Meghan Markle and Prince Harry never fail to stir up controversy, and this time, it’s the 2025 Winter Invictus Games causing yet another royal headache.
The question is simple: should Meghan attend or stay home? But as always, no matter what she does, criticism follows. PR expert Riley Gardner told The Express that Meghan will face backlash either way—if she goes, people will accuse her of overshadowing the veterans, and if she stays home, critics will claim she isn’t supporting her husband. The irony, of course, is that she isn’t the main focus here. The Invictus Games were founded to honor the bravery of wounded veterans, not to serve as Meghan’s latest PR vehicle.
Conveniently, Meghan’s attendance was announced as part of a so-called new PR strategy, as if a pre-arranged press release somehow signals authenticity. Isn’t the whole point of a PR strategy to at least attempt subtlety? Then again, subtlety has never been Meghan’s strong suit.
The financial aspect of this event raises even more eyebrows. The Invictus Games reportedly receive approximately $60.4 million in funding, yet somehow Meghan is rumored to be pocketing up to $500,000 just for attending. For what exactly? A few staged photo opportunities and another one of her over-rehearsed inspirational speeches? Meanwhile, actual veterans are struggling to afford medical treatment, yet money continues to flow into Meghan’s wardrobe budget and luxury travel expenses.
To make matters worse, Canada may be providing full head-of-state-level security for Harry, Meghan, and their children during the games. That means taxpayers could be footing the bill for a couple who voluntarily stepped down from royal duties. It’s a frustrating reminder of how the actual purpose of the Invictus Games—supporting wounded veterans—keeps being overshadowed by Meghan’s PR maneuvers. The people who made real sacrifices deserve the spotlight, yet the conversation is once again being hijacked by her presence.
This isn’t a one-time occurrence. Meghan has a habit of making grand announcements that often lead nowhere. The Spotify deal, the Netflix empire, the rebrand—so many promises, yet so little follow-through. Instead, she continues to make headlines simply for existing. This latest move seems like an attempt to counteract the backlash she received when a recent poll suggested that people didn’t want her at the Invictus Games. Predictably, rather than stepping back, she is pushing forward to prove her critics wrong. But at this point, it’s clear that for her, it’s not about the veterans—it’s about maintaining relevance.
Many veterans are now calling for Meghan to be banned from the Invictus Games altogether, and honestly, they have a point. The event should be about the athletes, not Meghan’s ongoing quest for attention. What does she actually contribute? Compassion? Hardly. Empathy? Please. The only thing she seems to focus on is how much attention she can divert toward herself. Veterans did not sign up to be props in yet another one of Meghan’s self-serving spectacles. They deserve better.
If Meghan truly wanted to support the Invictus Games, she would do the one thing she refuses to do—step out of the spotlight. It’s time to let the veterans have their well-earned moment without turning it into another PR stunt. And honestly, at this point, bringing back the tradition of throwing tomatoes doesn’t sound like such a bad idea.
