Harry and Megan shared an intimate kiss on the stage of the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games on Saturday night – before the emotional prince addressed more than 500 athletes from 20 nations and their families.
The PDA moment came after Megan took the stage at the Zuiderpark Stadium in The Hague, the Netherlands, to present the Duke of Sussex.
Megan talks about her “love and respect” for Harry before mentioning her two young children and saying she “can’t be proud of my husband.”
The Duchess cut out a chic figure of the event in an elegant white top, black high-waisted trousers and a simple gold necklace, while Harry chose a gray suit and a white shirt with an open collar.
This comes after they spent the day meeting with wounded military veterans before riding a Land Rovers mini – driven by children – with their Netflix crew on a tow to catch every moment.
Megan told the audience that Harry had spent “very late nights and early mornings” planning the games – which he founded in 2014 – and described it as “amazing”.
After thanking the veterans present for their military service, she said: “It is a great honor for me to present to you who you will be happy to hear from.
“He spent many late nights and early mornings planning these games to make them as perfect as possible for each of you.
“I could not love and respect him more and I know that many of you feel the same because he is your fellow veteran who has served two tours in Afghanistan and ten years of military service and the founder of Invictus Games and the father of our two little ones, Archie and Lily.
“Please welcome to my amazing husband, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.”
Harry stepped onto the stage and kissed Megan as he removed the microphone from her hand. He smiled broadly as Megan returned to her seat and said, “Thank you, my love.”
Prince Harry and Megan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, kiss during the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games
Harry and Megan take the stage during the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games in The Hague on Saturday night
Sussex family share a kiss before Prince Harry speaks to thousands
Prince Harry seems to have become emotional after being introduced to the stage by Megan
Megan took to the stage to introduce Prince Harry during Saturday’s opening ceremony
Megan, Duchess of Sussex speaks at the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games in The Hague 2020 in Zuiderpark
The contestants and their families listen to Megan give a speech before taking Harry on stage
Harry takes the microphone from Megan before giving a speech at the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games
The Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte spoke at the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games in The Hague 2020.
Harry presents gold medals to Land Rover Driving Challenge winners during the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games in The Hague
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Megan, Duchess of Sussex attend the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games at the Zuiderpark in The Hague
Megan rocked a white top with black high-waisted pants and a plain gold necklace, while Harry chose a gray suit and a white shirt with an open collar.
Invictus Games players record the moment Harry and Megan step out into the stadium during the opening ceremony
Kaiser Chiefs perform at the opening ceremony of the fifth Invictus Games on Saturday night
Kaiser Chiefs perform “Coming Home” while 32 military volunteers carry illuminated blocks
He also mentions his son Archie in his speech, saying that they often talk about what he would like to do when he grows up.
Harry told the audience that one day his son wanted to be an astronaut and another day a pilot.
“Obviously a helicopter pilot,” Harry said of his own military career.
He then added that some days his son wanted to be Kwazii, a brave cat from the animated television series Octonauts.
“If you’re laughing, you’ve seen it,” Harry told the audience.
He continued: “But I remind him, no matter what you want to be when you grow up, your character is most important and nothing would make his mother and me more proud than to see him have the character of what we see before us today.
“As a community, you have overcome enormous challenges and are healing and learning the world as you go.
“You are people with endurance, strength and heart. You have the heart of Invictus.
Harry and Megan used to walk hand in hand as they approached the team and stopped for a chat and a few photos before taking their seats to hear a speech by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
One of the biggest applause of the evening came when Mr. Rutte paid tribute to the Ukrainian team, telling them: “I am sure you are here with mixed feelings and great concern about what is happening at home.
“Some members of the Invictus community cannot be here because they are fighting on the front line.”
He added: “We are also thinking about those in the community who have paid the final price. We are behind you and we support you, and together we can show that unity and solidarity will overcome the conflict.
An injured veteran, Hans Plogmakers, then played the Dutch version of The Last Post on a trumpet, followed by a minute of silence.
The crowd was told that an empty yellow chair would be left at each of the sports venues to congratulate the fallen servicemen and women who died while serving their homeland.
At the colorful opening ceremony, the flags of each of the 20 competing nations were brought to the stage to loud applause.
They marched through the stadium with the neutral-flagged Afghanistan team, as the country is currently ruled by the Taliban following the withdrawal of the United States and the United Kingdom last summer.
Harry was then called on stage to present the medals from the previous Land Rover driving challenge. The Duke of Sussex was pictured sitting in the passenger seat while the car was run over obstacles while Megan watched.
Kaiser Chiefs performed the song “Coming Home” while 32 military volunteers wore lighted blocks to celebrate the 5th Invictus Games.
Harry and Megan’s arrival came after the national teams performed live in a military band – with Ukraine receiving a standing ovation.
The team, which received special permission to compete with President Vladimir Zelensky amid the Russian invasion, waved to the applause of the crowd as the cover of Euphoria’s group from Loreen exploded through the beams.
Others who will perform tonight include Dutch singer-songwriter Aneke van Girsbergen and Hague-based rock band DI-RECT.
The games will run until next Friday and will see more than 500 athletes from 20 nations fighting in events, including archery, athletics, wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball.
The annual event was founded by Harry, and the first edition of its kind was held in London in 2014, followed by the United States, Canada and Australia.
The Hague was supposed to host the 2020 Games, but was postponed to this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Ukrainian team arrives for the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games in Zuiderpark – where they were greeted with huge applause
Megan holds Harry’s hands while the royal couple attends the opening ceremony of Saturday’s Invictus Games
Megan and Harry applaud and applaud as they take their seats during the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games
Megan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex watch during the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games in The Hague 2020
Harry and Megan stop and talk to players from the Dutch team after arriving at the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games
Prince Harry hugs a member of the Dutch team at the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games
The radiant couple hold hands as they are applauded as they arrive at Saturday’s Hague ceremony
Dutch Princess Margriet (C) punches Dutchman Invictus before the opening ceremony
Italy enters the scene while more than a dozen musicians from the military band play live
Harry and Megan smile at competitors from Poland and Belgium as they make their way to their seats
Prince Harry and Megan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, attend the inauguration ceremony of the Invictus Games in The Hague
Harry and Megan head to their seats to loud applause as the contestants capture the moment on their phones
One of the biggest applause of the evening came when Mr. Rutte (pictured) paid tribute to the Ukrainian team.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte congratulates athletes from the Dutch team Invictus
Prince Harry presents bronze medals to Land Rover Driving Challenge winners during the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games
Prince Harry leaves the stage after presenting the awards for the Land Rover Challenge
The members of the Ukrainian team received special permission to leave the war-torn country and compete with their president, Vladimir Zelensky.
Earlier today, Netflix’s Harry and Megan film crew couldn’t leave a good moment to be wasted as they frantically ran after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex while meeting wounded military veterans and riding mini Land Rovers on the first day. of the games.
The royal couple smiled as they dressed for their second appearance in The Hague, the Netherlands, as Megan changed into fresh white pants with blue jeans, a dark jacket and pump-up shoes, while Harry wore a black T-shirt and chinos.
A large group of Americans in the crowd shouted for the Duchess, and she replied with a smile and waved, shouting “Megan, here” from the audience, hoping to get her attention as she walked with other dignitaries toward the center of the field.
Then she …
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