Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Celebrate Team U.S.A.’s Wheelchair Basketball Victory at Invictus Games — with Hugs!

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are getting closer to Team USA!

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex hugged the United States wheelchair basketball team at the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, Germany on Wednesday after they beat Team France 29-15 in the final.

Harry, 38, was pictured hugging a member of the US team after the game, while Meghan, 42 — recently dubbed “Amira Ngozi Lolo” by the Nigerian team, which in part means “Royal Wife” — was seen placing a medal around a team-mate’s neck.

In another photo, an emotional Meghan – wearing a black tank top and jeans – hugged the player tightly as the rest of Team USA looked on.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with Team USA at the 2023 Invictus Games.

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Following the wheelchair rugby medal ceremony at the weekend, retired Master Sgt. Garrett Kuwada told PEOPLE how Prince Harry playfully gave him his gear.

“At the gold medal match, when he was about to put the gold medal on me, he grabbed my chin and shook it!” the U.S. Air Force veteran, 52, told PEOPLE with a laugh.

“He said a few words to me and gave me a big hug. It’s great to feel that he recognizes me, approaches me and treats me like I’m one of his friends. Like all veterans, [when] we don’t talk to each other for maybe months or years — when we meet, it’s as if we never parted. That’s how I feel when I talk to him.”

Garrett, who also competes in swimming and athletics at the sporting event, first met Harry at the 2022 Invictus Games in The Hague. The couple then spent more time together when they went diving in Hawaii (Garrett’s home state) in November, a trip filmed for Harry’s new Netflix docu-series Heart of Invictus.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the 2023 Invictus Games.

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“It was great, just hanging out with him on the boat,” Garrett continued to PEOPLE. “He’s a veteran, and like all vets, when we get together, we talk and laugh and joke and tease each other. He’s like one of the guys, it’s been an amazing experience. He makes you feel like you know him. forever.”

The Invictus Games were founded by Harry in 2014 for wounded, injured and ill service personnel and veterans. The first international adaptive sports tournament was held in London and was inspired by Harry’s trip to the Warrior Games in the USA in 2013.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex also watched the wheelchair basketball competition between Ukraine and Australia.

Meghan Markle presents a member of Team USA with their gold medal at the 2023 Invictus Games.

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The duo met some of the contestants before the game before taking their seats in the stands, where they took part in a big group wave of celebrations.

Harry and Meghan looked delighted as they were photographed waving their arms in the air in line with the crowd and taking selfies with onlookers.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education