Meghan Markle was given a rock star welcome at the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf today as she made her first appearance at a sports event with Prince Harry.
Crowds leapt to their feet to cheer and applaud the Duchess of Sussex who seemed taken aback by the rapturous welcome and took her seat in the Merkur Spiel-Arena.
Dressed casually in J Crew sweater, Staud shorts and Chanel flat pumps, the 42-year-old mother-of-two beamed with delight and waved to the crowd and punched her hands on the air, hugging supporters of the Australian team seated in her row.
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.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf this morning
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wave their hands at the wheelchair basketball match today
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf this morning
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wave their hands at the wheelchair basketball match today
The couple were swamped by fans who wanted to have their photo taken with the them when the wheelchair basketball match ended.
Meghan bonded with Australian competitor Laura Reynell, 28, from New South Wales, who sat next to her as they talked 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.’
Ms Reynell added that 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.’
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf this morning
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle watch the wheelchair basketball in Dusseldorf today
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf this morning
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wave their hands at the wheelchair basketball match today
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf this morning
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle watch the wheelchair basketball in Dusseldorf today
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wave their hands at the wheelchair basketball match today
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf this morning
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose for a selfie at the wheelchair basketball match today
A selfie of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the wheelchair basketball match today
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle watch the wheelchair basketball in Dusseldorf today
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf this morning
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle watch the wheelchair basketball in Dusseldorf today
The wheelchair basketball match between Ukraine and Australia at the Invictus Games today
Meghan Markle smiles while watching the wheelchair basketball at the Invictus Games today
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle watch the wheelchair basketball in Dusseldorf today
Reynell 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.
Organisers said Harry was hoping to pop across to a neighbouring court later today where Team UK were playing Canada.
Harry and Meghan have a packed schedule and will be watching a swimming event and wheelchair rugby later in the day.
The Duke launched this year’s sporting competition for wounded military personnel and veterans on Saturday night.
He and Meghan were reunited in Germany last night after she flew in from Los Angeles, with a stopover in London Heathrow.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle greet a member of the crowd in Dusseldorf this morning
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle watch the wheelchair basketball in Dusseldorf today
Meghan Markle smiles upon her arrival to watch the wheelchair basketball this morning
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle watch the wheelchair basketball in Dusseldorf today
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle watch the wheelchair basketball in Dusseldorf today
The Duchess of Sussex watches the wheelchair basketball at the Invictus Games today
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf this morning
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle watch the wheelchair basketball in Dusseldorf today
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf this morning
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle greet a member of the crowd in Dusseldorf this morning
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf this morning
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wave their hands at the wheelchair basketball match today
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf this morning
Meghan, 42, claimed ‘milkshakes and a school drop-off’ had delayed her arrival to Dusseldorf.
The Sussexes were last seen together at a Beyonce concert in California on September 1.
Meghan apologised for being late yesterday and explained she was spending time with their children, Prince Archie, four, and Princess Lilibet, two, at the couple’s Montecito mansion before jetting off.
She told the audience: ‘It is so special to be here and I am sorry I was a little late for the party… [I] had to spend a little bit more time getting our little ones settled at home – three milkshakes and a school drop-off.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle greet a member of the crowd in Dusseldorf this morning
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf this morning
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wave their hands at the wheelchair basketball match today
Meghan Markle smiles upon her arrival to watch the wheelchair basketball this morning
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle greet a member of the crowd in Dusseldorf this morning
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf this morning
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle watch the wheelchair basketball in Dusseldorf today
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wave their hands at the wheelchair basketball match today
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle watch the wheelchair basketball in Dusseldorf today
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wave their hands at the wheelchair basketball match today
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf this morning
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle watch the wheelchair basketball in Dusseldorf today
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle watch the wheelchair basketball in Dusseldorf today
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle watch the wheelchair basketball in Dusseldorf today
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle watch the wheelchair basketball in Dusseldorf today
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle greet a member of the crowd in Dusseldorf this morning
‘I only landed a couple of hours ago and I’m thrilled the first event I can do for Invictus is here with all of you. I hear it has got off to a good start so far.
‘We can’t wait to one day bring our kids as well so they can experience just how fantastic this is.’
Harry, who has been in Germany since Friday afternoon for the games which he founded in 2014, encouraged the guests to ‘connect with each other’.
The Duchess wore a black shirt dress by Banana Republic and an aide said she had got ready within an hour after arriving at the £2,000-a-night presidential suite at the hotel where Harry is staying, doing her own hair and make-up.