Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Steal a Kiss in the Stands at Invictus Games Opening Ceremony

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were a picture of unity in the stands during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Invictus Games in Canada.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared a kiss before Harry stepped away to deliver his speech at the inspiring event, which featured heartfelt tributes to athletes and performances from Katy Perry, Nelly Furtado, Chris Martin of Coldplay and Noah Kahan. 

The sweet moment at BC Place in Vancouver on Feb. 8 comes after the couple’s ongoing commitment to their shared charitable initiatives, including the Invictus Games, a global event Harry founded in 2014 to support wounded servicemen and women. 

Meghan, 43, has frequently expressed admiration for the event and its participants, and this year’s ceremony was no exception. In an unscripted speech at a welcome reception for athletes and their friends and families on Feb. 7, Meghan shared her joy about her return to Canada before honoring her husband, Harry, 40.

“You will see him throughout this week,” Meghan told the crowd. “You will see him at the games, you will see him probably curling with you and cheering you on at wheelchair basketball.”

“It means so much to him,” Meghan continued. “You are his family, just as we are his family. And I hope you recognize how much of his heart he has poured into every single beat that has gotten all of you to this week that is going to be spectacular.

“I need you to know that, I need you to know how much it means to him and how much each of you mean to him. It is my entire pleasure and complete honor to introduce to the stage my husband, the father of our very sweet, excited children who are cheering you on from California, Prince Harry, founder of the Invictus Games, the Duke of Sussex.”

The Invictus Games marks Harry and Meghan’s first official appearance together since their tour of Colombia in August. In January, they were spotted together visiting the World Central Kitchen in Pasadena, Calif., to help distribute food and supplies to victims of the Eaton Fire. 

Meghan’s attendance highlights that while she has solo projects on the horizon, she and Harry remain united in both their personal and professional lives, with her family as her top priority.

When asked about their thoughts on the Duchess attending, an onlooker in Vancouver told PEOPLE: “I think it’s great that she’s coming. There is a lot of speculation about them and their marriage, but this reinforces one thing to me, at least — there is no separation. It looks like they present a united front when it comes to matters they both care about.”

In December, Prince Harry addressed the constant scrutiny of his and Meghan’s relationship. During a sit-down with New York Times columnist and DealBook founder Andrew Ross Sorkin, Sorkin noted public fascination with their every move, referencing Meghan’s planned solo appearance at the Paley Honors gala.

Harry dismissed speculation about their time apart, calling it baseless. “Apparently we’ve bought or moved house 10, 12 times. We’ve apparently divorced maybe 10, 12 times as well. So it’s just like, what?'” he quipped, adding that he ignores the noise and even feels sorry for trolls who build up false hopes.

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The Invictus Games are an important part of Prince Harry and Meghan’s love story, as they memorably made their public debut as a couple at the Invictus Games in Toronto in September 2017. At the time, Meghan was living in Toronto to film the legal drama Suits, and the pair publicly confirmed their romance when they held hands at the wheelchair tennis event.