Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Reveal a Historic First During Their Visit to Canada
The couple toured the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre, a First Nations museum and art gallery
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry helped unveil a historic first in debuting the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 logo — a collaboration between the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, Musqueam and Lil’wat Nations that marked the first time all four First Nations have worked together to create a piece of art.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are in Canada this week for the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025's One Year to Go celebrations.
On Wednesday, the couple toured the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, a First Nations museum and art gallery. The First Nations is a term used to identify Indigenous peoples in Canada who are descendants of its original inhabitants and lived there for thousands of years, before the arrival of European explorers.
Related: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Cozy Up in Canada on Valentine's Day for Invictus Games Countdown
Following the tour, the center held a reception that marked the official debut of the Invictus Games 2025 logo.
A post shared on their official website said, "The evening and presentation were extremely meaningful. IG2025 and the couple could not be more proud to share the artists’ piece with the world."
"The couple recognise the significance of the First Nations communities welcoming the Invictus Games onto their sacred land and are thankful for the warmth and hospitality," the statement added.
Master carver and canoe maker Ray Natraoro told North Shore News, "We wanted to represent our territory, where we come from."
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We are proud to unveil the visual identity for the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 presented by ATCO, which was designed and created by four of British Columbia's leading Indigenous artists. pic.twitter.com/xkADdK9KXZ— Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 (@InvictusGames25) January 23, 2024
"The final designs are rooted in cultural traditions of the Pacific Northwest’s Salish people," Natraoro added. "They reflect the spiritual and cultural significance of Salish art symbols, and showcase varying perspectives brought forth by each artist."
Nick Booth, Interim CEO of the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025, told the outlet that the logo was "just one example" of the critical role that the Host First Nations will play in planning and co-hosting the international adaptive sports competition.
“Through the power of sport, the Four Host First Nations and the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 will work together to highlight the shared journey of recovery of Indigenous communities and military service members and Veterans in overcoming adversity," he said.
On Wednesday, Prince Harry, 39, and Meghan, 42, stepped out for the start of the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025's One Year to Go celebrations. The couple held hands as they made their way onto the snowy mountain to speak with athletes in adaptive skis and their guides.
The couple will spend time this week meeting with members of the participating nations' Winter Training Camp organized before the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025. The camp brings together members of the international Invictus Community, including team managers, coaches and competitors, to experience winter adaptive sports before the official competition next year.
Prince Harry, a former captain in the British Army, founded the international adaptive sports tournament for wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans in 2014. Invictus means “unconquered” in Latin, and the competition’s motto “I am” comes from the William Ernest Henley poem of the same name, which ends with the lines, "I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul."
“The poem is a reminder that you have the power to take control of your life," he told PEOPLE in 2022.
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Following cycles in London (2014), Orlando (2016), Toronto (2017) and Sydney (2018), the Hague (when COVID-19 pushed the event back to 2022) and Düsseldorf (2023), the upcoming cycle in Canada will be the first time the sports tournament has returned to a previous host country.
News of the couple’s trip for the Invictus kickoff was announced in early February, and accompanied by two new images of the Duke and Duchess from the 2023 Invictus Games in Germany.
Harry and Meghan famously made their debut as a couple at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, where Meghan lived while filming Suits.
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