything they’ve ever done wrong. I’m afraid I can’t respect anyone so self deluded.

😱😱

its bizarre isn't it? Plenty of other vets have their families and wives there, it's a real family occasion and everyone actually there seems delighted she is with them. There are so many lovely shared stories its a shame this board always has to be so negative in spite of what the people they're helping are experiencing.