Prince Harry Source Says Uganda Pulled Out of Invictus Games as a ‘Direct Result’ of Palace Guidance
Prince Harry Source Says Uganda Pulled Out of Invictus Games as a ‘Direct Result’ of Palace Guidance
Meredith Kile, Simon PerryThu, September 10, 2026 at 3:27 PM UTC
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Prince Harry speaks during the Invictus 2027 “1 Year To Go” event at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England, on July 10, 2026Credit: Aaron Chown - Pool/Getty -
A Ugandan government representative announced that the country is withdrawing from Prince Harry’s Invictus Games
The announcement came shortly after King Charles issued a letter reiterating Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s status as “private citizens” and non-working royals
A source close to Harry tells PEOPLE that Uganda’s withdrawal was a “direct result” of the King’s letter
Uganda’s decision to pull out of the Invictus Games, the adaptive sporting competition founded by Prince Harry, was a “direct result” of the guidance issued by King Charles this week, which reiterated Harry’s status as a non-working royal, a source close to Harry tells PEOPLE.
On Tuesday, Sept. 8, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and head of the country’s armed forces, announced that his country would withdraw from the Invictus Games, just two months after it became the 26th nation to join.
“In order not to be construed as being opposed to His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom, whom we deeply revere, Uganda hereby withdraws from the Invictus Games,” Kainerugaba wrote on X. “We shall not participate in anything that does not have His Majesty’s approval.”
Kainerugaba’s announcement came just one day after King Charles issued a letter via the Lord Chamberlain, Lord Benyon, clarifying Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as non-working royals amid their recent return to the U.K.
A source close to Prince Harry tells PEOPLE, “They made it very clear that the reason they pulled out was a direct result of perceived guidance from the Lord Chamberlain. This was an unintended or intended consequence of the letter — and that was always going to happen. Hence the wish not to rush it out.”
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba; Prince HarryCredit: Hajarah Nalwadda/Getty; Aaron Chown/Pool/Getty
The source adds, “The only people suffering as a result are the competitors from Uganda who would have been taking part in next year’s Invictus Games.”
When reached for comment by The Timesin the U.K., General Kainerugaba noted, “I have factions in the Ministry of Defence that support that Harry-Meghan nonsense. I had to quash it straight away. I support the monarch. Period.”
The King’s letter also reiterated that Harry and Meghan should not use their HRH styles and said that questions from official and state organizations about courtesies extended to them — particularly where public funds may be involved — should be directed to Buckingham Palace.
Amid the controversy, PEOPLE understands that King Charles remains supportive of organizations and initiatives that help wounded service personnel.
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Palace insiders have pointed out that the letter does not represent a new policy, instead reiterating the terms agreed upon at the “Sandringham Summit” of January 2020. Led by the late Queen Elizabeth, the now-infamous family meeting came just before Harry and Meghan stepped back from their roles as working members of the royal family.
The King reiterating the terms in this week’s letter comes as Harry prepares to undertake a series of charitable engagements that were planned well ahead of his and Meghan’s return to the U.K., including preparation for the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham, England.
Prince Harry; King CharlesCredit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty; Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty
The BBC reported on Tuesday that Harry and Meghan received notice and details about the King’s letter only about an hour before it was released to the media. A spokesman for the couple told the outlet that the couple was “a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance.”
Despite reports that Prince Harry and King Charles have not been in contact, a source tells PEOPLE that the father and son have spoken by phone since the Duke of Sussex returned to the U.K. last month. PEOPLE understands, however, that the pair have not met in person.
Uganda had only recently joined the Invictus community, becoming its 26th and newest member in July 2026 — a move intended to expand sports recovery opportunities for wounded and injured service personnel in the country.
“As part of its membership, the Foundation is working with partners in Uganda to help establish and strengthen opportunities for sports recovery, helping members of the community access sport and physical activity as part of their recovery,” it was announced on the Invictus website.
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At the time, the move was backed by senior Ugandan military officials, including Staff Political Commissariat Major General Henry Masiko and Major General Richard Karemire, Joint Staff Formal Education, Sports and Culture.
“Success comes to those who are prepared. Let us not just go, but go with skill,” Major General Masiko said.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
