Meghan Markle explains absence from Invictus Games after last minute arrival
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, during the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany.
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Meghan Markle has explained her last-minute arrival in Dusseldorf for the Invictus Games during an off-the-cuff speech at a hotel party yesterday.
The mother-of-two made an emotional address to 1,600 competitors friends and families.
Meghan, 42, who was last pictured with her husband Prince Harry at a Beyonce concert on September 1, used the speech to reveal why she arrived at the event much later than the Duke of Sussex.
She said: "I'm really proud to be part of this Invictus family with all of you.
Meghan Markle (left) and Prince Harry (right)
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"I'm grateful for all of you that are here.
"We've also received a few gifts from the Canadian team we got a bracelet and on that bracelets they put the initials of one of the people who wasn't able to make it here tonight."
Meghan added: "I'm sorry that I was a little late to the party.
"Just like so many of you this is about family and friends and the community that Invictus has created, that Fisher House has created, so I just had to spend a little bit more time at home getting our little ones settled, getting milkshakes, doing school drop off, and then I landed a couple of hours ago."
The Duke of Sussex meets athletes and veterans during a walkabout in the stadium during the Invictus Games at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf, Germany
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She also revealed her hopes of one day bringing four-year-old son Archie and two-year-old daughter Lilibet to the event.
It is understood that Meghan did her own hair and make-up soon after arriving at the five-star hotel.
The event was hosted by Fish House Foundation's Dave Coker.
Fish House Foundation is one of the main sponsors of the Invictus Games.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Invictus Games
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Meghan completed the trip from Montecito to Dusseldorf after taking a flight from Los Angeles.
The Duchess previously spoke openly about feeling unable to do the school run in the United Kingdom.
Journalist Allison P Davies, who chatted with Meghan about the situation, wrote in The Cut magazine: "Earlier in our conversation about her goals for the life she's creating here, she'd remarked upon how, if Archie were in school in the UK, she'd never be able to do school pickup and drop-off without it being a royal photo call with a press pen of 40 people snapping pictures."
The mother-of-two also told the interviewer: "Sorry, I have a problem with that. That doesn't make me obsessed with privacy.
"That makes me a strong and good parent protecting my child."