Prince Harry's announcement that the 2027 Invictus Games will be held in Birmingham has sparked outrage among many locals.
Harry praised the city for its strong ties to the Armed Forces, describing it as formidable when Birmingham was selected to host the games, beating out Washington, D.C. He expressed confidence in Birmingham's ability to honor the veteran and service community, stating, "We have no doubt that the people of Birmingham will join in celebrating the unwavering respect and admiration that we have for our veteran and service community, showing the world how courage ignites hope and unites us all, something your city knows well."
However, many residents reacted with scorn, especially given the taxpayer-funded £26 million bid for the event amid a staggering £300 million budget cuts following Birmingham City Council's bankruptcy. Charlotte Bell, a 36-year-old resident, voiced concerns about public finances, noting the closure of libraries throughout Birmingham. "I just hope the council isn't going to start plowing money into improving the facade of Birmingham, making it look nice, when that money could be used to save our libraries and support services," she told the Daily Mail. Others directed their ire at the Sussexes directly. Margaret, a 70-year-old local, remarked, "The less said about them, the better." Steven Dors, 67, offered a scathing assessment of Harry's fortunes since leaving his royal duties. "I'm a royalist, but I think he's burnt his bridges. I think he's clinging on to the Invictus Games now because it's the last thing that he has left. It's a shame really; he'll rue the day that he left the royal family."
In contrast, Steve Winchurch, 72, from near Dudley, had a more favorable view of Harry. "I like Prince Harry, and I think he's a good bloke. Not sure about his missus though. I think he's done a good job, and I'm glad we got the Invictus Games in the end."
The next Invictus Games are scheduled to be held in Vancouver, Canada, in 2025 before moving to Birmingham in 2027. Helen Helliwell, CEO of the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, expressed pride in bringing the event to the city just five years after it hosted the Commonwealth Games. "I'm honored that our bid's been selected, bringing the Invictus Games back to the UK at NEC Birmingham will host the most cohesive and sustainable event in Invictus Games history, with all sports, ceremonies, and accommodation on one fantastic site. Beyond the games, our legacy programs will benefit communities nationwide, from adaptive sports to arts and employment," Helliwell said.
Reports suggest that Meghan Markle has been unimpressed with Harry's decision to hold the Invictus Games in the UK, citing security concerns as a reason for her expected absence. Following Harry's loss in a High Court challenge over police protection, Meghan has previously indicated that she wouldn't return to Harry's birth country after their exit from the royal family. There were claims that Meghan preferred the games to be held in New York. U.S. commentator Lee Cohen, speaking to GBN America, predicted that Meghan will make an excuse not to attend, leaving Harry to return to the UK solo once again. "From all of the accounts that I've read, Harry will be coming solo without Meghan," Cohen said.
He criticized Meghan for making excuses to avoid returning to Britain, highlighting reports in The Telegraph that suggested her absence was due to security concerns. GBN host Nana Akua appeared to poke fun at Meghan's concerns, stating, "Security concerns? She's living in the United States where people bear arms all the time. We saw what almost happened to Donald Trump, and thank goodness he's still with us. People can't willfully carry guns in this country; it doesn't work like that."
