Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are kicking off the official begin of the 2025 Invictus Video games in Canada.
On Sat., Feb. 8, the Duke and Duchess attended the opening ceremony of Invictus Video games Vancouver Whistler 2025 at BC Place in Vancouver. The adaptive sports activities event, which Harry based in 2014, will run via Feb. 16 and have fun the power and braveness of wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans all around the world.
On the opening ceremony, which PEOPLE is attending, the couple cheered on the athletes as they entered throughout the Parade of Nations, with Meghan utilizing her cellphone digicam to seize the motion.
At one level, Meghan and Harry appeared on the Jumbotron, drawing huge cheers from the gang. Meghan turned to her husband, smiling and rubbing his again as he gave a wave.
The star-studded ceremony will see performances from Katy Perry, Noah Kahan, Nelly Furtado, Roxane Bruneau and Chris Martin of Coldplay. Martin has a particular connection to the Video games — he not solely composed the Invictus Anthem in 2014, impressed by the poem “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley, however his music has additionally been the soundtrack to the Video games’ medal ceremonies.
This yr’s Invictus Video games will characteristic as much as 550 athletes from 25 nations competing in 11 adaptive sports activities. It is a vital milestone for the Video games, that are increasing to incorporate winter adaptive sports activities like alpine snowboarding, snowboarding and skeleton — alongside the core occasions of wheelchair basketball and swimming.
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This would be the fifth time Meghan and Harry have attended the Invictus Video games collectively, having beforehand supported the occasion in Sydney, Australia; The Hague, Netherlands; and Düsseldorf, Germany.
For Harry and Meghan, the Video games maintain private significance. Canada has been central to their journey, from their first public look as a pair on the 2017 Invictus Video games in Toronto to their time dwelling on Vancouver Island after stepping again from royal duties in 2020.
The closing ceremony of the Invictus Video games Vancouver Whistler will characteristic performances by Jelly Roll, Barenaked Girls and The Battle and Treaty, rounding out the occasion with a high-energy musical send-off.
Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage
Robyn McVicker, Chief Working Officer of the Invictus Video games, beforehand instructed PEOPLE that Harry had “enter” when it got here to choosing the headlining acts.
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“We’ve been thrilled to have the ability to work with him on the method to the [ceremonies]. We’ve saved him posted about shortlists and what we’re speaking about. He’s had enter,” McVicker mentioned.
Including to the thrill surrounding their journey, Meghan’s Netflix sequence, With Love, Meghan, is about to premiere on March 4. The present will reportedly discover themes of dwelling, life-style, and private reflections, aligning with Meghan’s rising position as a content material creator and entrepreneur.
