Meghan Markle and Prince Harry make a surprise appearance at the Vancouver Canucks game
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle flew to Canada, where they made a surprise appearance at an ice hockey game in Vancouver on Monday evening.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were all smiles as they watched the Vancouver Canucks take on the San Jose Sharks from the comfort of a VIP box at Rogers Arena.
Additionally, Harry was the guest of honor, even dropping the ceremonial first puck before the game, while Tomas Hertl of the San Jose Sharks and Quinn Hughes, captain of the Vancouver Canucks, stood on either side.
The exiled king’s puck drop came 21 years after his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, dropped her own ceremonial puck before the same game in 2002.
Her late Majesty visited Vancouver during an 11-day trip to Canada in honor of her Golden Jubilee.
Hertl spoke about Harry’s puck drop after the game.
“I actually had to tell him [to drop the puck] because he keeps holding and smiling,” he said. “I would say, ‘It’s time to stop it,’ but it’s a cool moment. I’ll definitely remember that.”
Meanwhile, Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet spoke about his brief interaction with the Prince.
“I gave him a punch, 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,” Tocchet shared.
Ultimately, the Canucks emerged victorious from the direct duel on Monday evening and won 3-1 against the Sharks.
The Sussexes are no strangers to Canada and are even planning to host the next Invictus Games in Vancouver and Whistler in 2025.
Harry, 39, started the annual event in 2014 to bring veterans together.
The Sussexes are no strangers to Canada, as it was their first pit stop after exiting royal life in 2020.
The couple’s love for Canada runs deep and plays a key role in the early days of their love story in 2017.
The 42-year-old Duchess was filming Suits in Canada when she began a romance with Harry and the pair even made their debut as a couple at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto.
After both retiring from royal life in 2020, the two – along with their son Archie – spent their first vacation as a family of three on Vancouver Island in 2019.
Soon after, the two set up camp in Montecito, California, where they have remained ever since.
