Prince Harry’s Invictus Games Under Fire for Financial Expenditures Amounting to More Than $63 Million

Prince Harry is coming under fire for shocking financial expenditures by his beloved Invictus Games just months after his and wife Meghan‘s revamped philanthropic foundation was shamed for its exorbitant spending and paltry contributions — and the ensuing scandal could permanently torpedo his chances of returning to the royal fold, sources say.

The Duke of Sussex, 41, is being body-slammed in a report charging the 2025 Invictus Games in Canada cost $63.2 million for 543 participants, which translates to a cost of about $118,000 per veteran competitor.

Investigator Rachel Maxwell, who posted her findings on her Montecito Minimalist Instagram account and blog, alleges the Canadian government is trying to sweep the spending scandal under the rug since nearly half of the funds used — $30 million — came from taxpayers, while the remainder was from private donors.

“That’s life-changing money,” Maxwell said, per NewsNation. “Would the veterans have preferred $117,000 to purchase new prosthetics, to make their house ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act] compliant, to purchase vehicles that could support their wheelchairs?”

Maxwell also points out costs for similar events for wounded vets elsewhere are comparatively cheaper. For example, the U.S. Warrior Games operates on a $2 million annual budget, while an Invictus-type event in Germany spends about $200,000 and involves half as many competitors.

Royal expert Hilary Fordwich told the National Enquirer, “The question I have is: Does Prince Harry use the Invictus Games as a tax write-off, and is he making money off the backs of veterans? If he’s not, there should be full disclosure that he is not. Show us that he’s not [profiting].”

The National Enquirer can also reveal that Harry — who cofounded the games in 2014 — is seen by some as no longer as useful to the wounded warriors organization after he and Duchess Meghan, 44, ditched their palace duties in 2020 to chase fame and fortune in her native California.

“The duke has become an increasingly divisive figure, particularly in the Armed Forces,” a source says. “And that is not good for Invictus.”

What’s more, Harry and Meghan’s do-good Archewell Foundation was rechristened Archewell Philanthropies late last year and shifted toward a fiscal sponsorship model amid rumors of a potential investigation by U.S. authorities over financial discrepancies and ballooning expenses.

According to published records, the foundation’s 2024 expenses totaled $7.5 million — up significantly from 2023 — while collecting $3.1 million in donations and doling out just $1.8 million in grants.

At the time, a rep for the couple vehemently denied there was an investigation, and contrary to previous reports that suggested $4 million had been unreported in Archewell’s 2022 tax return, the charity clarified the missing money was accounted for in its 2023 filings.

As the Enquirer reported, sources say Hollywood outcasts Harry and Meghan are hurting financially since their initial Netflix deal, estimated to be worth $100 million, came to an end, and her two podcasts have ceased production.

Sources also say the end of the duchess’ TV show With Love, Meghan means her As Ever brand of fruit spreads, teas and wines will no longer be hitching their star to Netflix’s wagon, forcing her to go it alone. Yet, the couple continue their high-flying lifestyle, residing in a mansion in Montecito, Calif., where sources say they spend about $6.8 million a year on mortgage payments, security and staff.

Harry’s reputation in the charity scene was also rattled last year when he abruptly resigned as patron of Sentebale, the African charity he established in 2006 in honor of his late mother, Princess Diana, the New York Times reported.

Dr. Sophie Chandauka — who has headed Sentebale since July 2023 — said the way the duke handled his departure from the organization amounted to “harassment and bullying at scale,” per The Guardian. However, an investigation by Britain’s Charity Commission found no evidence of wrongdoing.

When it comes to Harry’s possible return to palace duties alongside his brother, future king Prince William, Fordwich notes, “It’s the cumulative fallout that is going to matter. The cumulative fallout is what will further falter any attempt to reconcile with the royal family. They want to distance themselves from negative personas.”