Prince Harry laughs off Megxit crisis at Rugby League World Cup Palace event
BEAMING Prince Harry laughed off the Megxit storm today at what could be his last engagement after quitting the royal family.
The Duke of Sussex dodged questions over his future amid the royal crisis as he appeared at the Rugby League World Cup draw.
But some nerves seemed to creep in earlier despite his brave face as he anxiously fiddled with his wedding ring.
Harry has delayed a reunion with Meghan and baby Archie in Canada and will be staying in the UK until next week to sort the couple's royal exit fallout.
The engagement today could potentially be his final public duty as a senior royal as it is not clear what his meetings next week are.
Harry - patron of the Rugby Football League - is meeting representatives of the 21 nations taking part while watching local kids playing rugby in the palace gardens.
He joked as he posed up with the budding rugby stars, telling them: "Look after the grass though yeah? Otherwise I'll get in trouble."
The prince drew teams for the World Cup next year and also host the 2021 draw from the palace for the men's, women's and wheelchair tournaments.
Harry appeared happy as he went back to the day job and chatted with RLW2021's chief executive officer Jon Dutton and its non-executive director Stuart Cain.
Harry was joined by rugby legend Jason Robinson and Dame Katherine Grainger, chair of UK Sport, as he pulled the first ball to England's men's team would be playing Samoa in their opening game.
He had been asked about impact of sport on people's lives and described it as having the power to save lives while in the palace throne room.
The duke answered: "I think, from my perspective, certainly the experience that I've had in my younger years but also through Invictus, and all of the sporting events that I'm lucky enough to be able to go to or watch, the impact that it has, especially on young people, but the impact it has on the individuals playing with the community as a whole is remarkable.
"Not only do I continue to see sport actually changing lives, but it's saving lives as well, so I think for me and ... everybody in this room, whether it's rugby league, or sports in general ... it needs to be in everybody's life if possible."
Australia rugby representative and host of the Channel 4 satirical show The Last Leg, Adam Hills, said the prince showed his "duty and commitment" despite "everything else that's going on in his life".
It comes after Harry earlier urged men suffering from mental health issues to not just "grin and bear it" as he launched a "Mental Fitness Charter".
The charter is aimed at training players, officials and volunteers to look after their own mental health and the mental health of those around them.
He said: "It is not just about being physically fit but more importantly mentally strong.
"The perception of rugby league is that you need to be tough. You can't show your feelings, you need to grin and bear it.
"But something like the Mental Fitness Charter will help us make real progress in getting rid of the stigma associated with mental illness."
It has been a turbulent week for Harry, who supposed to be joining his wife at their £11million Canada hideaway after sensationally revealing they were working towards becoming "financially independent".
Instead, he has been forced to stay in the UK after triggering a major crisis for the monarchy.
BROKE COVER
And he last night broke his silence on the Sussex Royal Instagram page to reveal the location of the 2022 Invictus Games would be in Dusseldorf.
Harry said: "I hope everyone in Germany is ready for what will be an incredible week of sport.
"I have no doubt that the German public will get right behind these games and that every single competitor can expect a warm welcome and an amazing atmosphere."
He also confirmed 20 countries joining in for the 2020 games, adding: "The story continues."
Meghan meanwhile has been snapped looking relaxed as she visited another women's charity in Vancouver.
The Duchess of Sussex was pictured chatting with women at Justice For Girls - a charity promoting an end to violence and racism against teenage girls living in poverty.
ROYAL CRISIS
She was seen for the first time since announcing she and Harry want to quit royal life as she boarded a seaplane from Vancouver Island to Vancouver to carry out the charity visits on Tuesday.
There was no sign of nine-month-old son Archie, who was believed to have been left with a nanny.
She was escorted to the plane by a bodyguard. An airport source said: “She didn’t have to sit and wait with other passengers inside the terminal.”
It came after Harry was locked in crisis talks with the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William over their future.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex got their way at the summit — but the Queen made it plain she is deeply upset they are quitting.
After the Sandringham talks, Her Majesty released a statement saying the couple will be allowed to step down from their duties and spend time in Canada.
But she said: “Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life.”