MEGHAN Markle showed off her sentimental side while playing with kids and their families at the Invictus Games on Sunday.
The Duchess of Sussex, 40, was surrounded by excited children at the private event, organised by the British Embassy in The Hague.
Mum-of-two Meghan told the attendees she wanted to pop in because she was missing her two kids, Archie, two, and Lilibet, 10 months.
The youngsters stayed at home in Montecito, California, while Prince Harry and Meghan jetted to the UK and Netherlands for the Games.
The couple’s every move is being captured by a team from Netflix as part of a multi million dollar deal.
Pictures released yesterday by the British Embassy show Meghan cuddling a baby on her lap and speaking to an excited toddler.
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Wearing a pinstripe blazer, and £455 Manolo Blahnik heels, Meghan sat cross legged on the floor alongside other parents.
She sat and listened to veteran James Stride, 37, read children’s book Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy, which she revealed is a favourite at home.
Meghan also sat down at an arts and crafts table to show off her calligraphy skills, and she was accompanied by a security guard as she posed for selfies.
Speaking after the event, James Stride said: “Meghan was quite chatty and told me she was missing her children.
“She said she wanted to be with children as she was missing her own.
“Meghan told me she was familiar with the book and one that she read to her own children.
“She was very friendly, and the book was well known by her family.”
He admitted that he gave a copy of the book to Meghan as a gift, and cheekily signed his name inside.
James, who served in the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers, previously met Harry in 2007 while both were serving in Afghanistan.
He takes part in the rowing and power lifting contests in the games, and even has an Invictus games tattoo.
James added: “I was a vehicle engineer and Harry came in with his vehicle. I did meet him, but I don’t suppose he remembers me.
“I think they are both fantastic and they do so much to promote the games.”
The private event was held in a tent at the Zuiderpark, where the Invictus Games is being held, on the second day of the event.
Harry and Meghan’s European trip is thought to be the longest that they have been apart from their kids.
Meghan returned home on Monday but Harry will remain at the Invictus Games, which he founded, until the end of the week.
The Duke of Sussex also sat down with a US journalist and said he wanted the “right people” around his grandmother.
Speaking to US journalist Hoda Kotb for the Today interview, which will be aired later today, Harry said the Queen was in “great form.”
Harry said: “I’m just making sure that she’s, you know, protected and got the right people around her.”
Last week, the Sun exclusively revealed how Harry and Meghan met Charles, Camilla and the Queen at Windsor Castle on Thursday during their first face-to-face meeting in more than two years.
OLIVE BRANCH
It was their first face-to-face meeting with family members in more than two years, with Prince Harry offering an “olive branch” to his father.
Harry and Meghan are also believed to have met with Camilla, but did not make an attempt to speak to his brother William or his wife Kate.
An insider said of Thursday’s UK visit: “Harry contacted his father and said he wanted to meet.”
Sources have claimed the Queen invited the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to join the Royal Family on the Buckingham Palace balcony in June.
The couple reportedly told the Queen she will be able to hug her great-grandchildren in ”the near future’, sparking speculation they might bring their children too.
Both Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal life after walking away from the family in January 2020.
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Their daughter Lilibet has not met the Queen or Prince Charles yet, and little Archie has not seen his family since he was six months old.
Prince Harry snubbed Prince Philip’s memorial in recent weeks after becoming embroiled in a security row with the UK government.
