As part of their series of royal events during their return to England, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were guests at the Mountbatten Music Festival at Royal Albert Hall on Saturday night. On their Instagram page, several photos of the couple were shared, and one particularly adorable one showed them holding hands and smiling at each other as they arrived at the event.
“Tonight, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended the annual Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall — marking the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the 80th anniversary of the formation of Britain’s Commandos,” the caption read. “The Duke, who is Captain General @RoyalMarines joined veterans, serving members, world-class musicians, composers and conductors of the Massed Bands of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines to help raise funds on behalf of the @RoyalMarines Charity.”
A second post shared a gallery of three photos of the couple from throughout the night in which they laughing and talking with other guests.
“More from tonight as The Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined veterans, serving members, world-class musicians, composers and conductors of the Massed Bands of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines for the annual Mountbatten Festival of Music — an event to help raise funds on behalf of the @RoyalMarines Charity,” the caption said.
Markle and Harry made their first public appearance since their return at Thursday night’s Endeavour Fund Awards. Markle spoke briefly at the event.
“It’s very nice to to be back. It’s the third year that I’ve had the incredible fortune of joining my husband here,” she said. “As you all know and can feel, it is just the most inspiring space. I will say, when I was watching the videos all the way in Canada, we each had the same moment where we said, ‘How are we going to choose?’”
The fund helps wounded military members. Harry spoke at the event, as well.
“Meghan and I are so happy to be back here with you, to celebrate each and every one of you for your achievements, your service and your resilience,” he said. “For some, the military community represents a brotherhood or sisterhood that no other organization can provide, and for others, it’s a way of life which you never want to leave. For a lot of us, it’s both.
“Leaving the military and hanging up your uniform is — we know — an incredibly hard thing to do… unless of course, it’s blue in color… But being forced to hang it up due to injury, beyond your control, can be even more difficult to accept,” Harry, who served in the military for 10 years, added.