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The 2025 Invictus Games are officially underway, and Prince Harry and Meghan made sure to mark the occasion with a mix of heartfelt speeches, personal moments, and enthusiastic support for the athletes.
Held at BC Place in Vancouver, the opening ceremony was a grand affair, welcoming over 550 competitors from 25 nations. As teams entered during the Parade of Nations, Meghan could be seen cheering them on, even capturing some of the special moments on her phone. She enthusiastically waved blue pom-poms, blending right in with the crowd’s electric energy.
Below, a view of the competitors from different nations.
Meghan gives Harry a kiss before taking the stage.
Prince Harry, the founder of the Invictus Games, took the stage and delivered an inspiring speech, emphasizing the Games’ core values of resilience and unity.
In this moment of difficulty and division in many parts of the world, we gather here in Vancouver in a spirit of unity. We represent 23 nations. Speak many different languages and reflect the full breadth of the world’s religions and faiths,” he said. “Beyond any differences, here at the Invictus Games, we are grounded in mutual respect, competing fiercely but believing in one another, supporting one another and rooting for one another.”
Harry also took a moment to highlight the strength of the athletes, stating,
Over the past decade, I’ve lost count of the times that we’ve heard you tell us that the Invictus Games ‘saved you.’ Respectfully, I disagree. Invictus didn’t save you. You saved yourself.”
His words deeply resonated with the crowd, moving many to tears.
He wrapped up his speech with a powerful challenge to the athletes:
Show the world how you behave under completely impossible circumstances. Show the world your fearlessness. Show the world the grandeur in your attempt at victory. Show the world why you are Invictus.”
Watch Prince Harry’s full speech below.
I’m so proud of Prince Harry. He set out to help veterans & created something special, something they could never take away from him or veterans. IG saves lives & gives much hope & community to veterans
— Queens R. Made (@QueenRMade1) February 9, 2025
A🥂to the man, the legend, Prince Harry, Diana’s heirpic.twitter.com/GDUGGPFMXR
In a sweet moment captured on the venue’s Jumbotron, Meghan was seen smiling warmly at Harry and rubbing his back as he waved to the crowd. Their presence was met with thunderous applause, reinforcing just how much their support means to the Invictus community.
Below, Meghan and Harry behind-the-scenes on a golf cart headed to their seats.
Oh my god! We getting behind the scenes IG stories for the Invictus Games from Meghan. I love this era so much🙌pic.twitter.com/QN52Lf4l4A
— ⚜️TV Fanatic⚜️ (@TvKhaleesi) February 9, 2025
The opening ceremony also featured a star-studded lineup of performances, including Coldplay’s Chris Martin, who has a long-standing connection with the Games, as well as Katy Perry, Noah Kahan, Nelly Furtado, and Roxane Bruneau.
Watch the sweet moment Chris Martin thanked Prince Harry for asking him to perform at the games.
I love this friendship!🎉
— Zandi Sussex (@ZandiSussex) February 8, 2025
“When he called me I said your royal holiness I’m honoured. Thank you Harry for being such an inspiring leader and kind and sweet man.” (Chris Martin)#InvictusGames2025 #IAM pic.twitter.com/eRTFXdwlBC
Below Katy Perry wraps up the ceremony.
Watch some of Katy’s performance below.
Amazing performance from Katy Perry!💃🎉#InvictusGames2025 pic.twitter.com/kH1QNLr2CA
— Zandi Sussex (@ZandiSussex) February 8, 2025
This year, the Games are making history by introducing winter adaptive sports for the first time, including alpine skiing, snowboarding, curling, and skeleton. These new additions further emphasize the Games’ commitment to inclusivity and expanding opportunities for wounded, injured, and sick service personnel and veterans.
The Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 will conclude on February 16 with a closing ceremony featuring performances by Jelly Roll, Barenaked Ladies, and The War and Treaty, ensuring the event ends on a high note.
Later, after the ceremony, Harry and Meghan attended the Canucks vs Maple Leafs hockey game.
Celebrating the start of the @InvictusGames25!
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) February 9, 2025
Today we welcomed Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, joined by Invictus Games competitors, to @RogersArena ahead of the games taking place in Vancouver and Whistler over the next 8 days. pic.twitter.com/r6HgoeQBXd
Below a cute clip that Nelly Furtado shared to her Instagram account.
UPDATE 2/9: Harry and Meghan have a new post up on their website – Sussex.com – read more about the opening ceremony here.
Harry and Meghan with Hon. David Eby, Premier of British Columbia, Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, Excellency Whit Grant Fraser back stage at the opening ceremony.
Now our look at What Meghan Wore for the ceremony.
Meghan wore her Sentaler Baby Alpaca Maxi Trench Coat, $2,290, in ivory.
She first wore the coat out for dinner in Vancouver while the couple were there for the Invictus Games kick-off event, February 2024.
Per Emily Burack’s article in T&C, under the coat she had on a green Brandon Maxwell dress.
She wore a green shirt dress from Brandon Maxwell while Australia, Fall 2018 (below left). We don’t think it’s this dress as this one is much longer than what she is wearing.
Her shoes are the Aquazzura ‘Purist’ pump 105 in beige, $750 — a pair she has worn previously.
It’s difficult to see what jewelry she wore. Most likely it’s her staples pieces – Cartier watch and Love bracelet. In one photo I saw, it almost looked like she was wearing a gold bangle. Hopefully we will see additional photos revealing more details.
What she wore for the Canucks/Maple Leaf’s game later that evening.
Meghan wore a coat to the Canucks hockey game we had not seen since 2018 when she and Harry traveled to Australia. The coat was never identified until now!
At the Canucks game tonight, Meghan Markle is wearing the same Givenchy coat she wore shortly before announcing she was expecting Archie back in 2018! She’s also wearing Valentino shoes & a Valentino turtleneck. pic.twitter.com/svE722zUrP
— emily burack (@emburack) February 9, 2025
We don’t have a stock image of the coat but will share should we come across one. She also wore a black turtleneck and a pair of black suede boots both from Valentino. We do not know the exact style and we’re hoping she will wear them again this week to get a better look!
Get the look with this coat from Soia & Kyo (a brand Meghan favors!) – Benicia Straight-fit Double Face Wool Coat With Double Collar, now $416.
Her turtleneck is from Valentino – the Cashmere and silk sweater, $1900.
UPDATE 2/10: Upon further review of additional photos from the hockey game, Meghan was actually wearing her Stuart Weitzman ‘Brooks’ boots and not the Valentino pair.
Her boots are also from Valentino – Rockstud grainy calfskin ankle boots 90 mm, $1400.
Meghan first wore the Stuart Weitzman pair in February 2019 while the couple were visiting Morocco.
She also wore a pair of black skinny jeans – we do not know which brand these are.
Finally, the couple had dinner last night once again with Michael Buble and his wife Lusiana.
We will be back tomorrow with additional coverage of the games. It’s also possible we may see the couple at the basketball event this evening.
Oh that white coat she also has in tan! She wore it for her first Christmas at Sandringham. Does she have it other colors or just white and tan? Nice to see her rewear the Givenchy one, I had forgotten all about it! She always has worn fabulous coats!
I love the whole look. Especially, the coat and black boots
I think Emily Burack may be wrong about Meghan’s boots. I tend to agree with UFO No More that her boots are her Stuart Weitzman’s. The ones she wore to Morocco in 2019.
Hi Amy, Meghan’s team provided the confirmation on the items she wore – however sometimes she changes her mind last minute. I reviewed the photos again and yes, they are not the Valentino boots we show in the post. It does appear that they are the Stuart Weitzman ‘Brooks’ boots she wore in 2019. Thanks for pointing that out and reminding me to check again. – Susan
La cérémonie d’ouverture a été plus que superbe, Harry était magnifique et si touchant.
Meghan merveilleuse comme d’habitude avec sa bonne énergie est un soutien utile et agréable pour le regard.