Prince Harry meets Melania Trump on day 1 of the Invictus Games in Toronto yesterday. Photo / Getty
Prince Harry meets Melania Trump on day 1 of the Invictus Games in Toronto yesterday. Photo / Getty
Melania Trump has completed her first solo overseas duty as First Lady of the United States, conducting a bilateral meeting with Prince Harry ahead of the Invictus Games.
Trump smiled warmly for a photocall in Toronto, as the Prince made polite small talk in front of the cameras.
The First Lady, who wore a black and white dog tooth Dior suit, shook the Prince's hand and settled in for a discussion: the first of three bilateral meetings undertaken by Harry today.
Britain's Prince Harry speaks during a bilateral meeting with First Lady of the United States Melania Trump. Photo / AP
The Prince, who later met Canadian Prime Minister Justine Trudeau, smiled briefly for the photograph, which will be shared around the world to publicise the games.
Meeting the Prince, Melania said: "Thank you. Thank you so much for coming." The Prince then asked the First Lady if she had been in the country long before they discussed the success of the Invictus Games.
The meeting took place in the Yorkville East conference room on the fourth floor of the Sheraton in central Toronto at 1.30pm before the official planned opening of the Invictus Games on Saturday night.
The former model, who became a US citizen in 2006, and the Prince sat on cream leather seats with the respective flags for each country behind them. A white orchid sat on a table between the pair.
Strict White House security flanked the event, anyone with authority to go in the room had all belongings search in a closed room before before being allowed to enter.
President Trump's wife is leading a US delegation to the Paralympic-style games founded by the Prince 2014.
Prince Harry also met with with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Photo / AP
The event marks Melania's first solo trip out of the country since her husband was elected President.
The Prince began his Canadian mission at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health on Satuday, where he was stopped to meet visiting children and their excited mothers.
Camilla Vasquez, 20, said afterwards: "I told him I was really happy to meet him and he said he was glad I'd come out. He is one of the most genuine people I have met.
"You can tell he is sincere and that he truly cares."
Prince Harry gives a thumbs up to the crowd after riding in a car with a member of team Germany at the Jaguar Land Rover Challenge at the Invictus Games in Toronto. Photo / AP
Saying the Prince and Meghan Markle seem like the "perfect couple" she added: "They are wonderful together. I met her when she was filming Suits near my school.
"She's like him - very kind and genuine. They are both caring and care and humanitarian issues and social issues. Harry proved that by being here today."
Rupa Arora and her four-year-old daughter Saveira got up at 6am to wait for two-and-a-half hours for the Royal visit, saying: "It was worth it."
Inside, he joined talks about current treatment for mental health issues, including a potential preventative cure to stop soldiers suffering from PTSD.
The coming week will see the Prince attend all sporting events, supporting the athletes he has come to know through his work with Invictus in recent years.
Meghan Markle is expected to attend the Invictus Games when filming of her TV drama allows. Photo / AP
Markle's attendance has so far become the hottest topic of conversation among Royal watchers, with many predicting she may miss the opening ceremony so as not to overshadow competitors.
The Prince has been protective over his girlfriend of 14 months, keeping her firmly out of the public eye and issuing a statement last year pleading for her privacy.
A recent interview with Vanity Fair magazine, in which Ms Markle confirmed they were happily in love, was widely recognised as a new stage in their relationship, with increasing talk of a Royal wedding next year.
Ms Markle is understood to have been accredited for the Games, and is free to attend whenever it fits in with her work schedule while filming legal drama Suits.
