Harry and Meghan arrive at Invictus Games after meeting with Charles for just 15 minutes

15 April 2022, 17:36 | Updated: 15 April 2022, 23:15

Harry and Meghan seen in Europe for first time in two years since Megxit. Picture: Alamy

By Megan Hinton

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have made their first public appearance together in Europe since quitting as senior working royals more than two years ago.

The couple arrived at the Invictus Games in The Hague, the Netherlands, on Friday, after stopping off in the UK to visit the Queen and Prince of Wales on Thursday.

Harry and Meghan have not been to this side of the Atlantic together since 2020.

The trip comes a day after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex flew to the UK to visit the Queen in secret.

But according to The Daily Mail, Harry and Meghan also met Charles for 15 just minutes with Camilla joining midway through at Windsor Castle.

An insider told the paper that the mood was 'edgy' during talks between the father and son, after Harry publicly criticised Charles during an interview with Oprah Winfrey.

The Sun report that is was Harry who suggested the meeting between the couple and his father, after the Queen insisted the pair begging to repair broken bonds.

Sources say the pair are planning to visit the UK soon with both Archie and Lilibet as they are "very mindful the Queen is getting older".

The couple arrived at the Invictus Games in The Hague, the Netherlands, on Friday. Picture: Alamy

The couple, both wearing suits, walked towards a friends-and-family reception in the Hauge in warm sunshine at the Zuiderpark, where the games are being held.

They were photographed and filmed by about 50 members of the media.

Harry wore a navy suit and Meghan wore an all-white suit with a white handbag.

At one point Meghan waved towards the press pen, and as they greeted people the couple placed their hands on each others' backs.

The event is the brainchild of the Duke of Sussex, who will be in The Hague with his wife Meghan for the opening days of the games, which were twice delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.

The first edition of the games was held in London in 2014, followed by Orlando in 2016, Toronto in 2017 and Sydney in 2018.

Service personnel compete in athletics, archery, cycling, indoor rowing, powerlifting, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair basketball, and wheelchair rugby as well as a driving challenge organised by one of the event's official partners, car maker Jaguar Land Rover.

Netflix has sent a documentary camera crew to follow Harry and Meghan for when they meet the Ukraine team.

The Invictus Games Ukraine team manager discussed the importance of "having a voice" with the Duchess.

The Ukrainian team were cheered and applauded at the event in The Hague on Friday where a crew was filming for Heart Of Invictus - a series from Archewell Productions following people who are competing in the games.

For the 19 Ukrainians, the games are a brief respite from the grim realities of life in wartime and an opportunity to highlight the plight of their nation.

The Duchess of Sussex attending a reception, hosted by the City of The Hague. Picture: Alamy

"I think that emotionally it's something that requires time... because we come from a very disturbed area, as we come from the areas where the actual killings every day are happening, the shelling, the bombing, we hear sirens every day," said Oksana Horbach, Ukraine's Invictus Games National Coordinator.

One of the team, Taira Paievska, did not even make the trip after being taken hostage by Russian forces in Mariupol where she worked as a paramedic, Ms Horbach said.

Speaking about the royal visit, Ms Horbach she was impressed with how much Harry knew about her and her team.

"He knew exactly who we are, and that was something that spoke to me profoundly about his nature, about his character. He really cares," she said.

Ms Horbach added: "This is team Ukraine and he knows exactly who we are. He knows our stories. He knows who I am and who the competitors are."

She said of Harry and Meghan: "They are really, really attentive kind people."

Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, said Thursday’s visit would have made the Queen very happy despite the couple’s highly publicised criticism of the royals.

The trip to the UK comes after Harry was absent from the Duke of Edinburgh's memorial service in London last month.

Harry is bringing a claim against the Home Office after being told he would no longer be given the same degree of personal protective security when visiting from the US, despite offering to pay for it himself.

The duke wants to bring his children to visit, but he and his family are "unable to return to his home" because it is too dangerous, his legal representative has said.