Prince Harry is facing another setback as Melloney Poole has stepped down as a trustee and vice chairman of the Invictus Games board for next year's event in Birmingham. Poole, described as 'instrumental' to the Invictus team, became vice chairman in December 2024. Her resignation has been described as a 'second heartbreak' for Harry, following his departure from Sentebale last year.
Further adding to Harry's woes, the Australian government has decided to cut spending on Invictus Australia shortly after the Sussexes returned from a quasi-royal tour to Australia last month. The funding axe could mean Australia may not be able to send a team to the next Invictus Games in 2027 in Birmingham. There have also been calls for Harry to step down as patron of the Games, with some military veterans criticising his comments about his kill count in Afghanistan in his memoir Spare.
Retired army veteran Col Tim Collins described Harry's comments as 'crass' and accused him of engaging in 'a tragic moneymaking scam to fund the lifestyle he can't afford'. Other Afghanistan veterans also condemned his remarks, with a former para saying, 'I've never heard anyone talk about kill counts, it's crass and frankly cringeworthy.'
Meanwhile, Meghan Markle is focusing on expanding her lifestyle brand As Ever after parting ways with Netflix. The couple's income has reportedly dried up, with a source telling Page Six that 'money is tight'. The Sussexes are said to need at least $6 million a year to cover bills, including a mortgage on their $15 million mansion and $3 million per year on private security. Their Netflix deal was recently downgraded to a less lucrative 'first look deal'.
