Prince Harry has been slammed by some furious locals after announcing the 2027 Invictus Games will be held in Birmingham.
The Duke of Sussex had praised the city as “formidable” and talked up its Armed Forces ties when it was selected to host the Games – pipping Washington DC to the post.
Harry had said: “We have no doubt the people of Birmingham will join in celebrating the unwavering respect and admiration we have for our veteran and service community, showing the world how their courage ignites hope and unites us all – something your city knows well.”
And despite a generally positive reception to the news, some residents have reacted with scorn – not least in light of a taxpayer-funded £26million bid for the event amid a staggering £300million budget cuts drive after Birmingham City Council went bankrupt.
The Invictus Games will return to the UK for the first time since their first edition in 2014
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One resident, 36-year-old Charlotte Bell, said she harboured concerns over public finances with libraries forced to close throughout the UK’s Second City.
She said: “I just hope the council isn’t going to start ploughing money into improving the facade of Birmingham, making it look nice, when that money could be used to save our libraries and support services,” speaking to the Mail.
While others took aim at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex directly; despite noting the event would “bring in lots of money”, 70-year-old Margaret said: “The less said about them, the better.”
And in a scathing lament of Harry’s fortunes since his controversial departure from his duties as a working royal, another resident claimed the Games were “the last thing he [the Duke of Sussex] has left”.
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70-year-old Margaret said “the less said about the Sussexes, the better”
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The Duke of Sussex speaking during the closing ceremony of the 2023 Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany
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Steven Dawes, 67, said: “I’m a royalist, but I think he’s burnt his bridges. I think he’s clinging on to the Invictus Games now because it’s the last thing he has left.
“It’s a shame, really. He will rue the day he left the Royal Family.”
And one more local, 72-year-old Steve Winchurch from nearby Dudley, jabbed: “I like Prince Harry and I think he’s a good bloke. I’m not sure about his missus, though. I think he’s done a good job. I’m glad we got the Invictus Games, in the end.”
The next Invictus Games will be held in Vancouver, Canada, in 2025 before the event takes place in Birmingham in 2027.
Birmingham City Council declared itself bankrupt last yearGettyBut Helen Helliwell, CEO of the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, spoke of her pride at bringing Harry’s landmark military sporting event to the city, just five years after it hosted the Commonwealth Games.
Helliwell said: “I am honoured our bid has been selected, bringing the Invictus Games back to the UK.
“At NEC Birmingham, we’ll host the most cohesive, sustainable event in Invictus Games history with all sports, ceremonies, and accommodation on one fantastic site.
“Beyond the Games, our legacy programs will benefit communities nationwide, from adaptive sports to arts and employment.”