Harry and Meghan get standing ovation as they complete final engagements as senior royals
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were given a rousing ovation after they arrived at the Royal Albert Hall for one of their final public engagements before stepping back as senior royals.
The pair wore matching red, Prince Harry in the mess uniform of the Royal Marines and Meghan Markle in a £1,295 Safiyaa dress and cape, accessorised with earrings from Simone Rocha, to the Mountbatten Festival of Music.
Harry, in his role as Captain General of the Royal Marines, and Meghan met with five members of the Royal Marines before taking their seats in the royal box of the famous South Kensington venue.
The Duke and Duchess also meet performers during the interval.
The royal couple were seen laughing and joking with the crowd before heading on to the stage to meet more attendees and musicians.
They walked off hand in hand to take their seats for the second part of the show.
The concert was compered by broadcaster John Suchet and featured show tunes including the Judy Garland classic Over the Rainbow, and the theme from the film Gladiator.
One of the evening’s highlights was a sing-a-long of hits by Sir Tom Jones including Delilah and It’s Not Unusual.
Warrant Officer and festival manage Reg Sheen said he was ‘delighted’ Harry was the force’s Captain General and that it was ‘absolutely fantastic’ to see the Sussexes.
Mr Sheen, was one of the five Royal Marines in the greeting party when the couple, added: ‘The reaction they got from the audience when they arrived was very emotional for the Royal Marines.’
Overall it has been a busy week for the royal couple as they look to wind down public life and begin their next chapter as private citizens on March 31.
They returned to the UK to attend Thursday’s Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House in central London in what was Meghan’s first public appearance since shocking the world since Megxit.
Earlier that day Harry was spotted at Buckingham Palace with the Prince having held a ‘heart to heart’ with the Queen.
The couple’s spokeswoman said: ‘In addition to the official engagements the Duke and Duchess are conducting over the course of the next few days, they are also meeting privately with several of their patronages.’
The Duke and Duchess are expected to join the Queen and other royals at the Commonwealth Day service in Westminster Abbey on March 9, in what is expected to be their final official appearance as HRHs.
The Sussexes had not been seen together on an official engagement since January 7 when they visited Canada House in London to thank the Commonwealth nation for hosting them during their festive break.
The following day, Harry and Meghan sent shockwaves through the royal household when they announced they were to step back as senior royals and become financially independent.
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