Prince Harry's Invictus Games Reportedly In Turmoil After Firing Of Top Executives

The Invictus Games, a sporting event founded by Prince Harry for wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women, has been thrown into turmoil as two of its top chiefs have been reportedly "sacked."

The move has sparked concerns about staff morale, with insiders claiming that it is at an all-time low. 

According to the Daily Mail, an insider revealed that the event has been cast into "turmoil" after two of its top executives were sacked "for no apparent reason." 

The games, which are set to be held in Canada next year, reportedly let go of its CEO, Peter Lawless, AND CCO Bill Cooper. The reasons for their dismissal are unclear, but an Invictus Games spokesperson noted that Mr.Lawless particularly was "transitioned out" and was "no longer an employee" but will remain an ambassador.

"CEO Peter Lawless and Chief Commercial Officer Bill Cooper were dismissed for no apparent reason," the insider revealed. 

They added, "This is a significant setback with just over a year to deliver the Games, which I'm told are well over budget, and no plan to close the gap even after securing $ 30 million in government support from the Province of British Columbia and the Canadian Federal government."

The insider divulged that the morale amongst staff and volunteers is low as they fear the latest move will cast a shadow over the games. 

The departure of the CEO and Chief Commercial Officer has reportedly set tongues wagging internally as fears over the games' finances have also surfaced.

"As you can expect, the morale among the staff and volunteers is at an all-time low, and Prince Harry and his wife have become a significant distraction with all their troubles," the Volunteer noted. 

"As volunteers, we are concerned that these recent moves will again overshadow this incredible event for our veterans. Enough already," the source continued.

The Invictus Games, which was launched in 2014 by the Duke of Sussex after his time with the Army in Afghanistan, relies heavily on volunteers, who contribute their time and expertise to ensure the event runs smoothly. However, Harry's strained relationship with the Royal has reportedly left the veterans "caught up in the royal crossfire."

The latest development has also raised financial concerns for the games, despite the Governments of Canada and British Columbia pledging to spend almost £20m ($30 million) to stage the games. 

According to the insider, the game is "over budget" and fears that the Sussexes' security and other costs may affect the viability of the games if Invictus 2025 foots the bill.

The financial concerns have added to the challenges faced by the Invictus Games, casting doubt on its ability to deliver a successful event.

However, a spokesperson for the games noted that there are no issues with the budget and that the event will feature Winter Games editions like alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, and curling, per The Daily Mail.

"We can confirm that Peter Lawless and Bill Cooper are no longer employees of Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025," the spokesperson shared. "We would like to thank them for their efforts and support in helping bring the Games back to Canada for the first winter hybrid edition of the Invictus Games and in establishing the organizing structure over the past year."

The spokesman added, "We are delighted that Peter will continue to support the Vancouver Whistler 2025 Games as an Ambassador and CEO Emeritus. There are no budgetary issues relating to Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 and the organization is on track to meet its revenue, sponsorship, and fundraising targets."

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were noticeably absent from King Charles' 75th birthday celebration. A royal expert noted that the snub reflected the state of affairs between the couple and the royal family.

Royal expert and author of "The King," Christopher Andersen, told Fox News that he wasn't surprised the couple didn't get invited and that it could be attributed to Prince Harry's memoir "Spare."

"The fact that Harry and Meghan weren't even invited to the king's milestone 75th birthday really speaks volumes about just how irreconcilable the Sussexes and the Windsors are," Andersen noted.

"You can only burn bridges so many times. The bottom line is that the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family will continue to have nothing to do with each other for the foreseeable future, full stop," he added.