In a recent interview, Donald Trump said he would not intervene in the Duke of Sussex’s case.

Prince Harry’s memoir dropped so many bombshells, his admission of drug-taking certainly was not the most jaw-dropping revelation.

But it did start a campaign by a US thinktank to question whether he lied on his visa application or was given special dispensation.

Two years later, the legal case rumbles on, but the Duke of Sussex might have been thrown an unexpected lifeline by US President Donald Trump, who once said he would not protect the prince if he was re-elected because “he betrayed the Queen”.

Prince Harry during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Invictus Games. Pic: PA
Image:Prince Harry during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Invictus Games. Pic: PA

In a recent interview with the New York Post, Mr Trump said he would not intervene in Harry’s case.

Mr Trump said: “I don’t want to do that. I’ll leave him alone. He’s got enough problems with his wife. She’s terrible.”

The comments might help Harry’s case, but Mr Trump clearly could not resist another attack on Meghan Markle. It’s no great surprise – he’s aired derogatory views before, branding her “nasty” and more recently saying: “I’m not a fan of hers.”

As for the Sussexes, there will be little love lost. Meghan once called Mr Trump “misogynistic”, albeit before she married Harry.

The couple have not directly expressed their political persuasion, but Meghan spoke positively about Kamala Harris being named Joe Biden’s running mate in 2020.

The couple have also worked closely with Mr Biden’s daughter, who runs a wellness centre for women who have suffered trauma.

Since they left their roles as working royals, the duke and duchess have been able to speak out more freely. And to that, hours after Mr Trump made his Meghan comments, Harry used his opening speech at the Invictus Games to criticise “weak moral character”.

It feels like a jibe at Mr Trump.

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Invictus has always been a cause very close to Harry’s heart, and one which is widely respected. It is also familiar territory for the Sussexes.

It was at these games in Canada in 2017 that they made their first public appearance together.

So much has happened since we saw them there.

They wanted to escape from the scrutiny and intrusion of royal life. But the negative headlines which they were so desperate to escape, are harder to leave behind.