Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's awkward Invictus Games moment with pop star

05 December 2023 , 15:17

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Prince Harry and Meghan had an awkward encounter with a pop star (Image: Getty Images)

A huge pop star has spilled on an awkward encounter meeting Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Sam Ryder met the Duke and Duchess of Sussex when he performed at the Invictus Games closing ceremony earlier this year. The Eurovision star joined the celebrations in Dusseldorf, Germany, back in September. He was invited to perform at the sporting event which was founded by the Duke back in 2014.

Sam, who placed second in the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest, performed his track Mountain at the closing ceremony. However, before he performed the star met Meghan and Harry but things didn't quite go to plan. Sam admitted he became so nervous that he didn't know how to say hello to the couple.

Sam Ryder opened up on how he awkwardly greeted Meghan Markle (SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The singer performed for Prince Harry and Meghan at the Invictus Games in September (Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation)

During his appearance on BBC Radio 2, Sam was asked by Scott Mills about what he did when he met Meghan. The singer laughed as he replied: "Fist bump! I too was nervous, didn’t really know the etiquette and just threw one of those. But she threw it right back, like with vigour. She’s wicked, she’s a legend... We were playing Mountain at Invictus Games closing ceremony, it was so cool.

"That was beyond music, so emotional, something so cool to be a part of. Meghan was really lovely and Harry just really welcoming, came to say hello before the show and Meghan was singing the words – blew my mind a bit. The right words too... she was going for it. Legend."

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Meghan stunned fans when she was spotted singing along to Sam's track. She seemingly knew the lyrics to singer Sam's song which is titled Mountain. Singing along to his performance at the Closing Ceremony event, Meghan seemed to enjoy herself as she grooved along to the track.

Sam, 34, was clearly loved the fact that the Duchess knew his song and took toInstagramto share a clip. Sharing a video of his performance, Sam could be seen walking up to Meghan, who was sitting in the front row. In the video clip, Meghan was seen singing, clapping, and bobbing her head as the iconic Space Man singer sang his heart out. The Duchess was beaming from ear-to-ear as the singer approached her.

Sharing the clip on social media, Sam penned: "When singing your song with Meghan Markle wasn’t on your 2023 bingo card and you full on actual glitch 10 seconds later. Invictus Games 2023 what an honour. Pure embodiment of resilience, hope, process over prizes and courage over credit."

Near the end of the closing ceremony, Harry also took the stage in the arena for a short speech that left him in tears, with an adoring Meghan looking on. He started by speaking in German and told how the competitors had impacted millions of people around the world. He said: "We've all witnessed the true impact sport has had on your recovery. But you will never truly know the impact your actions this week have had on millions of people around the world. You have opened people’s hearts, through your vulnerability, through your resilience and your sheer abilities. You have shown us that joy can emerge from struggle."

Almost breaking down, Harry added: "Little did I know that 30 minutes later, it would be James picking them up to play yet I had no idea what they meant to him. Nor did I know what memories they would trigger for him. In Afghanistan he played 63 ramp ceremonies. For 63 caskets, for 63 souls, for 63 families.

"For four years, after that last ceremony, he couldn't touch them. This week, he wasn't even sure he could bring himself to play them. But he did. What had once haunted him, dare I say it, may now be what helps heal him. Thank you James for your service, for your courage and sharing your gift."

Pop star Rita Ora also performed, as well as the German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who gave a rousing speech in support of Ukraine amid the Russian invasion.

Mia O'Hare