Prince Harry received two gifts for his wife, Meghan Markle, during a visit to Kyiv on Friday as he carried out work with his Invictus Games Foundation to support the rehabilitation of wounded Ukrainian soldiers.
The Duke of Sussex, who turned 41 on the day of the visit, told reporters he had sought permission from both his wife and the British government before travelling to the Ukrainian capital. His office said the foundation plans further work to help rehabilitate injured service personnel and veterans in Ukraine.
During a public exchange, a Kyiv businesswoman, Mariia Didkovska, presented Harry with a commemorative plate intended for Meghan bearing an inscription that reads, "Kyiv stretches behind me in dreams," drawn from the writings of a Ukrainian poet and translator. Didkovska, who runs a restaurant and bar in the city and is organising a project to raise funds for the military hospital in Kyiv, also gave him a bottle of Victoire de la Dignité champagne in a wooden case and suggested it be kept for "the special day when we celebrate our victory." Harry accepted the bottle and replied, "Sooner rather than later." Didkovska said, "And this is for your wife," and added, "You are always welcome to Kyiv. Thank you a million times for everything you do."
Harry's visit was part of a short trip accompanying a team from the Invictus Games Foundation. His office said the foundation has committed $500,000 to projects supporting injured children from Gaza and Ukraine and has worked with organisations including the World Health Organization on evacuations and prosthetic development. Forbes reported that Didkovska's project has already helped the Kyiv hospital acquire new surgery and endoscopy equipment.
The visit to Kyiv followed a four-day trip to the United Kingdom in which Harry reunited with his father, King Charles III, for the first time in 19 months. During that UK visit, he attended events related to the Invictus Games and met with charity and medical centres involved in trauma research and rehabilitation. Harry told reporters in Kyiv that he had discussed family matters in the UK and that "the focus really has to be on my dad" while reiterating a view he has previously expressed: "You cannot have reconciliation before you have truth."
Harry has been the subject of controversy since publication of his memoir, Spare, and several high-profile interviews. The book and interviews included accounts of tensions within the royal family and personal revelations that drew public attention and criticism. He has defended his public statements and the memoir as attempts to correct previously published versions of events, saying his conscience is clear and that his aim is accountability rather than revenge.
The Invictus Games, launched by Harry in 2014, is a sporting competition for wounded, injured or sick service personnel and veterans. At events in London this month, the duke spoke about the next decade of the Games and attended a reception for supporters and government ministers. He also visited the Centre for Blast Injury Studies and other facilities focused on trauma care and prosthetics.
Meghan Markle marked Harry's return to Montecito after his UK trip with an Instagram story on her As Ever social media page in which she poured two glasses of wine from her brand. The couple have two children and have lived in California since stepping back from senior royal duties.
Harry's office said the foundation's work in Ukraine and elsewhere will continue, focusing on rehabilitation and medical support for wounded service personnel. During the Kyiv visit, the duke viewed a makeshift memorial at Independence Square honoring Ukrainian and foreign soldiers and met wounded veterans and local organisers working to provide medical aid and equipment.
Officials in London have said the king is keen to rebuild family relationships and spend time with his grandchildren. Royal sources told media outlets the recent meetings could mark the beginning of a reset in family dynamics, though no formal changes to the couple's roles or security arrangements were announced. Harry's spokesman said the duke "loved" being back in the U.K., which allowed him to reconnect with charities, friends and colleagues and to support causes important to him.
The Invictus Games Foundation said in a statement that no single organisation can address the scale of need arising from conflict and that it will continue to partner with medical facilities, charities and governments to deliver rehabilitation services. The foundation's activities in Kyiv are part of broader efforts to respond to the needs of veterans and civilians injured in conflict zones.
As he left Kyiv, Harry did not outline a detailed timeline for future visits but indicated the foundation would continue work on medical and rehabilitation projects tied to the Invictus movement. The gifts presented during the visit — a plate bearing a Ukrainian literary line and a bottle of champagne labelled for a future victory — highlighted both personal gestures of gratitude and the charitable focus of his trip.