Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were joined by a familiar face as they sat down to watch the Wheelchair Curling at the Invictus Games in Vancouver.
The couple were joined by Nick Loughran, recognisable to royal fans as a former senior aide to Prince William and Princess Kate. Nick left the royal couple in 2016 following reports of an alleged romantic entanglement with two women who worked at the palace. He has previously denied that was the reason for his departure.
He now works as the director of communications company Integra Group, and was seen chatting away to the Sussexes at the Hillcrest Recreation Centre in Vancouver. At one point, Harry appeared to introduce Nick to Meghan, with the pair leaning across Harry in order to shake hands with each other.
Nick’s departure from William and Kate’s household came three months after it was alleged he had ended a relationship with Kate’s aide Rebecca Deacon in order to start dating Clara Madden, who worked as Prince Harry’s assistant. He went on to marry Clara, who also previously worked for William and Kate, and she later received a Member of the Royal Victorian Order honour on Harry’s recommendation.
At the time of his exit, Jason Knauf, communications chief to William, Kate and Harry, said: “Nick has been an excellent, hard-working, and thoughtful member of the team. From jubilees, weddings, babies, polar explorations and tours to every corner of the planet, Nick has seen it all and contributed in every way possible.”
A friend of Loughran told the Mail that his departure was not connected to his love life: “Nick always planned to leave Kensington Palace to work in the private sector.”
Clara Madden (right) and Rebecca Deacon
The friendly exchange between Nick and the Sussexes took place as they watched the Wheelchair Curling competition, where Team UK would secure their first medal of the games. Harry and Meghan were visibly enthusiastic throughout the match, displaying animated support for the competitors.
The Invictus Games in Vancouver will run for nine days, featuring more than 500 competitors from 23 nations. Athletes will compete in core sports including indoor rowing, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball. The Games will also include winter sports for the first time.
The prince founded the Invictus Games in London in 2014, with this year marking the seventh edition of the competition for wounded military veterans. During his emotional speech at the ceremony, Harry told the crowd of 40,000: “We gather here in Vancouver in a spirit of unity. Beyond any differences, here at the Invictus Games we are grounded in mutual respect, competing fiercely, but believing in one another.”
He continued: “Over the past decade I’ve lost count of the times we’ve heard you tell us that the Invictus Games saved you. Respectfully, I disagree. Invictus didn’t save you. You saved yourself.”
