Prince Harry's 'olive branch undermined' by Duke of Sussex's actions

The Duke of Sussex, 40, made the remarks during his appearance at the Grey Cup in Vancouver on Sunday, where he was notably without the Duchess of Sussex.

Whilst Meghan, 43, attended a launch party for her friend's hair wellness range in Los Angeles, Harry focused on promoting the upcoming winter Invictus Games scheduled for February in Vancouver and Whistler.

The duke appeared in high spirits, waving to fans and giving a thumbs up to the crowd at BC Place.

Speaking pitchside to Canada's The Sports Network (TSN), Harry emphasised the transformative power of the Invictus Games.

He said: "It's really an opportunity for the individuals themselves and their families to heal and rehabilitate."

The duke highlighted the event's growth, noting: "It's our 10-year anniversary this year, which is really exciting.

"It's a sporting platform used for the rehabilitation and support for wounded soldiers, serving and veterans."

He pointed out that 25 nations are now participating in the Games, with the number continuing to grow.

When Invictus began in 2014, Harry had the full support of his father, brother and sister-in-law.

Royal biographer Tom Bower suggested Harry's comments about healing will inevitably be interpreted as a potential olive branch to his British family.

However, Bower told The Mail that any hopes of reconciliation have been "undermined" by the duke's own actions since stepping back as a senior royal.

The royal commentator particularly pointed to Harry's television appearances and memoir revelations as having eroded trust with his relatives, especially his brother William.

There have been persistent reports of peace-making attempts, with reports suggesting Zara Tindall and even the Princess of Wales have tried to broker peace between Harry, William and their father.

One source claimed Meghan herself was keen for her husband to make peace with his family.

The upcoming Invictus Games in Vancouver and Whistler will mark a historic milestone as the event's first winter sports competition.

Running from February 8 to February 16, the Games will introduce new challenges including alpine skiing, snowboarding and skeleton.

Team UK captain Stephen 'Hoops' Hooper, who previously competed in Dusseldorf in 2023, called his selection "overwhelming" and described it as a "privilege" to lead.

"I've gone from standing in the corner of a room and not talking to anybody, to finding my voice again," said Hooper, who served in the RAF before being medically discharged in 2021.

The event will bring together over 500 competitors from 20 nations.