'Sources told me...' Prince Harry's Invictus Games Will Be CANCELLED | Daily Expresso

This is a world exclusive.This is huge news about Prince Harry and Invictus.

The biggest royal story of the year.This is a nightmare on wheels.Invictus is all he's got.Invictus is Harry.Harry is Invictus.

This is the worst thing that could happen to Harry.

You've got this exclusive, this massive scoop.It's truly shocking.

This is going to be our biggest video ever.Hello and welcome to today's Daily Expresso.I'm JJ and this is Joby and I'm joined by the star of the Mark Dolan show.It's Marky Mark.Great to see you, JJ.It's been so long.

Too long.I miss you.I see more of you than my immediate family members now.It's true.It's because I sleep at the end of your bed.That's why.

That's what it was.It's so strange, a married man in a single bed.It's bizarre, but it works.If it works, it works.I'm in.

Actually, that's what I said to you that night, wasn't it?Right, I tell you what, I mean normally there's a lot of hot air in it.

Normally, yes.

Oh my goodness, we've got some actual news today.Yes, this is award exclusive.

This is huge news about Prince Harry and Invictus.His games could get cancelled.

Now this is seismic.This is the biggest royal story of the year.This is an unmitigated disaster for Harry.This is a nightmare on wheels.This is catastrophic.And the reason why is because Invictus is all he's got.

We know that the public speaking work has dried up.and he was getting a million dollars per speech.Now it's 50k and the jobs aren't even coming in.We know that African parks, which is a good charity, but mired in allegations of the abuse of local trees.in Africa.Yikes.

Well, Harry's on the board of that charity and used to run it.Then there's Centre Barlet, another good charity that Harry lost control of, following a bitter public row with Sophie Chandalka, who now controls the charity.It was his charity that he lost control of.And then there's the Archwell philanthropies or foundation or whatever it's called this week, which has effectively been shuttered.So there's no money.There's no, all the other charities were disaster.

Invictus is Harry.Harry is Invictus.And you're telling me it could be cancelled.I mean, I promise you, other than some physical problem, like illness or whatever.This is the worst thing that could happen to Harry.

Yeah, and I'm not saying this with any kind of glee, I think Invictus is a great - I am, I'm so happy.You've made my day, and this is going to be our biggest video ever.Are you kidding?Invictus is a great idea, and it started off really well, but I'll start with this.Do you know how it's funded, Invictus?Well, I know that there's an element of sponsorship, element of state support, right?

Correct.It used to be all sponsorship was the main way it was funded in recent years and for the Birmingham Games.it's now majority funded by whichever country is hosting it.So last year it was Canada, they paid a few million towards it and that was the chunk of the money that helped put the games on.The UK have pledged, they've underwritten 26 million quid for next year's Birmingham Games, but they will only release that money if Invictus raise enough money for the games to go ahead.So currently the UK government has given them approximately three million quid of that under it in 26, which means Invictus have got to raise a lot of money between now and next year for the company.

to go ahead in its entirety.And it doesn't seem like it's doing too well.Boeing, massive huge company, not a company who are short of a few bob, they pulled out.They sponsored last year's and the year before that, they pulled out of Birmingham.So that's one huge sponsor already out.Part of Harry coming to Birmingham this week, Yeah, he was supposed to go and see his dad.

He was supposed to have the kids.Well, his other main reason was for the Invictus launch is to go and have meetings to try and draw up more support, draw up more sponsorship.

And it's not going so well.No, and we've said before that this return to the UK for the one year countdown is a non -event, like a nothing burger.And we've said, haven't we, what is this the countdown to?A diminished event, which is losing sponsors.left and right.by its association with the Sussexes.

We know that everything they touch turns to mud.We've seen it in business.We've seen it with their broadcasting work.And now we're seeing it in the charity sector.Why should Boeing and other sponsors pump millions in when they're going to be associated with a couple who the public don't like, who the public don't trust, who often the public don't believe?On the last show, we talked about this war of words with the palace.

Did they offer Harry accommodation?Did they not?He said, she said.And the other issue with Invictus, which like you say, I joke when I say I'm glad it's being cancelled, of course not in relation to the people participating, who are total legends and heroes.These are folk that have fought bravely in war, which is a downside more than I've ever done in my life.They've sustained physical or mental injuries.

So Invictus is a magical place.But the association with the Sussexes, and the cost of putting on the event, by the way, a lot of eyebrows raised.Of course, our very good friend Paula Froehlich, News Nation, brilliant journalist, world -class journalist.She knows her onions.She knows her onions.And you know, she did a big expose about the cost of staging it, which is fine.

But then these people, athletes.They also need wheelchairs in their daily lives.They need prosthetic limbs.They need their houses adapted.So all this cash is just going into this huge event.And that's a big, big problem and controversy in the past about Megan's behavior at the parade when she's leading the group of veterans.

Why is she leading that parade?What's she done with her body that works perfectly?Oh, look at me. I'm so able -bodied, you know, in my revealing white trousers suit.

My husband!

So it's completely shocking.And if Invictus goes, I just do not know what the future is of the Harry brand.

Well look, the Birmingham contingent are actively seeking commercial partners now.They are running around trying to get it.The organisers have launched a sponsorship programme and are inviting businesses to register interest.Now, previously you've had people like Jaguar and Boeing involved.Harry is now, I say Harry, Invictus are now going to local Birmingham businesses, asking them for money.Would you like to, I mean, they're not literally going to Neelam's Kebab Shop in Bearwood, but they are going to businesses.

I got food poisoning from that place.

From Neelam's?Mate, Neelam's is great.That is a stalwart of Birmingham's cuisine.How dare you say you got food poisoning there?Of course I'm joking.You better be joking.

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But yeah, that's pretty wild, isn't it?

Of course, they're not going to kebab shops, but they're going to local businesses in Birmingham, asking them if they would like to sponsor, which is bizarre for an event that just a year ago is having some of the world's greatest most recognisable brands clamouring and begging to be a part of it.And my question to you, Mark, is where's Netflix?This company that has bottomless pockets, they are spunking money left, right and centre on stuff that doesn't work.They bought...

I was told this was a family show.

They're buying podcasts now that our people aren't even watching on Netflix.Netflix have got money.Netflix could easily, if they're such good friends with the social services, they could say, All right, here's 10 million.We're not going to see that many again, but it's for a good cause.And they did produce the Heart of Invictus TV series they did a few years ago.They could easily do 10 million, but even Netflix aren't wanting to get involved in it.

You're so right.

It could easily be a nice headline for them, Netflix save Invictus.And they could cover themselves in glory.And it's damning that they shouldn't step in and that no one will now rescue this flaming dumpster fire that is the Sussex brand.And Netflix, because let's be clear about this, Megan was photographed with Ted Sarandos at an event just a few months ago, all smiling and well, actions speak louder than words.Sarandos tolerated a photo opportunity with her, which no doubt she begged for.But more significant than scaling back the broadcast deal was a decision by Netflix to withdraw from the commercial partnership to sell the spread and the flower sprinkles.

So you're seeing, I mean, they've lost all of their key backers.They've lost the fellow celebrities.So Oprah, Sir Elton, Gwyneth, the Cloonies, the Obamas.It's my understanding that Harry is particularly heartbroken that George Clooney is no longer interested in like, you know, having any relationship at all.And Clooney, George Clooney is all in.with William and Charles.

So they've lost the celebrities, they've lost the charity sector, and they're losing the corporate backers too.Big business have deserted Harry and Meghan, and that will cost them dear.

And another way that they make money for Invictus, for the UK at least, it costs us £26 ,000 per to send one wounded or injured service member.That £26 ,000 covers their meals, accommodation, medical assessments.It also covers accommodation for two family members or two friends as well to attend.

Which is all fair enough.Which is great.And they need insurance, which it's been reported by Paula Froelich wasn't available in Vancouver.Precisely.One particular guy who's got medical bills now.

Yeah, exactly.Now, If you have got friends, if I was friends with George Clooney and Oprah Winfrey and Serena Williams, I'd certainly go to them and say, look guys, Oprah, you're worth about 500 million, I think it is.Sorry, sorry, Oprah?

Yeah, yeah.Make that billion.She's a billionaire.

So I'll go into Oprah and say, would you mind just lending me a couple million for my charity event.Would you mind doing that?Small change for Oprah.Exactly.And you know what these Americans like, they can get some kind of tax write -off for it as well.All day long.

And they could do that with several of their friends and cover the cost of these games, but they're unable to do that as well.They can't go to these so -called friends because I guess they're actually not friends of these people really anymore.

No, and it's a lonely place to be if you're the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the moment.And it's scary.And if I was Harry, I'd be lying awake at night because there have been lots of reports in the press that attention in the marriage has been that Meghan sees herself as a breadwinner.And I always take rare opportunities to defend Meghan where I can, because we want to be fair and balanced and we don't want to be an echo chamber.

Yeah.

And I will say that I don't like Megs, but by golly, she's got get up and go.She's no slouch.

Yeah.

She's bagged herself a prince.She's a world famous person.a detestable human in my view, but she's getting it done.And she's the only one making an effort to bring some cash in because she's a hustler.

Yeah.

And by the way, she knows no shame.She'll ask anyone for work.

In fact, she compliments and then a put down.

I know.I mean, she'll be the one.She might actually be in Birmingham city center and she might visit Mr. Kneejabs.Knee lambs.That's the one.Him too.

His kebab house.The one I was thinking of was Fast Eddie's kebab house.Fast Eddie's kebab house.Yeah.And I had a sheesh, which is the elephant leg thing.You know, the compressed meat of unknown origin.

And it was called Fast Eddie's Kebabs.And I was, you know, it's essentially that everything was evacuated in the body for a good two days.The positive is that I hit my body mass index target.I was, I was the muscle to fat ratio after that dose of diarrhea was, you know, it was, it was, it didn't go unnoticed in social circles.

Um, I just got, yeah, I got my chin back.Can I just say, JJ, I love you.

You're an elite level journalist.You're much better journalists than me, but you sometimes lower the tone.Yeah, Megan is shameless.So she'll be, you know, she'll be out hustling.And so here's the reason, we really want to get to this point, it's really important, which is that, you know, we're hearing she's the breadwinner.And actually, the evidence is that, yeah, she's the only one picking up the phone, making calls.

We know the media, it ain't easy.So she's trying.Harry is not trying.And I'm also hearing that Harry thinks, well, Megs can do that rather grubby work of bringing money in, and I shall be the global leader, the humanitarian.I'll be the philanthropist.I'll be the man that makes the world a better place.

Well, how's that going?Centibale, disaster.African Parks, disaster.Archwell, disaster.Invictus, double disaster.disaster.

So his identity, his role is all tied up with him being this great charity guy and Harry is Invictus, Invictus is Harry.So if that goes, it's not only a problem for his brand, it's a problem for the marriage.Because how does he go to Megs and say, well, I know that Invictus has gone up in smoke, but I'm still a philanthropist.I mean, how's that going to wash with the misses?

Yeah, you know, I do hope because Birmingham, They've got their issues.The council's bankrupt.Their bin collection still isn't happening.It's like two, three years later, they're still struggling with that.I'm not sure that was the best place for them to have picked to do Invictus.It's not an area that has, let's say, as much wealth as somewhere like London does.

And you say that as a proud Brummie.We call people Brummies.Birmingham Brummies.

And you love your city of birth.

But I'm not sure it's the right place to be hosting it.I do hope for the sake of the veterans and those people who want to take part, it goes ahead regardless.They're going to have to downsize it somehow and maybe move accommodation to somewhere that's less grand and the events will have to be done in a single day rather than across a nine day period to save money.But hopefully it goes ahead.But Harry's going to have to hustle hard to get another 20 million from somewhere.

Well, what it tells us, if by some miracle they put the show on next year, that that'll be the last.

Perhaps indeed.

As you hate to say, it's the usual thing with the Sussexes, it always ends in tears.Everything they do flops.If it doesn't involve blabbing about the royal family and attacking the monarchy, everything else flops.Nick, tell me one outside of the royal thing.Give me one thing that's been a success.

Oh, Meghan's AI clothing thing.right?She wears some clothes to an event, and then because of AI people can buy it straight away.Sells out.Well done.

Is that right?

Yeah.

Is that like that with her jam where she'd like, there's like, there's kind of like three blouses.

Well, look, Mark, as I said, I hope for the sake of the veterans from across the world who will be flying into Birmingham, I hope that the Invictus Games goes ahead.I agree with you.But they're going to have to really pull the fingers out and get some millions from somewhere.Fingers crossed.If we could do that, we would.

I've got a solution.Go on.If Harry ceases to be involved in the Invictus Games, all the sponsors will be back.Just imagine if Sir David Beckham was the head of the Invictus.Oh, wow.It'll be bigger than the World Cup.

Boeing, they will literally, and Airbus,all of those guys will be back.Similarly, what about the amazing Mike Tindall?If he was the head of Invictus, bang, they are back.There's so many people that could do it.

And Tom Brady owns Birmingham City Football Club as well.They could get him involved.He could donate a few million, he's got enough.Brady would be a triumph.Almost anybody would be better than those two.Okay, well, Marcus, thank you very much.

Good to see you.

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