King persuades Uganda to rejoin Invictus Games

Victoria WardMon, September 14, 2026 at 1:33 PM UTC

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King Charles attends a garden party marking the 125th anniversary of the Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship - Reuters/Toby Melville

The King’s most senior aide urged Uganda to reconsider its decision to pull out of Prince Harry’s Invictus Games, it has emerged.

Sir Clive Alderton, the King’s private secretary, intervened after the country’s military chief announced last week that it would no longer take part in the event.

In a telephone conversation with Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the head of the Armed Forces and son of the Ugandan president, Sir Clive insisted that the King had “no problem” with Uganda’s participation in the Invictus Games and encouraged him to resume preparations for next year’s event in Birmingham.

Gen Kainerugaba said he “appreciated the King’s message and clarity provided by Buckingham Palace on the subject” and agreed to reverse his decision to pull out of the event.

A palace source confirmed that the conversation had taken place, describing it as an example of the system working as it should.

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Royal aides are understood to be “grateful” to the Ugandans for their courtesy and understanding on the issue, insisting that they would be happy to assist any others who may need clarity.

The Duke of Sussex, however, is likely to consider the development proof that the letter sent by Buckingham Palace to clarify his status had only created confusion.

The Lord Chamberlain, the head of the Royal household, sent the guidance to a small number of “key stakeholders” in Government and the military, on the orders of the King, confirming that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were “private citizens” and did not represent the sovereign.

It said the couple’s use of their HRH titles would remain in abeyance and that any charity work was “a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity”.

The letter added: “In short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.”

Two days later, Gen Kainerugaba announced that Uganda would not take part in an event that did not have the King’s approval.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”