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Prince Harry enjoys the company of an old friend on Valentine’s Eve, shortly after Meghan Markle returned to California ahead of the 2025 Invictus Games finale. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent the last few days enjoying each other’s company in Vancouver, Canada as they attended various Invictus Games events. The couple’s outstanding presence was only outshined by their loved-up displays that easily made any Hollywood romantic movie pale in comparison. Their five-day PDA-packed, highly publicized trip to Vancouver ended abruptly after Meghan jetted back to Montecito to be with her kids.
Although the Duchess’ California return just before Valentine raised brows, sources claimed the Sussexes planned it so from the onset. With Meghan Markle out of the picture, dotting on their two little ones Archie and Lilibet in California, Prince Harry had ample time to explore the Invictus Games freely, “the manly way.” The 40-year-old hit the games on Friday in the company of Rugby legend Richie McCaw. The two previously met when Harry presented McCaw with the trophy after his team’s win at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, during his time as New Zealand’s captain.
Prince Harry Spends Boozy Night Out Without Meghan Markle
Harry and his old buddy spent their night out catching the Rugby match between Team USA and Team Australia which ended in a score of 27-20, with USA clinching the bronze medal. Thereafter, the two buds returned for the Rugby finals, where Team France and Team UK battled it out for the gold medal. Harry and the former New Zealand captain enjoyed the game over glasses of beer as they cheered for their favorite teams.
Despite watching his home country lose the grand prize to France, Prince Harry looked relaxed, visibly having a good time with the Rugby star at the Valentine’s Day playoffs. The Prince’s countenance at the game echoed the words of royal expert Hugo Vickers, who earlier claimed Harry and the Invictus Games generally were better off without Meghan Markle’s presence.
Harry Performs Better in Wife’s Absence
Speaking to The Sun, Vickers claimed that while the Duchess returned to California to be with her children, which was a noble reason, it also served the dual purpose of keeping the distraction at bay. He divulged,
“I think it’s very important that Prince Harry should be concentrating on the participants of the Invictus Games and supporting them. It’s a much better look for the Games to have him there on his own, rather than it being a Meghan Markle Show, which it has been to some extent at the beginning.”
Going further, the expert suggested that while reuniting with her kids played a part in Meghan’s early California return, ensuring Harry got his priorities right was a major reason. He cited the estrange prince’s slew of solo engagements in recent months, pointing out that Harry always seemed to perform better in Meghan Markle’s absence. Vickers believed the Duchess had a way of making such events all about herself, ultimately making it into “a Meghan Markle Show,” as observed at the Invictus Games.
Even in her absence though, Meghan seems to have sabotaged the games from several miles away in her California abode. The 43-year-old’s California return has kept the tabloids bustling for days, with wild speculations about the state of her marriage to Harry blowing up. Departing just two days before Valentine’s and leaving Prince Harry to spend the romantic day alone left many unanswered questions, stirring the long-prevailing divorce rumors once again.
