The news came as it emerged the Duke of Sussex will remain in the UK until next week and won’t yet be flying back to Canada to be reunited with Meghan Markle and baby Archie.

He is reportedly due to hold further talks about their roles within the royal family, but Buckingham Palace is yet to release any further updates since the Queen’s personal statement on Monday.

The Queen agreed to the duke’s wish that he and his wife step back as senior royals, become financially independent and split their time between the UK and Canada.

However, it was business as usual for Prince Harry on Wednesday as he launched the next leg of his Invictus Games, to be held in Dusseldorf in 2022.

Harry, who created the event for wounded armed forces personnel and veterans, said he hoped Germany was ready for an ‘incredible’ week of sport.

In a video posted on the official sussexroyal account, he said: ‘I hope everyone in Germany is ready for what will be an incredible week of sport!

‘I have no doubt that the German public will get right behind these Games and that every single competitor can expect a warm welcome and an amazing atmosphere.’

The event – which was first held in 2014 – sees wounded, injured or sick armed forces personnel take part in various adaptive sports, ranging from wheelchair basketball to indoor rowing.

Harry said the 2022 games will bring together more than 500 competitors from 20 nations, with events held across the city in west Germany over the course of a week.

Meghan, who flew back to Canada before senior royals met at Sandringham to discuss the couple’s future, was spotted for the first time since the shock announcement in the province of British Columbia where she visited the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre in Vancouver.

She discussed ‘issues affecting women in the community’, according to a photograph posted on Facebook by the shelter.

During Thursday Harry will carry out his first engagement since the crisis around the couple’s future emerged, hosting the Rugby League World Cup 2021 draws at Buckingham Palace.