‘I’m sorry’: Meghan Markle addresses glaring absence after finally joining Prince Harry

Meghan Markle has finally turned up in Germany and explained her absence, after Harry was left to fly solo for the Invictus Games launch.

Meghan Markle has finally joined Prince Harry at the Invictus Games in Germany, telling the guests at her first official event that she was “sorry” for the delay.

The Duchess of Sussex, 42, had remained in California over the past four days as Harry’s event kicked off in Dusseldorf on September 9, and was even spotted at a fast food outlet in Santa Barbara on Monday.

But the pair was reunited once more after Meghan flew in on Tuesday afternoon, heading out with her husband, 38, just an hour later to host a glitzy reception for 1600 Invictus athletes and their friends and family.

According to The Sun, sources claimed Meghan travelled “without a stylist and did her own hair and makeup”.

She wore a black buttoned Banana Republic dress, paired with a vintage Bottega Veneta belt and Aquazurra shoes for the occasion.

Meghan spoke at the event, just hours after arriving on Tuesday. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation

A smiling Harry watched on as Meghan gave a short, “off the cuff” speech, apologising for her earlier absence and explaining she had needed to get their two young children, Archie, 4, and Lilibet, 2, “settled” at home in the US before departing.

“Hi everybody. It is so special to be here and I’m sorry I’m a little late to the party,” she told the guests.

“Like so many of you, you know this is about family and friends and the community that Invictus has created and Fisher House has created, and so I had to spend a little bit more time getting the little ones settled at home.

“Three milkshakes and a school drop off and I just landed a couple of hours ago and I am thrilled that the first event I can do for Invictus is here with all of you.”

The Sun reports that Meghan then turned to Harry, who appeared unwilling to speak, and said: “My husband is a man of few words this evening, do you want to say anything?”

The couple looked thrilled to be reunited. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation

Taking the microphone from her, Harry responded simply: “You don’t need to hear from me again.”

Meghan’s appearance comes after questions were raised when she was expected to speak at the closing ceremony of the games on September 16, but her name was mysteriously removed from a media program on the event’s official website.

The duchess was scheduled to host a segment alongside German TV presenter Hadnet Tesfai, the Times of London reported in August, but that information, according to German press, was deleted from the schedule, with only Tesfai listed as host.

There had been confusion over Meghan’s role at this year’s Games. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation

Earlier this week, Harry joked about his and Meghan’s “competitive” streaks during his speech at the opening ceremony.

The Games, founded by Harry in 2014, is an international multi-sport event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, both serving and veterans.

Toward the end of his 10-minute speech at the launch event on Saturday, Harry noted the new nations joining the Games this year – including Colombia, Israel and Nigeria – before making a cheeky reference to his wife.

“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 joked, in reference to Meghan revealing last year that she’d undergone a genealogy test years back and discovered she is 43 per cent Nigerian.

Elsewhere in his stirring speech, Harry spoke about the “pride and honour” that comes with representing your country.

“Now, remember that feeling of pride and honour when you first wore your nation’s flag on your uniform? Most of us perhaps remember more its final outing, or the time we hung it up for good,” he told the crowd.

“Am I right in saying for some, it represented a cape? Perhaps a shield, or an escape? For others, an opportunity, a recognition, or a calling? No matter what it meant to you then, or your reasons for signing up, it was always about being of service to others and to your mates.

“You discovered things about yourself you’d never knew. Skills and abilities you didn’t know that you had. You unlocked your potential and performance. And you understood the power of working as a team.

“Ultimately, you were part of a purpose larger than yourself, and that feeling felt good. And I’m guessing a lot of you in this stadium tonight have felt the absence of that feeling for months, maybe years. Well, not anymore.”