Meghan gives rare joint speech with Harry to share message of 'coming together'
Meghan Markle spoke about coming together as a family as she gave a rare speech alongside her husband Prince Harry at this year's Invictus Games.
The Duchess of Sussex arrived at the Paralympic-style event today, just hours after landing in Germany. She was joined by the Duke of Sussex as the couple gave a passionate speech to 1,600 Invictus Games competitors and their family and friends.
Meghan spoke without notes and thanked all of the attendees for their support. She wore a black Banana Republic dress and a second-hand Bottega Venetta belt. She also styled her own hair and did her own make-up for the event.
Addressing the crowd, Meghan said it was very "special" to her to have arrived in Germany to be with them all. She added: "I'm really, really proud to be part of this Invictus family with all of you. I'm grateful for all of you that are here."
Meghan Markle was joined on stage by Prince Harry (Getty Images for the Invictus Ga)Harry also thanked those who have been taking part in the Invictus Games. After applauding his wife, he said: "First to the friends and family that are here, I understand that a lot of the competitors are hopefully sleeping after a very long day. But this is your chance to connect with each other because everyone here is in a different phase of their healing process, whether as an individual or as a family.
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"The fact of the matter is, everybody in this room has some form of a shared experience so use this moment to connect with each other. Swap photos, swap numbers. Have a wonderful evening!"
The "relaxed and informal" event, which was a private reception with Invictus Games competitors and their families, was also attended by the mayor of Dusseldorf and included music, entertainment, and traditional German food. A source said: "It was organised for the competitors' family and friends to be able to spend time together in a relaxed and informal atmosphere."
The Duchess of Sussex was delighted to arrive at the Invictus Games (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)The Duchess of Sussex joined Harry at the Invictus Games in Germany earlier today, after jetting in via a quick stop-off at Heathrow. Meghan, who was carrying a vintage designer handbag, looked chic in dark glasses and a scarf, as well as trousers by Ulla Johnson, a J Crew sweater and recycled Valentino flats.
She had earlier landed at Heathrow at 12.30pm, on another BA flight from Los Angeles, and spent less than 90 minutes on British soil before taking off again. It was her first visit to the UK since she arrived to mourn the Queen's death in September last year.
Harry, who will celebrate his 39th birthday on Friday, and Meghan, 42, were reunited in their £2,000-a-night presidential suite at Dusseldorf's Hyatt Regency Hotel after Meghan arrived there in a VW SUV at 4.40pm. Meghan explained the reason for her delayed arrival.
Speaking at the family and friends event, she said: "I just had to spend a little more time getting our little ones settled at home, putting milkshakes for their school drop-off and then I just landed a couple hours ago and I am thrilled that the first event that I can do for Invictus is here with all of you, it is amazing and I hear the week so far has gotten off to a good start is that right?"
Meghan gave a speech without notes (Getty Images for the Invictus Ga)
The Sussexes came together to thank those who are taking part in the Invictus Games (WireImage)Harry enjoyed a bromance with TV presenter JJ Chalmers earlier in the day while watching Team UK's wheelchair basketball team beat Team Ukraine 16-10 inside Dusseldorf's Merkur Spiel-Arena. The pair looked happy dancing in their seats and clapping their hands to a number of songs played over the PA system, including Sweet Caroline.
Chalmers, a former Royal Marine and Strictly Come Dancing contestant, has become close pals with Harry since competing in the first Invictus Games in London in 2014 .He lost two fingers and his right elbow disintegrated when he was blown up in Helmand in 2011.
Harry also made two new pals at the end of the match when he was introduced to German Rottweiler service dog Teddy Bear, two, and his owner Stevianne Gant, 33, whose husband Matt Parker, 36, is representing the USA in the Games. Stevianne, from Tennessee, became a Gold Star Widow when her former husband Austen Gant, who served in the US Navy, took his own life aged just 30 in 2019. She said: "Harry asked me what Teddy Bear's name was and what kind of service dog he is.
"He said 'he's a PTSI dog, not a PTSD dog, because it should be post traumatic stress injury, not post traumatic stress disorder, because it's not a disorder'." I loved that. It made me feel really good. It was such an eventful thing for me that he said that. He's amazing."
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Meghan Markle's speech in full
"Hi everybody, it is so special to be here and I'm sorry that I was a little late to the party. Just like so many of you, we know this is about family and friends and the community that Invictus has created and the Fisher House has created and I just had to spend a little more time getting our little ones settled at home, putting milkshakes for their school drop-off and then I just landed a couple hours ago and I am thrilled that the first event that I can do for Invictus is here with all of you, it is amazing and I hear the week so far has gotten off to a good start is that right?
"So a huge thank you for this amazing event that Fisher House has put on. I was really fortunate to go and visit one of the houses in Los Angeles just a couple weeks ago and I was so moved by everything that they do because they understand, as you do, as my husband does in creating the Invictus Games, how much the value of rehabilitation matters, not just as a solitary experience, but as a family.
"So I'm really, really proud to be part of this Invictus family with all of you. I'm grateful for all of you that are here. We received also a few gifts, someone from the Canadian team she gave us a bracelet and on that bracelet they put initials of one of the people who wasn't able to make it here tonight and there's so many people that we know back home routing for all of you, even if they can't be here with you, they are with you in spirit. So thank you all, and thank you to this amazing band and we just look forward to such a fantastic week. Have the best time, we're going to be cheering for you and we can't wait to one day be able to bring our kids along also so they can experience just how amazing this is. Thank you guys so, so much."
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