Prince Harry found a thrilling way to put some distance between himself and the scandal surrounding his and Meghan Markle‘s Sussex family rebrand today – when he enjoyed a thrill-filled ride around a skeleton bobsled track in Whistler, Canada.
The 38-year-old Duke of Sussex achieved an impressive top speed of 61 miles-per-hour during his daring adventure – a feat that left even his wife Meghan, 42, voicing her awe, telling fellow onlookers that she was ‘impressed’ with her husband’s skills.
While Meghan did not take part in the bobsledding fun at the Whistler Sliding Center in British Columbia, she was able to enjoy every aspect of her husband’s ride when he got off the sled – before enthusiastically re-enacting his thrill ride to his wife and Invictus volunteers after getting off.
The Duchess of Sussex – who has joined her husband on a multi-day trip to Canada in honor of the one-year countdown to the 2025 Invictus Games – also served as her husband’s personal photographer – beaming with pride as she held up her phone to snap images and clips as he whizzed to the end of the track.
Prince Harry proved himself quite the thrill-seeker today when he attempted a run around a skeleton bobsled track – achieving an impressive top speed of 61 miles-per-hour
While Meghan did not take part in the bobsledding fun, she was able to enjoy every aspect of her husband’s ride when he got off the sled and re-enacted the ride for her
Meghan smiles as she steps out in a black puffer coat, black jeans some ski boots and oversized sunglasses
Meghan was wrapped up warm, sporting a navy beanie as she smiled at her husband
When asked by an onlooker whether she planned to join her husband in trying out the daring sport, Meghan laughingly yelled back, ‘I can’t!’
Prince Harry reacts after sliding down the track on a skeleton sled during an Invictus Games training camp, in Whistler, British Columbia
The Duchess of Sussex opted to wear her chocolate brown tresses down
The Duke of Sussex laughed as he held his helmet and walked down the path
The 38-year-old Duke of Sussex achieved an impressive top speed of 61 miles-per-hour during his daring adventure – a feat that left even his wife Meghan, 42, voicing her awe
The Duchess clutched onto her husband’s arm as she strolled through the resort in Canada
But Meghan – who accessorized her phone with a $250 case from Bottega Veneta – was not the only videographer on hand to capture every moment of the Duke’s whistle-top trip around the bobsled track.
As well as a team of photographers and onlookers who have captured the couple’s every move, they have also been followed closely by a camera crew from Good Morning America, who are thought to be working on a segment all about the pair’s Invictus Games countdown.
Helming the GMA crew is host Will Reeve, son of the Superman actor Christopher Reeve, who was seen joining the Sussexes during their events on Wednesday – with DailyMail.com revealing exclusive images of the trio chatting together.
ABC – the network that broadcasts GMA – has yet to confirm exactly what the on-air segment will include, however the crew was closely following the Sussexes today, interviewing Harry for ten minutes after his first bobsledding adventure, before he set off for a second go around the track.
When asked by an onlooker whether she planned to join her husband in trying out the daring sport, Meghan laughingly yelled back, ‘I can’t!’
However she watched on with pride as her husband completed his two runs – although she took some time to warm up in the back of the couple’s Ford Expedition SUV while Harry took some time out from the track to chat with the GMA crew.
But before long, he was back at it, drawing his wife out of the car to watch on as he enjoyed a second race on the sled.
After whizzing round for a second time, a beaming Harry made his way down the hill arm-in-arm with Meghan, posing for pictures as they went.
Meghan watched on as Harry tried his hand at skeleton bobsled
Meghan dressed for the cold weather, wrapped up warm in a scarf
The bobsled track, which is billed as the fastest in the world, includes a 485-ft vertical drop, as well as 16 curves
The Duke came in at a bit of an angle as he brought his run to an end, having achieved a pretty impressive top speed of 61 miles per hour
Proud Meghan watched on and took videos and photos of Harry as he whizzed to the end of the bobsled track
The mother-of-two bundled up in a black puffer jacket, black jeans, and a navy beanie and scarf, while also flashing a glimpse at her large engagement ring
When asked by an onlooker whether she planned to join her husband in trying out the daring sport, Meghan laughingly yelled back, ‘I can’t!’
Meghan beamed with pride as her husband recounted his trip around the track
The couple had a chat as film crews followed them around in Whistler
Harry and Meghan kicked off day two of their Invictus Games One Year to Go tour shortly after 1pm – although their appearance at the venue was delayed by over 30 minutes while the Duke was given a safety briefing.
The couple, fresh from a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner date, were both on chipper form as they made their entrance the venue, with a beaming Harry whizzing past on his bobsled and Meghan quipping ‘I can hear him’ as his sled set off and filming him on her phone as he flashed past.
Meghan was wrapped up against the 30F (-4C) temperatures in a black padded jacket and leggings and a navy hat and scarf while her husband kept things casual in gray pants and a black insulated Invictus Games-branded jacket – topped off with a white crash helmet.
After the high speed arrival, to the sound of Invictus branded cowbells waved by onlookers, came a meet and greet with athletes preparing to perform at the event next year on a platform overlooking the track.
Among the athletes waiting to be introduced were Canadian veteran and mental health advocate Mark Beare, Estonian former soldier and amputee Rasmus Penno and Nigerian power lifter and ex-soldier Peacemaker Azuegbulam.
Peacemaker, a 27-year-old double amputee from Imo, Nigeria, made his skeleton debut immediately after Harry – despite never having seen snow or been on a bobsled before.
Speaking to DailyMail.com, Peacemaker said he was thrilled to be reunited with the couple after being introduced to them at Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, Germany, last year where he won a gold medal in the powerlifting.
Now preparing to take part in the skeleton competition at the 2025 Games, despite only making his debut today, the double amputee said the sport had helped him come to terms with the injuries he sustained during a firefight with Boko Haram terrorists in November 2020.
He said: ‘At first I felt ashamed because of my injuries but then I was introduced to the Games and began with playing volleyball. Now I feel good, now I feel recovered.
After whizzing round the track for a second time, a beaming Harry made his way down the hill arm-in-arm with Meghan, posing for pictures as they went
Harry appeared in great spirits after completing his attempt at the skeleton race
Meghan and Harry were joined at the track by a camera crew from Good Morning America – who have been trailing them for a large part of their Whistler trip
Meghan was bundled up in a chic black coat – however she did take a brief break from the cold by huddling in the back of the couple’s waiting SUV as Harry spoke to the GMA crew
The Duke of Sussex enjoyed not one but two goes around the skeleton track before rejoining his wife and departing the venue for Vancouver, where they are expected to appear tomorrow
‘I am proud to be the first Invictus champion from Africa and I feel recharged. It totally changed my mindset.’
Certainly there could be no better place to try out the sport than at the track, which is part of the Whistler Blackcomb resort, a venue built specifically for the 2010 Winter Olympics which were also held in the town, and which boasts a bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track.
However the track – which is billed as the fastest in the world – is certainly not for the faint of heart, featuring a staggering 148m (485ft) vertical drop and 16 curves, while the surrounding stadium has space for 12,000 spectators.
Described by the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF) as an ‘adrenaline sport’, skeleton racing was developed more than 100 years ago in Switzerland when amateur daredevils began racing down icy slopes on toboggan sleds.
Ultimately, the hobby grew so popular that it was added to the Winter Olympics line-up – and the daring athletes who now take part in the sport now reach a staggering top speed of more than 93 miles-per-hour – more than 30 miles faster than Harry managed during his attempts.
Harry and Meghan’s seemingly carefree appearance today comes immediately after Harry hit back at criticism over the newly rebranded Sussex.com, with a spokesman angrily insisting ‘this couple will not be broken.’
They added: ‘We’ve heard time and time again that certain opportunities are make or break for the couple.
‘They’re still here. They’re still working and pursuing what they believe in, despite being constantly challenged and criticized. This couple will not be broken.’
The trip to the bobsled track comes after the pair kicked off their trip to Whistler with a trip to the ski slopes, where they were joined by the GMA crew
Harry and Meghan were pictured alongside GMA host Will Reeve (right) – son of Superman actor Christopher Reeve – on Wednesday
Later in the day, the pair managed to find time to sneak in a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner at a local Italian restaurant
While the row over Sussex.com remains ongoing, it has failed to detract from their enjoyment of the Invictus Games training camp with both seen laughing and joking with competitors on day one which took place in sub-zero conditions on the slopes of Blackcomb Mountain.
There, Harry tried his hand at sit-ski – an adapted version of the sport designed for amputees – while Meghan smiled broadly as she met visually impaired athletes who were nonetheless prepared to take to the slopes in next year’s competition.
Later, the couple met First Nations youth ambassadors representing the native Canadian tribes on whose land the Games are taking place.
The duo privately toured the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Center in Whistler where they were shown around by Chief Nelson and Wilson Williams and met artists who created the new Invictus Games logo for the event.
In a statement, Harry and Meghan 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 recognizes the significance of the First Nation communities welcoming the Invictus Games onto their sacred land and are thankful for their warmth and hospitality.’
The pair, who have been staying in Whistler, are due to head back to Vancouver later today ahead of an event in the City of Glass on Friday morning where Harry is due to make a speech.
After that, the couple are expected to head home to Montecito, California, where they will be reunited with children Archie, four, and Lilibet, two.