Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been slammed for riding in a golf buggy past disabled veterans at Invictus Games on Sunday.
Meghan, 43, joined her husband Harry, 40, for the seventh edition of the games, which he founded in 2014 for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women.
However a short video of the couple in a golf cart, which was shared to Meghan’s Instagram, caused a stir online with people calling the royal pair ‘desperate’ for driving past veterans, some who were wheelchair bound.
In the clip, which has been shared widely online, the ‘able bodied’ couple can been seen driving past cheering veterans, who chanted ‘Harry’ as they drove past.
One person wrote: ‘So Meghan and Harry, two able bodied people, are driven on a golf cart past disabled veterans.
‘Some of the veterans are wheelchair bound. They should have walked through the group, meeting, greeting and shaking hands. All with a camera following them. Unbelievable.’
Another said: ‘They drive along being taped by the cart behind them…with people being encouraged to yell out for them. When does this madness stop?’
Someone else wrote: ‘Who so being honoured here? The veterans OR Harry and Meghan being honoured by the veterans!’
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been slammed for riding in a golf buggy past disabled veterans at Invictus Games on Sunday
Another added: ‘Disabled veterans made to stand waiting in a mile long cold concrete corridor whilst these two very able bodied get golf carted in the opposite direction. Just when you think they can’t sink any lower’
A fifth added: ‘So Meghan and Harry, two able bodied people, are driven on a golf cart past disabled veterans.
‘Some of the veterans are wheelchair bound. They should have walked through the group, meeting, greeting and shaking hands. All with a camera following them. Unbelievable’
The seventh edition of the games began in Vancouver on Saturday, and Coldplay’s Chris Martin and singer Nelly Furtado performed at the opening event.
This year’s games, which to celebrity service men and women who put their lives on the line for their nations, will include winter sports for the first time ever.
Meghan’s attendance is understood to underscore her support for her husband and the mission of Invictus, a cause that is deeply personal to them both.
Her sole focus during these games will be to uplift her husband, the competitors and sharing their stories.
The couple famously appeared in public together for the first time at the Toronto Invictus Games in 2017, pictured hand-in-hand at a wheelchair tennis event.
A short video of the couple in a golf cart, which was shared to Meghan’s Instagram, caused a stir online with people calling the royal pair ‘desperate’ for driving past veterans, some who were wheelchair bound
In the clip, which has been shared widely online, the ‘able bodied’ couple can been seen driving past cheering veterans, who chanted ‘Harry’ as they drove past
In 2023, Meghan and Harry cheered on athletes among the crowds at the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany.
Prince Harry was all smiles as he arrived at his five-star hotel for the start of the Invictus Games.
Meghan, who has attended four previous games, is said to be focussed on supporting her husband and the games in the coming week.
The source said: ‘Her attendance underscores her support for her husband and the mission of Invictus, a cause that is deeply personal to both of them.
‘While the Duchess has several exciting projects on the horizon, her family remains her top priority. As always, she and the Duke will continue to stand together in support of the causes they care about, just as they did during their visits to Colombia and Nigeria last year.
‘Her focus at the Games will be on uplifting her husband, the competitors, and sharing their stories.’
The Duke and Duchess will initially spend three nights in the city of Vancouver before relocating to the ski resort of Whistler for the adaptive winter sports part of the games for wounded and disabled military veterans.
It comes after Meghan hinted at ‘walking into a very important meeting’ on her Instagram story while sharing behind-the-scenes footage of the Invictus Games ceremony.
Duke and Duchess of Sussex kiss during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Invictus Games
The former Suits actress was beaming as she raised her blue pom-poms in the air
Meghan wrapped up in a long cream trench coat as she fashionably battled against Canada’s frosty temperatures
She packed on the PDA as she watched from the stands in Vancouver with her husband, snuggling into him before leaning in for a passionate kiss.
The Duke of Sussex showed off his dancing skills as he met members of the Canadian team taking part in this year’s sporting event.
He also hugged a female competitor as he and Meghan had a breakfast meeting ahead of the opening ceremony.
Meghan hosted an event with dozens of children where she read to the youngsters – while husband Harry sat crossed legged with the excitable kids.
The Prince was presented with the now traditional pair of ‘budgie smuggler’ swimming trunks by members of the Australian team.
They have made it a point of handing the Prince a pair of the tight fitting costume at each of the Invictus Games.
Harry showed off the blue costume to the delight of the audience.
Meghan captioned the gift ‘And team Australia you’ve done it again’ and posted it to her Instagram Story, along with video from the storytelling event.
Prince Harry during the opening ceremonies of the 2025 Invictus Games in Vancouver
The private event began with the couple walking to the meeting to the soundtrack of Dolly Parton singing ‘9-5.’
Meghan later posed up with children as they showed off drawings they had been asked to do and told them they were in for an exciting week.’
Later the couple were due to attend a wheelchair basketball match at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
It will be the first sport event they have attended since the spectacular opening ceremony featuring over 800 performers and a performance by Katy Perry and Coldplay’s Chris Martin.
The couple were warmly greeted by the Canadian team with Meghan posting video of the encounter to her Instagram story – complete with Harry seemingly attempting to do the ‘twist’.
In one story, she said ‘walking into a very important meeting’ with a wink emoji.
Meghan gave an impromptu speech at a private Invictus Games event to say how she feels ‘at home’ in Canada and praised her husband for his dedication to the sporting event for disabled military veterans.
After giving Harry an intimate kiss on stage she took the microphone to talk about the importance of the event – and how their children in California were fully aware of what the game means to the family.
She told an audience of military veterans and their families how much the Games meant to her husband saying they were his ‘family’.
Speaking hours after flying in from California on a private jet Meghan said: ‘I was not planning on speaking tonight, and we just arrived, I don’t know, a couple of hours ago, and I touched Canadian soil and I went, oh, it feels like home.’
Turning to her husband she said: ‘We are just thrilled to be here, and I would be remiss if I didn’t take the opportunity to introduce someone who means a lot to me. And I know he means quite a lot to all of you.
‘You will see him throughout this week.
‘You will see him at the Games. You will see him probably curling with you, cheering you on.’
