Prince Harry & Meghan Are Planning A Trip To Vancouver But Some Locals Really Don't Want Them
There's a petition for them to not come.
Prince Harry and Megan Markle walking. Right: Prince Harry and Megan Markle walking by people.
Prince Harry and Megan Markle are planning to come to Vancouver, B.C. in 2025 — and there is already some outcry about it.
The famous couple aren't new to B.C., and some people don't want a repeat of when they were in town last time.
The Duke of Sussex recently announced that the 2025 Invictus Games will be held in Vancouver and Whistler.
In February of that year, the international sports competition will come to the province and "incorporate winter adaptive sports for the first time," its website said.
Prince Harry is a Founding Patron of the Invictus Games Foundation and said in the announcement that "The Invictus Games Vancouver-Whistler 2025 will offer a global platform to expand the range and profile of winter adaptive sports."
"With deep respect, I’m also pleased to share that the Games in Canada will be held in partnership with the First Nations, in the spirit of truth and reconciliation with indigenous communities," he added.
After the announcement, a Change.org petition was started, called: "Stop Just Harry from Exploiting Indigenous atrocities."
"Harry and Meghan never thanked the Canadian taxpayers who paid for their security the last time they were in Canada. They don’t deserve our hard-earned taxpayer money, nor do they deserve to exploit the hurt suffered by the recent finding of unmarked graves," the petition page claims.
The petition has gained 417 signatures as of April 26.
Despite the claims, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle both made a visit to the Canada House in London, in 2020, in order to say thank you to the High Commissioner for the hospitality they felt during their time in Canada.
Still, people on Twitter are speaking out about the couple coming to the province for the games.
Same here. I DO NOT want to see him back here in Canada for one, and much less exploiting the issue of residential schools in this country. He\u2019s not Canadian, and should stay out of any foreign country\u2019s affairs. Let him deal with the atrocities committed in the US, his new home— Alexandra\u2026.just because I said so\u2026. (@Alexandra\u2026.just because I said so\u2026.) 1650843038
People did not hold back.
That is the first thing I thought. Another excuse to whip up anti-monarchy sentiment when it has nothing to do with them. And to use us Canadians for media attention.— Canuckabroad (@Canuckabroad) 1650867431
Some didn't agree with Prince Harry even being involved with the games.
They jump on every bandwagon they can .....— Rude Hilder \ud83c\udf5e (@Rude Hilder \ud83c\udf5e) 1650892106
As of right now, the couple is still planning to come to the province — but there are still a few long years ahead before it happens, during which this petition could gain some traction, or the outcry could disappear altogether.