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.

This thread came up in active and the last comments were about Omid's book. Looking back it's difficult to tell what the topic of the thread was - although it definitely started by being about the Invictus Games from the title - but there are lots of deletions. Some posters arguing with each other. And others having a discussion about dresses.

The thread topic can be found in the opening post. It appears at the top in green.

That genuinely made me laugh. We both know MN doesn't have thread police and the references I gave ie the arguments, the deleted posts and the dress chat were the main focus for the last three pages. It's safe to say the topic had moved on.
But I guess you must be unhappy about some of the most recent posts so now you're trying to pretend there was a topic that wasn't deviated from - which is a bit odd since everyone can scroll back and see that's not the case. You can have your own opinion on how threads can run - but you can't have your own facts about how this thread had actually progressed.

🙄

" we've left you all to it"

Now that is a very interesting statement.

I take it that a "no, I don't know" then?

So perhaps it's only me who didn't have to google for their activities right now

(Check my posting history if you want to see length/scope of involvement, though I suppose you might decide I've been fabricating for years)

You mean go over all the discussions we’ve had on here about all facets of Invictus Games for your benefit? No. RTFT and there is at least one other thread on IG on here if memory serves me.

Not sure what you mean by ‘squaddies.’ I’ve seen twitter posters identify as ‘Sussex Squaddies’ on Twitter but not on here. I get the impression it’s an American thing. I do know sports teams also have the ‘swim squads’ etc..

I saw this the other day. I love that the Invictus Games is becoming so well known and getting the attention the Games deserves.

So perhaps it's only me who didn't have to google for their activities right now

Please tell us about them. Share what the latest on IG is. That’s what this thread is for.

No, I didn't mean that at all.

I am well aware that people were interested in the Games during the Harry spotlight (both the Games themselves and the stories released at the time about athletes). I've been on this thread throughout, of course I don't need it explaining to me (I was also on other Invictus related threads)

My question is literally what I asked - what (without google or other checking) is the Invictus Foundation doing right now?

My point was that despite claims that there is a deep interest in the Foundation, it's actually evaporated since the Harry spotlight went away.

The latest is the Adventure to Jordan (a run in the Wadi Rum desert. plus water and conservation project)

(And yes, I would have expected people who care about a charity's work to follow it on social media)

BTW: Squaddies is a British term and refers to low rank soldiers of the Army. It's been in use since at least the 1930s.

I'm not quite sure why you feel you are entitled to some sort of explanation from posters or that we need to go over yet again what we've been speaking about over a number of threads, especially just for you. READ THE THREAD. No need to google.

Oh I see, so you're here to take some sort of quiz? Despite posters popping in with news when relevant, we need to prove ourselves further to you do we? How incredibly rude. Feel free to keep updating us, if you think we aren't genuinely interested. Some of us have a life and discuss things outside of the cesspit of social media and this ugly board.

" we've left you all to it"

^

What on earth does that mean?

I wondered about that too !?

Suggests some sort of mysterious agreement to stay off a particular thread !?

Doesn’t it just!

I am amused by the imaginations of the royalists on this board, you do know how to spin a good story. We all just happen to be equally disgusted, no conspiracy or organised efforts needed. Just smart people knowing what is worth their time, and what isn't.

It is a bit odd that on one thread where traffic increases when something related to the Invictus Games happens (it tends to be a drop in thread) that people are being criticised for not following what is going on with the Foundation when, if I recall correctly, many said they were deeply interested in the Games. And it is apparent from this thread that they continue to be.

I am glad you feel vindicated about ongoing interest with regards to the Foundation. Well done.

'royalists' is even more of a slip. You're policing a thread about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex - can't get more 'royalist' than that.

I think you have rather mis interpreted the poster’s intentions. From what I remember they have said previously, mpsw is either a member of the armed forces or a family member. I presume that is why they are wondering if there is interest in the Foundation outside of when Harry is not directly involved. It was quite clear to me that their reference to squaddies was army related for this reason.

edited for typo

Indeed.

I regard fair coverage of Invictus almost as an indicator of genuine impartiality and well-intentioned support for the cause - support for vets and their families.

Recently, Invictus has received support from the President of Germany, the Head of Nato (who sent a 1000 person delegation to the last games in September), Justin Trudeau and most recently President Biden.

From the British PM? From the RF? I can't recall hearing anything. The UK minister for military personnel went to Invictus in Frankfurt, and tweeted and posted enthusiastically.

It must have been puzzling to him (as to me) to see how willing the RF, the British media and leading figures of the UK gov't have been to withhold their support for Invictus. The mainstream press barely covered it, and grudgingly so. Instead, any whiff of a problem with Invictus has led to the likes of the Mirror (being sued by Harry) gleefully splashing out headlines such as
"Harry and Meghan fly in to save Invictus Games amid 'chaos' behind the scenes" - where for example the vast majority of the US and Canadian press had nothing but great things to say about H&M's recent Vancouver visit and puck drop.

Same goes for these boards, where some people appear keen, VERY KEEN, for Invictus to fail, for Heart of Invictus on Netflix to be a dud, for it all to go badly.

Sod the vets and their families, it's all about getting back at Harry for his (innumerable) crimes.

When I see this, and the media coverage on H&M today, full of vicious spite, vindictiveness and hatred (what exactly have they been proven to do in this Endgame drama?), I cannot help but reflect on what this says about Britain today. How far things seem to be from the days when Great Britain was held up as a progressive, inclusive, leader of the Commonwealth. A place considered somewhat ahead of its European peers where diversity and integration are concerned.

Instead, we have the sorry ongoing spectacle of the character assassination, spiteful media harassment, crass insults about throwing excrement, threats to withdraw titles, death threats, thousands of insulting posts, articles, videos, tweets belittling, fabricating lies, name-calling, twisting the truth... ALL THIS because two people spoke against the racist treatment MM received, and against the collusion between the RF and the media.

And poor Invictus and the vets sit in the middle of this pathetic sh*tstorm.

It's a good thing some of us retain some humanity, and can praise a good effort when we see one.

May Invictus (and Harry) live on!

@TallerSally I thought you were talking about H and M for a minute there.

Instead, we have the sorry ongoing spectacle of the character assassination, spiteful media harassment blah blah

You reap what you sow

Excellent - glad we’ve established that you have no real interest in the topic at hand 👍🏽.

I’ve had a look at the trip to Jordan and the Impact Marathons piqued my interest - I’d love to do the Guatemala one (one minor issue is that I’m spectacularly unfit 🤣). But they are a great idea.

Completely agree, great post.

I think we did well keeping these threads to the topic, and goading and derailing should be ignored from now on.

If its goading and derailing report @Iwantcakeeveryday