Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan were mobbed by selfie-seekers after watching wheelchair basketball at the Invictus Games. The couple stayed behind for more than 25 minutes posing for pictures with fans inside Vancouver Convention Centre after being given front row seats for the match between USA and Nigeria. At one point Meghan had to hold a woman up in order to stop her falling over as crowds jostled around her. She gasped before asking: “Are you OK?”.
After the match ended, Meghan spoke to Cynthia Phelps, 39, her husband James, 44, and their baby Laramie, seven months, all from Alaska. At one point Meghan held baby Laramie in her arms. Cynthia said: "She said she was a very happy baby. She said her kids were at home and she missed them and she was excited to see a baby that was so happy. "She said she misses them and remembers when they were young.".
Cynthia added: "She is always personable and very down to earth and just really cares about us. Every time she talks to us it's very visible and genuine.". James, who served alongside Harry at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan in 2012, where they first got to know each other, is competing in wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, biathlon and skeleton. The family of three had previously enjoyed breakfast with Harry and Meghan at their hotel in Vancouver on Saturday morning.
Cnythia said: "It's a blessing to be able to spend time with them. They genuinely care about the healing journey of every single one of the competitors. We greatly appreciate it.". In a touching moment during the match, which USA won, eight-year-old Lucious Gayton ran over to Harry clutching a Funko Pop! figure of him, which the royal signed. The overwhelmed youngster admitted: "I don’t remember what he said.".
Lucious was there with his mother Ivette to support his father Lucio, a US army veteran. Ivette said: "I do like Harry, we like the whole family and follow them on the news. We have the whole royal Funko Pop! Collection. "We do really appreciate this event, it gives my husband purpose and he gets very excited about it. He was left with a spinal injury after tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.". Get our daily royal round-up direct to your inbox.
