Prince Harry and Meghan land in Netherlands for Invictus Games

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have arrived at the Invictus Games in the Netherlands, after stopping off to visit the Queen on their way.

It is the first time Prince Harry and Meghan have appeared in Europe in public together since stepping back as senior royals in 2020.

The pair visited Windsor Castle to see the monarch on their way to The Hague, from the US where they now live.

Prince Harry founded the games to help injured military veterans.

This year's games start on Saturday and run until 22 April.

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The couple, who have not been on this side of the Atlantic together since 2020, also saw Prince Charles while they were at Windsor Castle, the Sun newspaper reported.

On their arrival at the games the couple, both wearing suits, walked towards a reception for friends and family of participants in warm sunshine at the Zuiderpark, where the games are being held.

At one point Meghan waved towards the press pen and the pair walked into the reception hand-in-hand.

A film crew is joining the couple at the games as part of filming for a Netflix series called Heart Of Invictus.

Prince Harry and Meghan made their way to a reception for friends and family ahead of the opening of the Invictus Games

The couple spoke with dignitaries on the yellow carpet at the Invictus Games

The couple also greeted members of the Ukraine team who are participating at the games.

The Ukrainian team were cheered and applauded at the event and team manager Oksana Horbach said they had been given permission to travel to the Netherlands for the games by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ms Horbach, who works in the Ukraine Armed Forces supply chain in Kyiv, told the PA news agency she had spoken to the duchess about the importance of having a voice and "she totally understood that".

"Be heard, be vocal, have a voice, just tell your own truth, your experience. It's very important to her."

She added: "And Prince Harry says that he totally supports Ukraine and he says that during the next day we will feel how much support there is to give by Invictus Games community and that he totally supports Ukrainian people in this fight."

Warm smiles and a sombre moment

Spring vibes and warm smiles greeted the roving royals.

As the Kaiser Chiefs belted out their hits, Meghan and Harry strolled down a wooden walkway, Meghan effortlessly navigating the cracks in her white stilettos, chatting to the crew.

There was a sombre moment, accompanied by universal applause, as Team Ukraine was invited into the "Home Nations" marquee for audience with the Sussexes.

Four members of the Invictus community in Ukraine have died in combat or rocket attacks since the start of the Russian invasion.

The atmosphere inside the Invictus-commandeered public park in a southern suburb of The Hague is cosy and convivial, "gezellig" as the Dutch would say.

Police officers on bicycles wearing bulletproof vests patrol the periphery, fences have been erected around the canals to make sure visitors are protected from any ill-will that might exist beyond the daisy-clad grounds.

The Sussexes visit to see the Queen came after it was announced she was not expected to attend this year's Easter morning church service, having already pulled out of the Maundy Service on Thursday - for the first time since 1970.

The 95-year-old monarch has mobility problems and has not appeared at several events recently, including the annual Commonwealth Service.

Last month Prince Harry was absent from a memorial service for his grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, in London but at the time a spokesperson said he hoped to visit his grandmother soon.

The visit to Europe comes as Prince Harry is bringing a court challenge against the UK government's decision to refuse police security during his visits from the US.

His lawyers previously said the UK would "always be his home" and it "goes without saying that he does want to come back to see family and friends".

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