Meghan Markle, Prince Harry To Make First Joint Visit To Europe Since Royal Exit

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are returning to Europe together for the first time since stepping back from their working royal roles two years ago.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's spokesperson confirmed to Harper's Bazaar that Markle will join her husband in The Hague in the Netherlands this weekend for the Invictus Games. It will be their first joint visit to Europe since they quit royal duties and moved to California in 2020.

Markle is expected to spend the first few days of the games alongside Prince Harry. The duke, who founded the international sporting event for sick and injured veterans and servicemen and women in 2014, will remain in the country for the duration of the competition, which kicks off Saturday.

The Invictus Games is an important event for the royal couple. Prince Harry and Markle made their first official public appearance as a couple at the Invictus Games 2017 in Toronto.

At the time, one fan sitting behind the couple told reporters that she overheard Prince Harry explaining the Invictus tennis rules, which differ from the sport's usual guidelines.

"They were absolutely lovely — they asked me if I enjoyed the game and who I was cheering on," Olivia Kornal told People. "It was amazing, really amazing. They were watching the game and cheering on my stepdad."

The upcoming event is the fifth Invictus Games and will see teams from 20 different countries, including South Korea, Estonia, Canada, Australia, Poland, Iraq and the U.S., compete in various events such as athletics, archery, wheelchair basketball, cycling, powerlifting, swimming, sitting volleyball and indoor rowing.

The Netherlands was originally due to host the event in 2020. However, organizers were forced to push it back due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This was an incredibly difficult decision for all of us to have to make," Prince Harry announced in March 2020. "And I'm so grateful for everybody that's worked so hard over the past couple of weeks to try to find any alternative to try and carry on these Games in a different way — in a safe way. But this decision was the most sensible and the safest option for all of you — for your families and everybody else — involved in these Games."

Prince Harry cheered up the athletes by telling them that the delay would give them more time to prepare for the competition.

Over the past weeks, the duke has been busy promoting the event and speaking to the different teams.

Last week, he talked to team U.K., including captain Rachel Williamson, regarding their preparation. He also reconnected with Vic Wales, his physical training corps instructor while he was a cadet at Royal Military College Sandhurst, and jokingly recalled how she used to shout at him, making the team laugh.

The Invictus Games in The Hague, Netherlands, runs from April 16 to April 22.