Meghan Markle Joins Prince Harry at Invictus Games Event — and Takes Part in Huge Group Wave

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex met competitors in the wheelchair basketball in Germany on Wednesday

Meghan Markle is joining in the fun at the Invictus Games!

Meghan and Prince Harry turned up to watch one of the latest contests at the 2023 event in Düsseldorf, Germany on Wednesday morning, where they met some of the competitors at the wheelchair basketball contest between Ukraine and Australia before sitting in the stands — and taking part in a celebratory group wave.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were spotted chatting with, signing autographs and posing for photos with competitors and spectators at the outing.

Meghan, 42, and Harry, 38, also watched a children's event, handing out medals and giving high fives to the young participants.

<p>Chris Jackson/Getty</p> Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wave their hands as they attend the wheelchair basketball game between Ukraine and Australia

Chris Jackson/Getty

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wave their hands as they attend the wheelchair basketball game between Ukraine and Australia

While chatting with Team Australia, Prince Harry received a special gift: “budgie smugglers” — an Australian term for Speedos — featuring the flags of the nations competing.

"It wouldn't be an #InvictusGames if the Aussie's didn't gift our Patron, The Duke of Sussex a lovely piece of swimwear!" the foundation captioned a photo of the Duke of Sussex holding up the revealing piece of clothing, with Meghan smiling at the scene.

<p>Chris Jackson/Getty</p>

Chris Jackson/Getty

The gag has become a bit of a tradition at the Invictus Games. In 2019, Harry wrote a letter to wheelchair tennis athlete Dylan Alcott saying his swimwear had "come in handy" during a U.K. heatwave.

The couple also spent some time with the Nigerian team, who Harry said Meghan is supporting in his opening speech on Saturday.

"Now, I'm not saying we play favorites in our home, but since my wife discovered she's of Nigerian descent, it's likely to get a little bit more competitive this year," he joked, referencing Meghan discovering that she is 43% Nigerian thanks to a genealogy test, which she opened up about in October 2022.

<p>Chris Jackson/Getty</p> Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with team Nigeria at the Invictus Games on Sept. 13, 2023

Chris Jackson/Getty

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with team Nigeria at the Invictus Games on Sept. 13, 2023

Nigeria, along with Colombia and Israel are new entrants this year.

Prince Harry and Meghan posed for a photo with the Nigerian team holding their green and white flag. According to Hello! magazine, the couple was presented with a plaque from the Chief of Defense, and Meghan was given the nickname "Amira Ngozi Lolo." Amira is the name of a legendary warrior princess, while Ngozi means "blessed" and Lolo means "royal wife."

<p>Chris Jackson/Getty</p> Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Invictus Games in Germany

Chris Jackson/Getty

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Invictus Games in Germany

The Düsseldorf event is the sixth Invictus Games, following previous events in London, Orlando, Sydney, The Hague and Toronto — where Meghan and Harry made their first public appearance as a couple in 2017.

The adaptive sports competition for injured, sick and wounded service personnel and veterans is the brainchild of Harry and was set up in 2014.

Having originally appeared at the 2023 event alone, Harry was reunited with Meghan after she flew into Dusseldorf from Los Angeles on Tuesday. She is expected to remain in Germany until the closing ceremony of the Games on Saturday, which follows Harry's 39th birthday on Friday.

Related: Meghan Markle Picks Up In-N-Out Burger at the Drive-Thru While Prince Harry Is at Invictus Games

"It is so special to be here, and I'm so sorry that I was a little late for the party," Meghan said at a special party for Family & Friends shortly after her arrival on Tuesday, before revealing that the couple's kids Prince Archie, 4, and Princess Lilibet, 2, had been partly responsible for the delay.

"Just like so many of you, we know this is about family and friends and the community that Invictus has created, that Fischer House has created, and so I had to just spend a little bit more time getting our little ones settled home,” the Duchess of Sussex added in her speech.

“Getting milkshakes, doing school drop off and then I just landed a couple of hours ago. I am thrilled that the first event that I can do with Invictus is here with all of you.”

<p>Chris Jackson/Getty</p> Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose with U.S. veteran Annika Hutsler

Chris Jackson/Getty

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose with U.S. veteran Annika Hutsler

Related: Meghan Markle Joins Prince Harry at the Invictus Games, Shouts Out Archie and Lilibet in Sweet Speech

Meghan also went on to praise the Fisher House Foundation, which provides a home away from home for military and veteran families while their loved ones are hospitalized, and operates 94 Fisher Houses in the U.S., U.K. and Germany.

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<p>Chris Jackson/Getty</p> Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at the Invictus Games on Sept. 13, 2023

Chris Jackson/Getty

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at the Invictus Games on Sept. 13, 2023

“I was fortunate to go and visit one of their houses in Los Angeles just a couple of weeks ago and I was so moved by everything that they do. As 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,” Meghan said.

It's understood the couple will take in further events at the Games later on Wednesday

<p>Jordan Pettitt/PA Images via Getty</p> Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Invictus Games in Germany

Jordan Pettitt/PA Images via Getty

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Invictus Games in Germany

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