Prince Harry addressing the NATO military committee in New York via video link(Image: nato)

Prince Harry breaks cover for the first time in weeks as fans notice Meghan Markle detail

31 Oct 2024, 09:08 by Jennifer Newton · Irish Mirror

Prince Harry has been seen addressing a meeting of NATO military officials - and fans spotted a surprise Meghan Markle detail.

The Duke of Sussex, 40, joined a meeting of the NATO military committee via video link yesterday, where he told members about his Invictus Games for sick and wounded serving and former servicemen and women. Harry was joined at the meeting by a delegation from his Invictus organisation, who had travelled to New York to brief the committee on "the breadth and development of the Invictus programme and the progress it is making to expand the scope of its mission".

During the meeting, Harry appeared smart in a suit and tie and proudly wore a poppy on his jacket. In the background, fans noticed several framed pictures sitting on shelves behind the Duke.

Fans spotted a framed photo in the background of his video call

And the eagle-eyed among them appeared to work out that one of them was a photo taken of him and wife Meghan on their wedding day in Windsor back in May 2018. The photo shows Harry in military uniform and Meghan in her Givenchy wedding gown enjoying a carriage ride around the town following their nuptials.

Harry's nod to Meghan comes amid the pair making increasingly separate public appearances. Several years ago, Meghan once described her and Harry as like "salt and pepper" as they always "move together". And with this seemingly not happening in recent weeks since their tour of Colombia in August, it has led many to wonder why this might be the case.

Fans believed the photo was this one from Harry and Meghan's wedding in 2018(Image: PA)

According to a source close to the couple, the reason for the solo appearances is down to a shift in their ventures. The pal told People magazine: "It's clear that a twin-track approach is evolving." While another friend added: "The Duke and Duchess have now hit their stride as individuals – not just as a couple. The Duke appears focused on his patronage work, and the Duchess focused on her entrepreneurial track."

Harry's meeting at NATO came about after he met the chair of the committee Admiral Rob Bauer, a Dutch military officer, at the 10th anniversary service of the Invictus Games at St Paul's Cathedral in London.

During the meeting in New York, the Admiral highlighted the invaluable support that the Invictus Games Foundation provided to service personnel, veterans and their families. He said: "I believe the work of the Invictus Games Foundation to be very important - and it strikes at the heart of our shared values as military personnel."

Harry helped to found the Invictus Games in 2014(Image: Getty Images for Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023)

The next Invictus Games is set to take place next year in Vancouver and Whistler and for the first time will also feature winter sports. Earlier this year it was revealed that Birmingham has won the bid to host the Invictus Games in 2027.

The UK government-backed £26 million proposal saw off competition from US finalist Washington DC and the event will be staged at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in July in three years. Three new sports – pickleball, laser run and esports – are expected to feature in the 2027 Games.

It will be the first time the Games has returned to the UK since the duke staged the inaugural tournament in London in 2014. A home turf competition now raises the question as to whether Harry's father the King, brother the Prince of Wales and other members of the royal family will attend to support the event.

Charles and William backed Harry when he launched the major venture 10 years ago, joining him at the opening ceremony and later flanking him as they watched the athletics together in high spirits. But much has changed in the years that followed, with Harry stepping down as a working royal with the Duchess of Sussex and moving to the US.

He faced a strained relationship with his father and an ongoing rift with his brother, exacerbated by the criticism he levelled at Charles, the Queen, William and the Princess of Wales in his Netflix documentary and memoir Spare. It is not yet known whether Meghan will accompany Harry. She was last seen publicly in the UK at the late Queen’s funeral in 2022.

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