Meghan Markle is still expected to accompany her husband in Canada for the games in February 2025
Prince Harry was “without any distractions” in a “smart” move as he attended the Invictus promotional events in Vancouver without Meghan Markle, a PR expert has claimed.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex issued a statement on their website as Prince Harry travelled to Canada to undertake solo engagements.
PR expert and founder of No Strings Public Relations, Riley Gardiner, told The Daily Express: “It’s a smart move for Prince Harry to promote the Invictus Games on his own this year.
“It means the spotlight can stay on the games and away from every little thing Meghan does.”
The royal couple has adopted a new professional strategy to pivot to more solo public appearances rather than joint engagements over the last few months.
Gardiner added: “He’s showing respect for the athletes and the cause without any distractions.
“With the launch of the school programme, Harry is helping teach kids about heroism and resilience.
“He’s fostering empathy and understanding from a young age like the charitable work his mum championed.”
Meghan’s absence from events linked to the Invictus Games is unusual as she has accompanied Prince Harry to the event since 2017.
In addition, the Duchess of Sussex promoted the 2024 games in Vancouver for a previous promotion event back in February earlier in the year.
She has remained in California attending her own solo events whilst Harry embarked on his latest promotional tour.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also released a statement on sussex.com outlining Harry’s attendance at a Grey Cup match in Canada.
Gardiner said: “Every move is clearly highly coordinated, but his surprise Grey Cup visit makes him look spontaneous and passionate.”
“I think his confidence comes across as real, which is key to winning back trust and restoring his image after some tough moments.
“It feels like a well-thought-out brand launch mixing meaningful engagements with unexpected public appearances.”
The mother of two is still expected to accompany her husband in Canada when the games begins in February next year.
