King Charles appears to have helped clear up a royal misunderstanding surrounding Prince Harry’s Invictus Games. Uganda has reversed its decision to withdraw from the 2027 event after a phone call involving Buckingham Palace. The switch comes just days after Uganda’s military chief said the country would stay away out of respect for King Charles. Now, the team is back in.
Uganda reverses its Invictus Games withdrawal after King Charles’ aide speaks with military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba
Uganda’s military announced the reversal on Sept. 14. General Muhoozi Kainerugaba approved the Uganda People’s Defence Forces’ participation in the Invictus Games 2027 after speaking with Sir Clive Alderton.
Alderton serves as Principal Private Secretary to King Charles and Queen Camilla. The official Ugandan statement said the two men spoke by phone before Kainerugaba reinstated the team.
ITV News reported that Alderton told Kainerugaba the King was “moved” by his consideration of the monarch’s position. However, King Charles had “no problem” with Uganda competing and encouraged the country to continue.
That clarification resolved an unusual dispute. Kainerugaba announced Uganda’s withdrawal on Sept. 9 because he did not want participation interpreted as opposition to King Charles. He also said Uganda would not join anything without the monarch’s approval.
The controversy followed new Buckingham Palace guidance about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The letter reiterated that the Sussexes remain non-working royals and carry out charitable work privately. The wording had already created friction with the Sussexes.
People reported that a source close to Prince Harry blamed the guidance for confusion surrounding the Invictus Games. Buckingham Palace, however, maintained that King Charles supports organizations helping wounded service personnel.
Uganda only joined the Invictus community in July. The country was preparing to make its debut when Prince Harry’s Invictus Games return to Birmingham in 2027.
The official Birmingham 2027 site says the Invictus Games use sport to support the recovery of wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans. For Prince Harry, the Uganda U-turn removes an unexpected complication from preparations. It also makes clear that his father does not oppose the Invictus Games.
Still, one detail matters. King Charles did not personally make the phone call to Kainerugaba. His private secretary did so on the monarch’s behalf.
