Meghan Markle made a quick dash to take selfies with fans after entering the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf for the Invictus Games today.
The Duchess of Sussex, 42, and Prince Harry, 38, were couple were swamped by fans who wanted to have their photo taken with the pair when the wheelchair basketball match ended.
Footage shared by fans shows Meghan running off the pitch towards fans shouting ‘the Sussex Squad is here’ before shaking their hands and posing for photos.
Harry and Meghan then posed with Annika Hutsler of Team USA, who competes in the 100M and 200M races.
Later, Meghan bonded with Australian competitor Laura Reynell, 28, who sat next to her as they chatted about her beanie hat.
She said: ‘Meghan thought it was funny I was wearing the beanie and asked if I was cold. I told her I’m from Oz and always cold’
Meghan Markle made a quick dash to take selfies with fans after entering the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf for the Invictus Games today
Harry and Meghan then posed with Annika Hutsler of Team USA, who competes in the 100M and 200M races
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Later, Meghan bonded with Australian competitor Laura Reynell, 28, who sat next to her as they chatted about her beanie hat
Meghan and Harry posed with fans on the court before running into the crowd
Meghan reached up and shook the hands of fans who were screaming ‘Sussex Squad’
Laura from New South Wales added Meghan spoke about her two young children behind in California.
She said: ‘She was so nice and was talking about her kids.
‘She said the kids are excited about Invictus but they are a bit too young to understand’
Laura has been competing in the power lifting, archery and rowing.
Harry was in animated conversation with Tavis Watt,49, a psychologist for the Australian team.
Harry, who has been happily posing for dozens of selfies with fans, took a back seat this morning as most people in the crowd wanted to be photographed with Meghan.
Following her impromptu speech at an Invictus Games party for 1,600 people where she apologised for her late arrival at the competition yesterday, a buzz of excitement had gone around the games today that she would be making her debut appearance.
More than 2,000 schoolchildren were invited to the fourth day and had been talking excitedly about Meghan. The couple – whose two young children are back home in Montecito, California – watched a wheelchair match between Australia and Ukraine.
Harry and Meghan took selfies with Nigerian Athletes after Wheelchair basketball match
The couple met with athletes from various teams throughout the competetion
Harry and Meghan chatted to Annika Hutsler ahead of her competing
Harry, who has been happily posing for dozens of selfies with fans, took a back seat this morning as most people in the crowd wanted to be photographed with Meghan.
The couple presented medals to all those taking part as Queen’s ‘We Are The Champions’ blasted out in the arena
Many fans took snaps of the royal couple
Annika Hutsler took dozens of snaps of the couple
After watching the match, Harry and Meghan joined in with a children’s relay race.
It was Sussex v Sussex as they chose opposing teams for the race around the basketball court.
Harry encouraged his team to win the sprint race, urging on the young competitors who are attending the games to cheer on family and friends.
Meghan clapped her hands enthusiastically as her group of youngsters raced.
The couple presented medals to all those taking part as Queen’s ‘We Are The Champions’ blasted out in the arena.
Earlier, Meghan lived up to her rock star welcome by walking over a group of fans who had been chanting her name.
As they squealed with excitement, she reached out to high five the group and pose for selfies.
Harry and Meghan then walked hand in hand across the court – and the Duke later had out a guiding hand on his wife’s back.
Before posing for a team photo with all the children, Harry picked up a cone and handed it to a spectator so it would not spoil the shot for dozens of photographers.