It's hard to believe that it has only been a few years since Prince Harry was the darling of the British public – the relatable royal who championed the Invictus Games and seemed genuinely dedicated to supporting wounded service members. But how the mighty have fallen.
When Meghan Markle first burst onto the scene as Harry's new bride, many of us (myself included) were hopeful that her arrival could help modernize the monarchy. An American, biracial woman marrying into the stuffy Windsor clan felt like a big step forward. If only we knew then what we know now.
From the moment Meghan locked down her prince, the transformation in Harry was palpable. The once-warrior prince became a mere puppet, his strings pulled by his Hollywood-hungry wife. They claimed to want privacy, yet rushed to the paparazzi-infested city of Los Angeles. They said they wanted financial independence, then signed lucrative deals with Netflix and Spotify – not to share their non-existent talents, but to air the royal family's dirty laundry.
The Oprah interview was a masterclass in victimhood, with Meghan painting herself as suicidal while Harry nodded along, turning on his own flesh and blood. Then came Harry's memoir "Spare" – over 400 pages of petty grievances, more befitting of an angst-ridden teenager than a 38-year-old prince.
Through it all, they clung to their royal titles like leeches, unwilling to fully cut ties with the institution they so publicly denounced. The Netflix drama, the tell-all book – it was all just a warm-up act. The real scandal has now hit the headlines, and it's one that should make the blood of every decent person boil.
Harry and Meghan are accused of siphoning off a staggering $30 million from the Invictus Games fund – money intended to support the wounded veterans that Harry once championed as his own. It's like watching someone steal from a donation box at a military funeral. The reaction from veterans has been swift and furious, with one former participant telling me they feel "absolutely shattered." Another didn't mince words, calling it "a betrayal of the highest order."
Many of us saw this coming from the moment Meghan entered the picture. Harry changed, and it became clear he wasn't just adapting to married life – he was being remolded. Meghan, with her Hollywood ambitions and insatiable hunger for the spotlight, saw Harry not as a life partner, but as a golden ticket to boost her status. She wasn't interested in royal duties or British traditions; she wanted red carpets, magazine covers, and most of all, money.
And now, as this scandal unfolds, the very future of the Invictus Games hangs in the balance – an event that brought hope to thousands, now tainted by greed and deception. The royal family, already reeling from Harry and Meghan's previous attacks, faces another PR nightmare. For what? So a failed actress can play princess in a Montecito mansion?
Some may argue we should wait for the investigation to conclude, but with this pair, there's a clear pattern. They exploit, they deny, they play the victim. Their actions speak louder than any pending inquiry. Others might claim they've done good work in mental health and women's rights, but have they? Or have they simply used these causes as platforms for self-promotion, all while tearing down other women and shaming their loved ones?
This Invictus scandal, however, is different. It's not about family squabbles or media grievances – it's about honor and trust. If the allegations are true, then Harry and Meghan saw this as an opportunity to profit, not to support the very heroes they once claimed to champion. It's a desecration, a betrayal that spits on every medal and every struggle overcome by those brave participants.
The time for waiting is over. Harry and Meghan must face the consequences of their actions, be it stripped titles, criminal charges, or being forced to repay every penny. More importantly, they must grasp the depth of their own betrayal – not just to the royal family, not just to the British public, but to those wounded warriors who believed in Harry, who saw him as one of their own.
To those Invictus participants, your courage and resilience are the stuff of legends. Your stories are etched in history, long after the Sussexes have faded into tabloid footnotes. Don't let this scandal dim your light – you are the true royal lineage.
