🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have hit back at claims that their three-day visit to Canada marking the one-year waypoint to the 2025 Invictus Games is a "make or break" moment for the couple.
In a reactive statement, the Sussexes' spokesperson said that "this couple will not be broken." Critical reports surrounding their recent rebrand and strained relationship with the monarchy were linked with the Invictus visit, which has seen the couple attend events in Whistler and Vancouver.
The Daily Telegraph was the only British newspaper Harry gave an interview to when promoting his memoir last year. On February 14, it ran a headline stating "Prince Harry and Meghan have three days to prove they can behave" to mark the first day of Invictus Canada events. The article added that "the next three days will be make or break." Newsweek approached representatives of the duke and duchess via email for comment.
On Thursday evening, the couple's spokesperson told British newspaper, the Daily Mirror, that, after repeated criticism along this line, the Sussexes remain strong. "We've heard time and time again that certain opportunities are make or break for the couple," the spokesperson said. "They're still here. They're still working and pursuing what they believe in, despite constantly being challenged and criticized. This couple will not be broken."
This defensive new statement comes in the wake of renewed criticism of the couple in recent days, sparked by the overhauling of their archewell.com website, which was migrated on Monday to the domain sussex.com.
With the change came new topline branding, denoting the couple's personal webpages as "The Office of Prince Harry & Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex," surmounted by a royal crest.
This provoked allegations from commentators that the couple were trading off their royal connections, despite splitting from the monarchy in 2020 and speaking critically about the institution in interviews and media projects.
The website development and Invictus events in Canada follow closely Harry's fleeting visit to Britain earlier this month following the news that his father, King Charles III, had been diagnosed with cancer.
The prince traveled without his wife from Los Angeles to London, where he had a reported 30- to 45-minute meeting with the king on February 6 before returning home.
Harry and Meghan's visit to Canada to support preparations for the Invictus Games next year is not uncommon. There have regularly been events held one year before the games to meet with organizers and raise the tournament's profile.
On Wednesday, Harry took part in an adaptive skiing exercise in Whistler with veterans training for the first winter sports to be included in the games. Accompanied by Meghan, this was followed by the prince taking turns on the adapted skeleton run at an activity on Thursday.
James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek's royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We'd love to hear from you.
fairness meter
About the writer
James Crawford-Smith is a Newsweek Royal Reporter, based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on the British royal family ... Read more