Prince Harry smiles during awkward pose as he's told to 'drop the puck'

In a nod to his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Harry was invited onto the ice to perform the ceremonial puck drop.

The late monarch did this back in 2002 in a visit to the Canadian city.

WATCH NOW: Prince Harry at the Vancouver Canucks game

The 39-year-old performed the ceremonial puck drop to officially begin the game between the Vancouver Canucks and the San Jose Sharks.

The Sharks captain Tomas Hertl admitted there was an awkward moment with the duke.

The father-of-two posed for photos and smiled with the two captains at the halfway line.

However, Hertl had to turn to him and remind the prince to drop the puck.

Hertl said: "I actually had to tell him to drop the puck because he kept holding it and smiling.

"I said 'It's time to drop it' - but it was a cool moment.

"For sure I will remember that one."

The Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet also opened up about the slightly awkward situation.

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He added: "I gave him a fist bump, I don't know if you're allowed to do that.

"I did it, he did it. He kind of looked at me but he did it."

Prince Harry was invited to the game because the Invictus Games closing ceremony in 2025 will be held in the Rogers Arena.

The Invictus Games are the 39-year-old's sports competition for wounded military veterans.