Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are staying in a luxury hotel in Canada ahead of the Invictus Games, which began on Saturday afternoon with a star-studded opening ceremony
Prince Harry is bound to feel right at home during his Canadian escapade, as he’s bunking at one of the nation’s swankiest establishments – the Fairmont Pacific Rim is all about luxury with its shimmering crystal chandelier and meditation pool, not forgetting their signature “Dirty Harry” cocktail on tap. The Duke, who’s just hit 40, was spotted rocking up to the five-star hotspot in a trio of hefty blacked-out SUVs last Friday night in Vancouver, setting the stage for him and Meghan, now 43, to take the helm at the Invictus Games.
The nine-day spectacle kicked off Saturday with an opening bash packed with glitz, graced with performances from chart-topping icons like Katy Perry, Chris Martin, and Nelly Furtado. While it’s hush-hush about which suite the royal pair have bagged, but taking into account Harry’s founder status of the Invictus Games and his patronage, the Chairman’s Suite seems like a worthy pick for royalty.
Curiously named the “Rock Star Suite,” this two-story lush spot spanning 2,250 sq. ft takes a page right out of a Balinese villa décor book. Although the price tag remains under wraps, whispers suggest it’s north of $6,200 per night – a trifle for a suite previously favored by A-listers Tom Cruise and Ed Sheeran.
Boasting a personal rooftop patio, decked out with everything from a gazebo and meditation pond to a fire pit, plus an exclusive rooftop tented terrace – it’s the peak of private luxury.
The suite also boasts a custom 8′-long Swarovski crystal chandelier, two luxury bathrooms, two living room areas, and its own kitchen, pantry, and wine cellar. It even features a lavish master bedroom with a fireplace, a private elevator, and a separate entrance from the rest of the hotel, reports the Mirror.
The suite can be connected to an additional guest room, offering a total of 2,650 square feet of glamorous city living with stunning views of the North Shore Mountains. Located just yards from the Games’ main competition venue, the Vancouver Conference Centre, the Fairmont Pacific Rim is connected to it via an underground walkway.
This hotel is considered one of Canada’s most luxurious and has been ranked among the top 10 in the world for food. Guests in the Chairman’s Suite enjoy a daily complimentary breakfast made fresh to order and have access to a daily canapé hour prepared by the hotel’s top savory and pastry chefs, which the management says “pair well with the wine menu and sunset hour.”
The Fairmont hotel is pretty plush (
© 2010 Paul Warchol Photography, Inc.)
The royals’ room goes for $6,200 a night (
Fairmont Pacific Rim)
The hotel’s cocktail menu, including the “Dirty Harry” – a vodka-based drink with dry vermouth, ginger, and pickled cucumber – has also received high praise. This cocktail was named after Douglas Coupland’s “Dirty Harry, 2021” artwork, which is displayed near the hotel’s elevator entrance.
Harry and Meghan are familiar with the area, having relocated to nearby Vancouver Island immediately after their royal exit, dubbed “Megxit,” in 2020. They later moved to Montecito in Meghan’s home state of California, but both have a fondness for Canada, where they began their relationship with secret dates and stays in Toronto.
This is where Meghan resided while filming the TV drama Suits for five years. The globally-recognized Fairmont hotel chain has long been a preferred choice for royals visiting Canada.
During their 1939 Canadian tour, King George IV and Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, officially inaugurated the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, which continues to operate not far from the newer Pacific Rim, opened in 2010. The royal couple also visited several other Fairmont properties in Canada, including the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, which was visited by Harry’s late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II and late grandfather Prince Philip in 2005.
Queen Elizabeth II was also a frequent guest at the Fairmont Empress in Victoria, reportedly visiting nearly every decade following her coronation. The hotel was named after her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria.
