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 thought she could have done with different footwear too, maybe all white veja trainers, similar to the ones she wore in 2018 (to an Invictus event actually).

I would have paid good money to see that

😂

It looked weird.

I think a respectful slow walk behind the service people would have been fine ish but the grinning, honestly the pair of them are channelling Wallace from Wallace and Gromit.

I haven't seen the march, the shoes, the medal giving, etc. I have no idea how many clothes changes she had in one day. They are easy to avoid if you hate them so much. Why the obsessive forensic examination if every move she makes if you hate seeing them so much? It's clear people are getting a huge amount of enjoyment out of picking faults in a woman for daring to exist.

Heels would probably be better, like when she wore the black heels with the skinnies.

Lest she be accused of being too inappropriate sporting sneakers at a medals game 😂

Why shouldn't they smile or laugh

Honestly, you are doing yourself a complete disservice here

It was a success. Get over it

Apparently. But she actually only it wore on the way to the plane and not while seeing the children. It was still dumb.

Only the other day there were threads where posters were saying Harry was miserable. Now they smile and that’s wrong

I don't understand why she wore it at all, knowing she was going to see children in cages.

And you accuse others of nasty comments.

It was a joyous occasion, celebrating many achievements and lifting spirits. It wasn't a funeral.

Nor me.
What a message 🙄👀

There was so much negativity about her in the press at the time. One example being talk about her fashion choices. It was obvious she was making a statement when she knew she would be photographed without appreciating that people would disingenuously connect it with her visiting children. She had to get on AF1 (or whichever official plane she took). From DC to Texas - wasn’t a short trip. The criticism and spin was/is par for the course in American politics though. No one even remotely could believe the message was about the children.

This essentially says the same thing:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45853364.amp

The Closing Summary is fantastic, still some time left, don't miss out

%C3%BCsseldorf2023

What a support for Ukraine and every single rolling comment on youtube mentioning Harry is positive and thanking him

I’m watching the Invictus closing ceremony on the BBC, it’s very inspiring!

(more so than the current spate of whingeing about clothing on this thread)

The #InvictusGames Düsseldorf 2023 by the numbers:

• more than 140,000 spectators
• 21 broadcasters
• 800 accredited journalists
• 431,710,000 Households tuned in
• 67 countries

#IG23 #WeAreInvictus

WeAreInvictus Twitter is proud!

Meghan looks gorgeous, wow!! 😍

Wow, what a heartwrenching story James is

WOW the numbers!
That should silence the naysayers.

I haven’t watched yet! I just got back home.
logging off so I don’t see spoilers 🤚🏼

I have been watching, its fantastic it truly is. Well done to everyone, especially all the volunteers and athletes :) so much positivity!

Wow, Go Vancouver February 2025!!

Justin Trudeau’s in da house already!!!

and it’s going to be in partnership with Indigenous Nations!

it’s going to be A.MA.ZING!!!!

And now Rita Ora…