Meghan Markle showed her maternal side when she comforted a shy schoolgirl during an engagement with fiance Prince Harry today.
The bride-to-be stepped aside to have a quiet word with the seven-year-old Eloise after she was led away crying during a performance for the royal couple at a Cardiff community centre.
Kneeling down to hold the girl’s hand, Meghan reassured her: ‘I used to be shy too.’
Spotting what his fiancee was doing, Harry soon joined them in the corner and shook the girl’s hand.
Meghan peeled off from the fanfare to comfort a little girl she spotted standing in the corner during a royal visit to a community centre. Moments later she was joined by Prince Harry
The couple appeared to be encouraging the schoolgirl to join in a dance, pictured
The royal couple looked on excitedly as the children showed off their dance moves
After checking Eloise was alright, the royal couple returned to watching the others perform their routine.
At one point they crouched down against the wall as the children showed off their break dance moves.
It was among a number of heart-warming moments that were captured on camera during the visit to the community and leisure centre in Cardiff.
At one point the proud prince encouraged a group of dancing youngsters to ‘mob’ his bride to be, saying: ‘Let’s all give Meghan a group hug!’
Children’s princess: Miss Markle was surrounded by schoolchildren during the afternoon part of her trip to Cardiff with Prince Harry
Meghan beamed as the excited children crowded around, reaching out to wrap their arms around her.
The couple were in the economically-deprived area of Tremorfa, where they visited Star Hub, a community and leisure centre which uses sport to engage young people and aid social development.
Harry and Meghan were particularly keen to see the work of StreetGames, which the prince has worked with previously, which works to make sport accessible to all young people, regardless of their social circumstances.
The couple were met by hoards of screaming crowds – which the Prince shook his head in shock on hearing.
The couple toured Cardiff Castle before visiting a local school where Prince Harry was filmed breaking out into dance while Miss Markle played Jenga
Meghan couldn’t help but yell out as the Jenga tower came tumbling down
Inside they had a brief private meeting before going into the gym where a group of local schoolgirls from the UsGirls project, set up to encourage women to take part in sport, are on exercise bikes.
‘How long have you been peddling?, ‘ Harry asked the girls who had been forced to peddle for several minutes while waiting for their arrival.
‘And yet you are all still smiling,’ said Meghan, who introduced herself to each and every one of them by name.
‘How much better is it to come here each evening instead of sitting at home playing on the Play Station,’ she added.
Meghan and Harry were given big hugs by the excited youngsters as they said goodbye
Afterwards Mary Coffey, 13, from Willow High School said: ‘She was amazing, so easy to talk to. And so beautiful! There was a glow about her. And her teeth! I can’t believe I was talking to someone who lives in Buckingham Palace.’
Afterwards the couple went into see a group of youngsters playing table tennis.
Meghan was given two bouquets of flowers by Kaiden Williams, ten.
‘For me?’ She said, ‘How thoughtful of you. I love them.’
She also couldn’t resist playing a game of Jenga – balancing wooden blocks on top of each other – with Kevin Chiduau, 12.
Prince Harry took time to meet many of the youngsters who had waited to meet him today
‘I love this game!’ She said, ‘you need so much patience for it, it teaches you patience too.’
Clutching her throat she her hand she added: ‘It makes me so nervous just watching it!’
Lastly she and Harry watched a group of children street dancing to songs including Boomerang and Despesito.
The couple – particularly Meghan – were clearly entranced as they walked in and Harry couldn’t trying out a few moves of his own.
Afterwards they chatted with the children, with Meghan and Harry roaring with laughter when one boy shouted out: ‘Are you married yet?’
Another little girl told him: ‘I’m going be dancing at your wedding.’
‘You’re going to be dancing at my wedding?’ Said Harry, ‘Promise!’
‘Oh my gosh, you guys are so sweet,’ said Meghan.
‘Who’s the best dancer in the room then?’ Asked Harry.
Local delicacies: The Prince and Miss Markle enjoyed a taste of traditional Welsh cakes after a tour of the historic castle
One of the first to meet Meghan was security officer Anthony Herbert, 45, who greeted her by bowing and kissing the back of her hand
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At the castle, which has a history dating back to Roman times, the couple will be touring a Welsh culture festival