Edward Lane Fox, who served as Prince Harry's private secretary for five years and was a founding figure of the Invictus Games, has stepped down from the charity's Board of Trustees. His resignation, effective February 28, coincides with the departure of fellow trustee Patrick Nicoll on the same day, marking a significant loss for the Duke of Sussex.
Lane Fox, a former captain of the Household Cavalry, was Prince Harry's private secretary from May 2013 to May 2018 and briefly served as joint private secretary to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after their wedding until July 2018. He joined the Invictus Games board in 2015, having been involved since its inception in 2014. Reports described the pair as 'genuinely close', with Lane Fox acting as a 'bridge between Harry's old life and new'.
The Sussex office declined to comment on the departures, according to the Mail's Alison Boshoff. An Invictus source suggested that Harry's old friends within the charity had 'fallen away' as they had served their maximum term and 'moved on'. Other key supporters, including Invictus gold medallist JJ Chalmers, have also left the organisation this year.
The exits come amid rumours that some involved with the charity believe it may be time for Prince Harry to step down as patron. A source was quoted saying: 'It seems it is hard to convince people that you are a philanthropic force for good when there are so many unresolved issues with your own family.' A royal source added that if Harry resigned, 'they would have no trouble finding a new royal patron'.
However, Invictus Games chief executive Rob Owen has insisted the Duke is not going anywhere, stating: 'We are proud to have the Duke of Sussex as a patron and founder. The spotlight he brings to the community, and to our work, has changed the perceptions of mental health, of military personnel and of disability worldwide.'
