In a surprise appearance, Prince Harry graced the NFL Honors event in Las Vegas, presenting the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award to Cameron Heyward of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, personally invited the Duke of Sussex to the prestigious gathering.

Despite ample opportunity to stay for the Super Bowl, neither Prince Harry nor his wife, Meghan Markle, will be attending Super Bowl LVIII. They have busy schedules as they prepare for their upcoming trip to Canada for the opening event of the Invictus Games next week.

Prince Harry, who is known to be a sports fan, has previously attended the Super Bowl in 2022 with his cousin Princess Eugenie. Speculation arose that the Sussexes might attend this year's game as guests of their friends and neighbors, Paramount CEO Brian Robbins and his wife Tracy, due to their recent joint trip to Jamaica on the Paramount private jet for the premiere of the Bob Marley biopic, "One Love."

Both Paramount and CBS, which are subsidiaries of National Amusements, Inc., are involved in the Super Bowl. However, the royal couple's preparations for the Invictus Games take priority over the football extravaganza.

Prince Harry's appearance at the NFL Honors event was well-received, as he delighted the audience with his witty remarks about American football. He humorously acknowledged the sport's origins by saying, "Good evening, NFL. It's an honor to be with you all tonight. I really love how you stole rugby from us and made it your own."

His presence on Thursday evening came shortly after a brief trans-Atlantic visit back to the UK, where he spent just 45 minutes with his cancer-stricken father, King Charles. Despite the short duration, it was a meaningful moment for Prince Harry.

Looking ahead, Commissioner Goodell expressed his enthusiasm for the impact of celebrity involvement in football, mentioning last year's NFL Honors guests such as Issa Rae, Gayle King, Janelle Monáe, and Justin Hartley. Goodell also acknowledged the positive influence of Taylor Swift on viewership this season, attributing it to her relationship with Travis Kelce, saying, "Having the Taylor Swift effect is also a positive. She knows great entertainment, and I think that's why she loves NFL football. Besides Travis, she's a football fan."

While the absence of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from the Super Bowl will surely disappoint some, their commitment to their philanthropic endeavors and their upcoming engagement at the Invictus Games in Canada remains their priority.