10 September 2023 , 19:38
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Meghan Markle is set to join her husband Prince Harry in Germany tomorrow (Monday), giving the Duke of Sussex a happy boost.
The Duchess of Sussex stayed at home in the United States, missing the opening ceremony and second day of the annual event in Dusseldorf. But Harry, 38 is set to welcome the former Suits star, 42, to Europe as she is expected to fly in to join him at their lavish hotel for the remainder of the Games.
It's thought Meghan could have a big role in the closing ceremony at the event. In the opening occasion, though, Harry teased a new rivalry with his wife as he made a joke about her in his rousing speech. He joked about how things had become a little more competitive between the pair and the teams they were supporting after she discovered her Nigerian ancestry - something she revealed on her axed Spotify podcast Archetypes.
Meghan and Harry at the opening ceremony of the games in 2020 (Getty Images)In the opening days, as well as giving a speech, Harry was also forced to wear a German football scarf as a forfeit after he lost a penalty shootout style competition to the country's grey-haired defence minister. Despite the defeat, it was clear Harry was in high spirits and had a sweet interaction with a young fan while watching wheelchair rugby at the event.
Prince Harry founded the Invictus Games back in 2014. The event - which is held every few years - was created to "celebrate the unconquered human spirit" and to "shine a spotlight" on those who have served in the armed forces.
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The contest is held for those currently serving in the armed forces and veterans who are "wounded, injured or ill". Prince Harry is a veteran of the military himself, with him having served in the industry between 2005 and 2015.
Harry was all smiles when talking to a young fanThe Invictus Games has been held in various countries since it launched almost a decade ago, with the inaugural event having been in the UK. It was followed by contests in the US, Canada and Australia in 2016, 2017 and 2018 respectively.
The Netherlands hosted the competition last year. It was held in the country's Sportcampus Zuiderpark, which is located in the Hague. The event came after a short hiatus, which had been due in part to the coronavirus pandemic.
Heart of Invictus - a collaboration between Netflix and Prince Harry's Archewell Productions, which he founded with Meghan Markle - focused on last year's contest. The docuseries followed competitors as they trained for it.
Harry's speech at the opening ceremony was well received (PA)The latest instalment of the Invictus Games is being held in Germany. It's being hosted at Düsseldorf's Merkur Spiel-Arena from September 9 to 16. It's been stated that 550 competitors are taking part in 10 different sporting events.
Following this year's contest, the competition will be held in Canada in 2025. It's been announced that it will be in partnership with the First Nations, and will be "in the spirit of truth and reconciliation with indigenous communities."
The Invictus Games Foundation - which operates the contest and lists Prince Harry as a patron - offers those in the armed forces a "recovery pathway". It's understood that this includes through sporting activities and a support network.