Prince Harry's team blames King Charles as Uganda withdraws from Invictus Games
Prince Harry's team blames King Charles as Uganda withdraws from Invictus Games
Emily Wright, Charlotte Becquart, Ayeesha Walsh Wed, September 9, 2026 at 11:13 PM UTC
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King Charles III has been blamed for Uganda's exit (Image: Samir Hussein, Samir Hussein/WireImagevia Getty Images)
Those close to Prince Harry are attributing Uganda's withdrawal from the Invictus Games to a letter dispatched on behalf of King Charles.
Uganda has announced it will no longer participate in the Games, declaring it will not take part in any event without King Charles' explicit endorsement. A source close to Harry told ITV, "Intended or unintended, this is clearly a consequence of the Lord Chamberlain's guidance regarding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that was rushed out without consultation on Monday. "Sadly, the only people who will suffer are the Invictus Games competitors," they added.
On Wednesday, September 9, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba wrote on X that "Uganda hereby withdraws from the Invictus Games" because he did not want the country's participation to be "construed as being opposed to His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom, whom we deeply revere." This comes as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have rejected 'private citizens" label and request "public figures" title in the UK.
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"We shall not participate in anything that does not have His Majesty's approval," added General Kainerugaba, son of the Ugandan president and commander of the nation's armed forces.
The East African nation's reversal comes just weeks after its defense minister stood alongside the Duke of Sussex at an Invictus event in London to formally announce Uganda's entry into the Invictus Games on July 7.
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Uganda only announced its entry to the Invictus Games in July (Image: Getty)
Now, Harry's office has connected General Kainerugaba's decision to the statement released by Buckingham Palace on Monday (September 7) concerning the Sussexes' standing after their UK return.
The statement clarified that any philanthropic activities by Harry and Meghan are "a personal matter for them and undertaken in their private capacity."
According to ITV News, Uganda's Government spokesperson, Alan Kasujja, confirmed General Kainerugaba "speaks for the UPDF (Uganda People's Defence Forces)."
"There's no higher authority in the military besides the president [Yoweri Museveni]. Until he changes his position, consider it the position of the military," he stated, though he acknowledged he was unaware why the decision was reached and whether it connected to the Buckingham Palace statement.
Prince Harry has been involved with the Invictus Games for 12 years (Image: Getty)
Nonetheless, Harry's office now believes the Ugandan decision regarding Invictus is directly tied to this week's events. Sources indicate the Invictus Games Foundation was informed the Palace statement had generated some "confusion" within the Ugandan defense department, according to ITV News' royal editor, Chris Ship.
There is no indication that King Charles opposes the Invictus Games, having been present at the inaugural games in 2014 and reportedly being extremely proud of his youngest son's accomplishments. A senior royal source indicated on Wednesday that the King backs all organizations supporting wounded service personnel.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
