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Watch Prince Harry try sit-skiing as Meghan Markle cheers him on during day one of Canada trip – best photos

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are in Vancouver in support of the Invictus Games

Ahad Sanwari - New York
Senior WriterNew York
Updated: February 15, 2024

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have kicked off their three-day visit to Canada.

Prince Harry, 39, and Meghan, 42, are joining competitors at a winter training camp to mark the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025, and it looks like they're already getting into the spirit of things!

Watch in the video below as Prince Harry hits the slopes while adaptive skiing in Vancouver...

Prince Harry hits the slopes in Canada

The couple walk out hand in hand

The former working royals put on a romantic front as they walked out to the winter training camp, smiling and tenderly holding on to each other.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend Invictus Games Vancouver Whistlers 2025's One Year To Go Winter Training Camp on February 14, 2024 in Whistler, British Columbia.© Getty Images
The Duke and Duchess sweetly walked out holding hands for their day in the cold
© Andrew Chin
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex greet Mike Bourgeois and his wife Lori
© Karwai Tang
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

They were quickly greeted by organizers and participants from the camp before Harry was taken to the adaptive ski to try a run for himself. "Do I need to sign a waiver?" he joked, which got a large chuckle out of his wife.

Harry and Meghan interact with participants

© Getty Images
Harry and Meghan arrive at the winter training camp

The Duke and Duchess have arrived at the winter training camp and are interacting with participants and officials at the Olympic Station in Whistler, dressed for a snowy and windy day.

Harry was pictured in a thick black jacket with a pair of dark jeans and brown winter snow shoes, topped off with a beanie that covered his ginger hair. Meghan, meanwhile, wore a stylish white CO sweater atop a pair of Frame jeans, with a large off-white Calvin Klein puffer overcoat and high-top ski boots, pairing it with a black beanie as well. For more details on her look, click here!

© Andrew Chin
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex take pictures with participants
© Karwai Tang
© Getty Images
"Do I need to sign a waiver?" the Duke joked before being strapped into adaptive ski equipment

The pair were seen bending in the snow as they interacted with bob sledders at the bottom of the ski slopes, and when Harry took to the slopes himself, Meghan cheered on the sidelines and took pictures.

Invictus Games participants gush about Prince Harry

Participant Ivan Morera from the United States spoke with reporters about how much he appreciated Harry's support through the Invictus Games.

© Getty Images
Harry quickly got into the thick of the sport!

The American competitor told reporters that he was looking forward to meeting the Duke and "shaking his hand, saying 'thank you for your service, and thank you for the opportunity.'" He also spoke about having a "lot of respect" for Harry because he "understands military personnel because of his experience."

© Karwai Tang

A royal goodbye!

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The couple waved goodbye to waiting crowds on their way out

As Harry and Meghan departed, a group of British men began singing "God Save the King." 

The Suits star joyously waved to the crowds before getting into their waiting car.

© Karwai Tang
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the Invictus Games One Year To Go Event on February 14, 2024 in Whistler, Canada. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)

The Sussexes' arrival in Canada

The Sussexes were spotted touching down in a private jet at Vancouver airport on Tuesday lunchtime local time, having travelled from Santa Barbara, near to their Montecito home.

Their trip comes just days after Harry and Meghan launched their new Sussex.com website, which is operated by the Office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as a "one-stop shop" for all their activities.

It was also announced on Tuesday that Meghan has signed a new deal with Lemonada Media to create a new podcast series. It comes after the Sussexes' deal with Spotify ended last summer after one series of Meghan's Archetypes show.

The couple will be meeting team managers, coaches and competitors to experience winter adaptive sports ahead of the Games next year.

What are the Invictus Games?

© Getty
Prince Harry launched the Invictus Games in 2014

Prince Harry founded the Invictus Games, an international multi-sport event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, both serving and veterans, in 2014.

The Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 will bring together over 500 competitors from over 20 nations to compete in adaptive sports, including the new winter sports: Alpine Skiing, Nordic Skiing, Skeleton, and Wheelchair Curling.

Why Canada is so special to Harry and Meghan

© Getty
Harry and Meghan made their public debut at the Invictus Games Toronto in 2017

American actress Meghan was working and living in Canada when she began dating Harry in 2016, with the Prince making transatlantic flights to his future wife in Toronto while she was appearing on US legal drama Suits.

In 2017, the couple made their public debut at the Invictus Games Toronto, just a couple of months before they announced their engagement.

In late 2019, the Duke and Duchess took an extended break from royal duties on Vancouver Island, along with baby Archie.

They rented the Mille Fleurs mansion in North Saanich on the island, where they spent Christmas and the first few weeks of 2020, when they announced their decision to step back as senior royals.

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