Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been warned their "soap opera" is threatening the future of the Invictus Games. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were dealt a blow when Uganda confirmed it was pulling out of Harry's multi-sport event for wounded and sick servicemen and women in Birmingham next year.
Uganda's withdrawal
Uganda's military chief General Muhoozi Kainerugaba said the country had withdrawn because of "that Harry-Meghan nonsense" and would "not participate in anything" that does not have King Charles's "approval".
PR expert Mark Borkowski told the Daily Mail: "Uganda is the warning. The Sussex soap opera is now damaging Invictus, the one unimpeachable thing Harry created. The brand is beginning to consume the cause."
He suggested Harry and Meghan "want the freedoms of private citizens but the power of royalty, and they brief furiously whenever anyone points out the contradiction".
Sussexes' response
A source close to the Sussexes blamed a letter sent at the request of the King reaffirming their status as non-working royals for Uganda's decision to pull out of the Games.
They told ITV News: "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."
Team Sussex also took issue with the King's letter and said they did not have time to clarify any of the points, with Meghan and Harry said to prefer the phrase "public figures" rather than "private citizens".
Family focus
Mr Borkowski said the couple "keep making the same mistake" by painting themselves as "poor victims of the mighty establishment machine".
Despite what appear to be growing tensions between the Sussexes and the Royal Household, a source close to Meghan and Harry said they are "happy to be back" in the UK and are "focused" on getting Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet settled.
They told People Magazine: "Everything else will fall into place when the time is right. There is a lot to do. They have just moved halfway across the world and it's been really busy getting the kids settled. Their focus has been on that, and will remain on that, for the time being. They are happy to be back."
