Prince Harry gushes about how special it was to have Meghan ‘at his side’ during the Invictus Games… as he has a day off to ‘unwind’ hours after she jetted home to LA

Prince Harry has gushed about the importance of having his wife by his side at the Invictus Games – the day after she flew back to their home in California.

He said having Meghan’s support at the events was ‘amazing’, adding: ‘I love that she is by my side.’

The comments came after Meghan flew back to be with their children at their home in Montecito after spending five days in Vancouver and the ski resort of Whistler.

Aides said the trip home was pre-planned and Meghan had only intended to stay for five days as she had at the 2023 event in Germany.

Following his wife’s departure the Prince has reportedly taken a day off to relax, and ‘unwind’.

In a recent Instagram post the Duchess of Sussex showed she is supporting Harry from afar and said she is ‘cheering him on from home’. 

Harry spoke to their favourite US based magazine ‘People’ to talk about Invictus and the impact it has on people’s lives.

He also touched how he talks about the limbless military veterans to his son Archie, 5.

In the interview published today Harry was glowing in his praise for Meghan who took centre stage with her public displays of affection at the opening ceremony in front of 40,000 people in Vancouver.

She was seen planting a kiss on Harry and resting her head on his shoulder.

He said: ‘To have my wife here supporting me is amazing. I love that she’s by my side.

‘It’s such an important piece to this whole adventure.’

Harry told People he is already looking forward to the 2027 games being held in Birmingham.

‘It’s amazing how, after 10 years, we’re still doing this. We will continue the Games for as long as it’s needed – and the need is increasing rather than reducing. 

‘So the fact that there will be a full cycle back to the U.K. is a place that I never thought we would be,’ he said.

The first Invictus Games were held in London in 2014.

‘I wish that we could close this down because there wasn’t a need for it, but as long as there’s a need for it, we will keep it going,’ he said.

‘I know the U.K. is looking forward to having the Games back to where it started.’

Harry told the magazine his children Archie,5 and Lilibet, 3, are asking questions about the games.

‘They are fascinated,’ Harry said.

‘It’s a very interesting conversation to have with your kids – to explain why that person is missing a leg, why that person is missing an arm, why do they look the way they do. It’s challenging but important.’

With Meghan now back in California, Harry is said to be taking the day to enjoy the up-market resort at his own pace.

He is an avid skier and will had a taste of what is on offer when he went tubing on Blackcomb Mountain with Meghan and Whistler Mountain where he presented medals in the adaptive alpine skiing event.

Aides are not releasing details of Harry’s plans for his final day in Whistler before returning to Vancouver for the climax of the games with finals and the closing ceremony.

But Harry has made no secret of his love of skiing and was spotted in Aspen, Colorado last year with business executive Corey Gamble, the boyfriend of Kris Jenner, the matriarch of the Kardashian family.

In his autobiography he confessed that he always felt guilty for enjoying ski trips with his father, Prince Charles, because his mother, Princess Diana, didn’t like them.

He wrote in ‘Spare’ that he felt like a ‘bad son’ for having fun on these trips.

The Prince also told how a ski trip with then girlfriend Cressida Bonas helped him open up about Diana’s death in 1997 – – crying for the first time since his mother’s burial whilst on a holiday in Switzerland.

‘Skiing was so sacred for us, so symbolic, especially after our previous skiing holiday, in Switzerland, when she’d (Cressida) miraculously opened me up.

‘It happened late one night, after a long day on the slopes, and a fun time at après-ski. We’d gone back to my cousin’s chalet, where we were staying, and Cress was washing her face, brushing her teeth, while I was sitting on the edge of the bath.

‘We were talking about nothing special, as I recall, but suddenly she asked about my mother. I answered her, straight-out, and then started to cry.’

Growing up Harry and brother William would accompany their father Prince Charles on annual trips to Klosters.

Whistler, the biggest ski resort in North America, offers other attractions other than skiing and snowboarding.

Snowmobiles can be hired to race across Whistler’s backcountry while zip-lining is also available.

Should Harry be feeling adventurous he could try his hand at bungee jumping or even ice fishing.