Prince Harry and Meghan Markle beamed with joy as they posed for selfies with German fans during a mini walkabout on their royal-not-royal tour in Düsseldorf yesterday.
Hundreds of royal fans stood for over two hours in the stifling heat hoping to take a selfie with the Duke, 37, and Duchess of Sussex, 41, at the Invictus Games 2023 One Year To Go event on Tuesday.
As the couple paid a flying visit to Dusseldorf, they were invited to sign an official book and enjoy a boat cruise along the Rhine, with blockades put in place along the city’s roads.
The event had many of the hallmarks of a royal visit despite the couple being classed as private citizens rather than royals by German police — including meeting the crowds outside, some of whom were waving the British flag.
A number of fans went on to share a host of the selfies on Instagram and Twitter, with many beaming widely as they posed alongside the royal couple.
Prince Harry, 37, and Meghan Markle, 41, beamed with joy as they posed for selfies with German fans during a mini walkabout on their royal-not-royal tour in Düsseldorf yesterday
Hundreds of royal fans stood for over two hours in the stifling heat hoping to take a selfie with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the Invictus Games 2023 One Year To Go event on Tuesday.
One person shared their snap, writing: ‘Meghan has the best selfie face!’
Yesterday, the Duke of Sussex appeared on stage at the Merkur-Spiel arena as part of an event to mark preparations for the 2023 Invictus Games.
The Paralympic-style event for servicemen and women founded by the prince will be held in the city next year, and the royal told a crowd of journalists he was ‘beyond impressed’ by what he had seen so far, after being met by hundreds of adoring fans.
As he and wife Meghan left the event, they posed for a group photo with those who had taken part in the press conference.
The event had many of the hallmarks of a royal visit despite the couple being classed as private citizens rather than royals by German police — including meeting the crowds outside
A number of fans went on to share a host of the selfies on Instagram and Twitter, with many beaming widely as they posed alongside the royal couple (pictured, Meghan with one royal fan)
Earlier in the day the Duke charmed Dusseldorf by speaking German and praising their beer before Meghan posed for selfies and chatted with crowds in a royal walkabout on the latest leg of their pseudo-royal tour of the UK and Europe.
Meghan spoke to Maureen and Karl Heinz Kenpen who had stood at the front for over two hours Maureen 83, told Meghan she was English and had moved to Germany to marry.
Meghan told the couple: ‘That is a beautiful love story.’
The Duchess was also presented with a posy by someone in the crowd, a tradition seen at royal visits.
Meanwhile Harry posed with the same German royal fan as his wife, apparently both lapping up the late summer sunshine
The Duchess went on to pose for a selfie with one little girl as she took part in the mini walkabout in Germany
The couple looked overwhelmed by the warmth of the reception and spent close to 15 minutes thanking the fans for coming to see them.
The adoring crowd lapped up every word the couple spoke as they worked their way along the line.
Meghan was flanked by her personal bodyguard Christopher Sanchez who at one point looked concerned as the crowd surged forward and threatened to spill over the metal barricades.
The Duchess looked overwhelmed by the reception she was getting and repeatedly thanked people for waiting to see them
Most seemed genuine fans as they donned paper masks of the Queen and royal regalia as they attempted to usher the couple over for a quick picture and a chat.
Others admitted they were attracted by the circus that follows the pair, with one young woman saying she found them ‘rude to the Royal Family’ but wanted to see them because they are ‘like soap stars’.
Among the crowds were former serviceman Bob Clark and his wife Lily who were dressed for the occasion. Clark wore an ermine robe, crown and a mask of the Queen covering his face.
His wife clutched a bag celebrating the marriage of Harry and Meghan and wore a Union Jack coat and hat.
The couple travelled from their home in Duisburg to show their support for the royal family – even though California-based Harry and Meghan are no longer working members of the so called ‘firm’ after stepping down as senior royals in January 2020, in a move dubbed Megxit.
Bob said: ‘We are both huge fans of the Queen and the royal family. It will be great to see Harry and Meghan.’
More than 500 people stood behind metal barriers outside the entrance to the town hall.
Some had taken their place at the front three hours before the planned arrival of the couple.
The Duchess of Sussex took selfies with Invictus athletes during the Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023 – One Year To Go events
Royal fans have been taking to social media to share snaps of their encounters with the royal couple over the last few days
Elisa, 24, said: ‘I know they have been rude about the royal family, but I have read so much about them I wanted to see them myself.’
And her friend Melina, 26, said: ‘They have become a soap opera, but I find anything about the Queen and royal family interesting.’
Critics have said that the Duke and Duchess’ list of engagements this week ‘could have been plucked from their calendar’ before they left the Firm.
With two events completed, their schedule still includes the WellChild Awards on Thursday, a charity for which Harry is a patron.
A crowd gathered outside the town hall as the Duke and Duchess appeared following a press conference
A young woman took a selfie with Meghan on her mobile phone outside Dusseldorf town hall on Tuesday
Prince Harry was full of joy as he stroked a small dog while taking selfies with fans outside Dusseldorf town hall on Tuesday
Harry beamed widely as he spoke with a group of young female fans outside Dusseldorf town hall in Germany on Tuesday
The Telegraph’s royal editor Hannah Furness has argued that their trip has a ‘distinctly royal feel’.
‘All broadly follow the pattern set by the Queen who chooses good causes and good people to honour with a royal visit,’ she said.
Their three short visits to the One Young World summit, Invictus Games event and WellChild Awards encompass this pattern.
Meghan was even gifted a posey of flowers as she chatted to fans outside Dusseldorf town hall as they filmed on their phones and asked for selfies
Meghan shook hand with a young woman as she chatted to fans outside Dusseldorf town hall on Tuesday
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