Meghan Markle attends Invictus Games in first public appearance with Harry

Updated

Meghan Markle has made her first appearance at an official engagement attended by Prince Harry.

The US actress was spotted at the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games in Toronto, the competition for wounded veterans founded by the Prince.

The couple, who have been an item for just over a year, were not sitting together in the stands of the Air Canada Centre.

Ms Markle's seat was in a section of the crowd, while Harry was sat around 20 places away in a VIP area alongside the US First Lady Melania Trump, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and other dignitaries.

The First Lady of the United States Melania Trump and Prince Harry. (Danny Lawson/PA)
The First Lady of the United States Melania Trump and Prince Harry. (Danny Lawson/PA)

The Suits star, who wore a plum-coloured leather jacket and a burgundy pleated dress paired with a red velvet clutch bag, smiled and clapped as the competitors arrived.

The Toronto resident had not been seen since Harry's arrival ahead of the Games on Friday, although there was fevered speculation the event would be the first time the couple stepped out together.

Ms Markle revealed her love for the Prince in a recent interview with Vanity Fair magazine, prompting speculation the announcement of a royal engagement was merely a formality.

The actress declared: "We're two people who are really happy and in love.

"I hope what people will understand is that this is our time. This is for us."

Earlier on Saturday, Harry held separate bilateral meetings with the Mrs Trump and Mr Trudeau.

The first lady is in Canada to support the large American contingent taking part in the Games and sat next to the Prince during the ceremony.

Harry founded the Invictus Games, a paralympic-style competition for wounded, injured and sick former and still-serving servicemen and women, and staged the inaugural event in London in 2014.

The second tournament was held in Orlando, Florida in 2016, and the third in Toronto will see 550 competitors from 17 nations take part in 12 adaptive sports.

During the eight-day Games, Harry will visit training sessions and watch participants competing in all 12 sports, including athletics, cycling and wheelchair basketball.

The high-profile closing ceremony on September 30 will feature performances by Bruce Springsteen, Bryan Adams and Kelly Clarkson.

Watch Prince Harry's speech at the Opening Ceremony of @InvictusToronto. pic.twitter.com/dnqciONxFq

-- Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 24, 2017

In his speech during the opening ceremony, Harry, who served as a helicopter pilot in Afghanistan, told how he felt compelled to raise awareness of the sacrifices made by servicemen and women after a harrowing flight back from Afghanistan.

"The true scale of this example was brought home to me when I left Afghanistan after my first deployment here in 2008," he told the crowd.

"As I was waiting on board the plane, the coffin of a Danish soldier was loaded on by his friends.

"Once on the flight, I was confronted with three British soldiers, all in induced comas with missing limbs and wrapped in plastic.

"The way I viewed service and sacrifice changed forever and the direction of my life changed with it.

"I knew it was my responsibility to use the great platform that I have to help the world understand and be inspired by the spirit of those who wear a uniform."

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