Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Wrap Invictus Games Countdown with Glam Banquet in Vancouver

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry continue their Invictus Games celebrations in Canada.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended the One Year to Go dinner at the Vancouver Convention Center on Friday as part of the Invictus Games Countdown Celebration. A repeat of the 2025 Military Personnel and Veterans Competition will be held in a year in Whistler and Vancouver.

The event marked the end of a visit to British Columbia for Meghan, 42, and Prince Harry, 39, and featured plenty of memorable moments, including the gift of a Salish-woven blanket for each of the couple’s children, Prince Archie, 4, and Princess Lilibet, 2, from Johnna Sparrow, Native Games advisor and sister of Chief Wayne Sparrow of the Musqueam Indian Band.

During the dinner, the Duke – who wore a black suit for the event, while Meghan chose a chic off-the-shoulder olive green dress – introduced Michael Bublé, who performed a song he wrote with Paul Anko to the tune of “My Put.” Before singing the updated song, the Candian singer shared with the crowd how happy he was to “show Harry and Meghan how beautiful this place is.”

Squamish Nation Council Wilson Williams, left; Meghan Markle; Chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, Jen Thomas; and Prince Harry exchange greetings after being given blankets during the Invictus Games “One Year to Go” dinner in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Feb. 16, 2024.

Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP

Prince Harry tries curling at the Invictus Games Countdown with special guest…Michael Bublé!

Meanwhile, Bublé’s song lyrics paid tribute to Prince Harry as a “visionary” and sent “healing wishes” to King Charles, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment after announcing his diagnosis earlier this month.

“Who knew, dreams can come true, when life tells you, you’re far from over/ Nothing can be tamed, Invictus Games, you play it your way/ One man, a life-changing plan, doing everything he can, he’s visionary / Our healing wishes for your dad / You earned every day, right to say, I did it my way,” Bublé, 48, sang.

The Duke himself then took to the stage to deliver a speech, where he thanked the crowd “for being here tonight and for your commitment to making the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 possible.”

He later added: “Being in the Invictus community surrounded by so many brave men and women who have served their countries with distinction, I feel humbled and at home.”

Prince Harry speaks during the Invictus Games “One Year to Go” dinner in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, February 16, 2024.

Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP

Elsewhere in his speech, Prince Harry paid tribute to the upcoming milestone that the Invictus Games are set to achieve in 2024.

“This year marks ten years of the Invictus Games. The past decade has been a testament to the strength of resilience and indomitable spirit that you all exemplify. And we’ve had a lot of fun along the way! From this journey, I’m happy to report that the air is thick with excitement, and the best part is we’ve only just begun,” he told the crowd, adding, “The Invictus Games are not just a competition; they’re a way of life, a celebration of the human spirit.”

Before dinner, the Duke and Duchess spent the week checking out the Winter Training Camp, which introduced teams from around the world to the new winter sports that will be introduced at next year’s Invictus Games. In addition to the sports previously offered, the 2025 event will include alpine skiing, snowboarding, biathlon, Nordic skiing, skeleton and wheelchair curling for the first time.

Prince Harry tried three sports for himself. On Wednesday, he took a turn in sit skiing down the slopes before Thursday’s daredevil skeleton run, where he reached speeds of over 60 miles per hour while hurtling down an icy track headfirst. On Friday, the pair joined Bublé on the ice at the Hillcrest Community Center in Vancouver for a curling session.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Luisana Lopilato, Michael Bublé and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the Invictus Games One Year To Go Winter Training Camp at Hillcrest Community Center on February 16, 2024 in Vancouver, Canada.

Karwai Tang/WireImage

All the best photos from Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s trip to Canada for the Invictus Games Countdown

Stefan Nommensen is the Netherlands’ “chief of mission,” a role that includes “overlooking the team, friends and family,” he told PEOPLE, after competing at the 2018 Invictus Games in Sydney. Speaking about learning winter sports in Canada, Nommensen says, “It’s amazing how adaptive sports coaches can teach and coach. Imagine – in the Netherlands, we’re below sea level and we don’t have mountains. A lot of us, especially those with disabilities, haven’t been exposed to winter sports. It will actually be a good added value to the Invictus Games.”

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Ivan Morera, who represented Team USA in Germany last year and hopes to compete again in Canada, tells PEOPLE that he is learning to ski and snowboard.

“I like to challenge myself just to build resilience and show that I’m still capable of being physically active even with my adaptation. I had a great time here,” he says.

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Source: HIS Education