Prince Harry, Meghan Markle pack on PDA but Invictus Games overshadowed by royal rift

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have put on a loved up display at the Invictus Games but would the many empty seats be filled if Prince William and Princess Catherine were involved?

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle put on a loved up display at the Invictus Games. Picture: Supplied

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have packed on the PDA as they hugged and held hands at the Invictus Games in Germany.

The Sussexes stayed close together as they stepped out for another day of competition at this year’s Games, which are being held in Dusseldorf.

Prince Harry, who turns 39 on Friday, and Ms Markle (still missing her engagement ring) held hands as they met with NATO Joint Force Command and families from Italy and Netherlands, and later cuddled as they watched teams compete in volleyball.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle put on a loved up display at the Invictus Games. Picture: Supplied

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle get into the spirit of the Invictus Games. Picture: Supplied

The couple stayed close together at the event. Picture: Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation

The couple’s closeness comes amid rumours Ms Markle is edging towards a “brand separation” from her husband after his memoir Spare, which launched numerous attacks on the Royal Family, damaged their popularity in the US and UK.

Indeed, Prince Harry’s deep rift with his family is casting a shadow over the Invictus Games with the absence of his brother Prince William keenly felt, veterans “caught up in the royal crossfire” have claimed.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle take selfies with fans at the Invictus Games. Picture: Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation

Prince Harry’s time in Afghanistan inspired him to launch the sporting event in 2014 for wounded veterans but his estranged brother and Princess Catherine were central to its initial success.

The couple’s now-defunct foundation formed with the Duke of Sussex brought in sponsors and spent considerable money to launch the Invictus Games.

Happier times. A united Prince William, King Charles and Prince Harry at the Invictus Games in 2014. Picture: Getty Images

In 2014, Prince Harry, his father and brother were a united group as they attended the opening ceremony and multiple events at the first ever Invictus Games in London - but the new King and Prince William have had zero involvement since the Sussexes removed themselves from the Royal Family.

Officials have said that despite Prince Harry’s obvious passion for the Games, there have been plenty of seats at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf. Some believe that the involvement of King Charles, Prince William and Princess Catherine would change that.

Meghan Markle waves the Nigerian flag at the Invictus Games. Picture: Supplied

MEGHAN ‘DEEPLY TOUCHED’ BY NIGERIAN MOVE

Earlier, Ms Markle was seen waving a Nigerian flag in the crowd.

Prince Harry revealed on Wednesday that his wife would be supporting the African nation during the Games after Ms Markle revealed in her now-defunct Archetypes podcast last year that she had taken a genealogy test, which showed she was 43 per cent Nigerian.

The loved up couple have been popular with athletes and fans. Picture: Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation

The couple appeared enthralled with the action on court. Picture: Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation

“Now, I’m not saying we play favourites in our home, but since my wife discovered she’s of Nigerian descent, it’s likely to get a little bit more competitive this year,” he said.

Earlier in the week, Prince Harry and Ms Markle posed for a photo with Team Nigeria and the national flag, and the squad also revealed they had a new nickname for the Duchess – “Amira Ngozi Lolo”. Amira is the name of a warrior princess from a legend, while Ngozi means “blessed” and Lolo means “royal wife.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle met with General Luigi Miglietta and NATO Joint Force Command and families from Italy and Netherlands. Picture: Getty Images

The couple met with families from Italy and Netherlands during day five of the Invictus Games. Picture: Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation

The couple at the Invictus Games. Picture: Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation

The Duchess of Sussex is said to be “deeply touched” by the new moniker.

On Wednesday, he couple were also in the stands to watch the wheelchair basketball match between Ukraine and Australia, which Ukraine won 8-6.

Ahead of the match, the pair met some of the competitors before taking their place in the stands, where they posed with spectators for photos, signed autographs and took part in a crowd wave.

Team Australia also took the chance to present Prince Harry with a pair of “budgie smugglers” featuring the flags of the nations competing in the Invictus Games.

Sharing a photo of the moment on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Invictus Games Foundation’s account wrote, “It wouldn’t be an #InvictusGames if the Aussie’s didn’t gift our Patron, The Duke of Sussex a lovely piece of swimwear!”