Meghan Markle plays netball in HEELS as Duchess arrives with Harry for sports awards
MEGHAN Markle faced Prince Harry in a netball match despite wearing vertiginous heels before joining her husband in a touching ceremony awarding young talent who may be on track for a future in the world of sport.
Meghan Markle plays netball at Loughborough University
The Duchess of Sussex took a crash course in netball today as she attended the Coach Core Awards at Loughborough University, in London.
Dazzling in a top by Oscar de la Renta, trousers by Altuzarra and stiletto heeled shoes, Meghan was seen throwing and catching the bright purple ball despite being dressed to impress rather than for a session of fitness.
And after learning the basic rules and tricks of the game, she faced her husband, Prince Harry, in a match.
In spite of her uncomfortable outfit, the Duchess was laughing and smiling, enjoying herself and even cheekily challenging her husband during the head-to-head.
The Duchess' team featured the gymnastics coach Scott Hann, tennis star Laura Robson and had the added bonus of England netballer Eboni Beckford-Chambers.
However, the rival team was well suited to put up a fight, with the Duke being helped by marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe, former England batsman Mark Ramprakash, ex-England rugby player Ugo Monye and ex-US basketball star David Robinson.
After the intense game, Meghan and Harry took the time to speak to sports personalities and the young talent in the gym.
The royals arrived together at the university to present an array of prizes to promising youngsters who are believed to have all the chances to make a name for themselves in the world of sport.
The pair looked relaxed and loved up, breaking the untold rule advising royals against displaying affection in public more than once.
After Meghan showed off her netball skills, Prince Harry joined his wife on her side of the gym to hug her, leaving all those attending the ceremony in awe.
The Awards are the final part of a scheme helping young people who are not in education or employment.
Through the scheme, hundreds of apprentices are trained and put in touch with some of the biggest sports clubs in the country.
And the most talented ones are awarded a tuition, a wage and a chance to become the next generation of sports coaches.
Community outreach project of the year, graduate of the year, mentor of the year, educator of the year and apprentice of the year are among some of the awards which the Duke and Duchess handed out today.
Prince Harry also gave a speech to the young apprentices, casually dressed in a smart jacket, shirt and trousers.
The royal visit came as Sport England, a public body under the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, awarded the Royal Foundation a £995,500 National Lottery grant to double the reach of its Coach Core programme by adding 10 new sites in England over the next three years.
The Coach Core scheme was set up in 2012 by the Royal Foundation, the organisation set up by Prince William and Prince Harry to pursue their charitable works.
The brothers were later joined at their organisation by their wives Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, and Meghan.
The Coach Core Awards are just the latest engagement seeing Meghan and Harry awarding and helping young people.
In June, the couple joined the Queen at the Queen’s Young Leaders Awards, an annual award celebrating exceptional leaders between the ages of 18 and 29 from across the Commonwealth.