Prince Harry drops puck at ice hockey match in Vancouver in surprise appearance with Meghan

The Duke of Sussex dropped ceremonial puck as Queen Elizabeth did some 20 years ago
Josh Salisbury21 November 2023

Prince Harry and Meghan made a surprise visit to an ice hockey game on Monday night in Vancouver where the Duke of Sussex dropped the first puck - just like his grandmother the Queen did two decades ago.

The couple made an appearance to watch the Vancouver Canucks beat the San Jose Sharks 3-1 from a VIP box at the Rogers Arena.

He performed the ceremonial puck drop kicking off the clash - echoing a similar puck drop performed by his grandmother Queen Elizabeth at a Canucks game in 2002.

However, the Duke needed gentle reminding as to when to drop the puck, according to one of the captains present.

Sharks captain Tomas Hertl told local media: “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."

Meanwhile, Canucks captain Rick Tocchet 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."

Harry and Meghan in the crowd to watch the match
AP

When the Canucks won the match, Prince Harry could be seen leaping up and Meghan could be seen putting down her drink so that the couple could both celebrate.

Prince Harry and wife Meghan’s visit to Canada was in honour at the next Invictus Games, the international sports tournament for wounded veterans, which will be held in Vancouver in 2025.

The Duke and Duchess famously made their debut as a couple at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, where Meghan lived while filming Suits, in which she starred.

Before stepping back from their royal roles in 2020, the couple also spent their first holiday season as a family of three in 2019 with son Prince Archie on Vancouver Island.

Harry's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, made the ceremonial puck drop at a 2002 match, also between the Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks, during her two-week Golden Jubilee tour of Canada.

It was the first NHL game the Queen had attended since 1951 when, still a princess, she and Prince Philip watched the Montreal Canadiens take on the New York Rangers.

Prince Harry waves to the crowd as he arrives to drop the puck
AP

The Sussexes' sporting outing comes a few days after Meghan's surprise arrival at the Variety Power Of Women event in Los Angeles to celebrate the accomplishments of women in entertainment.

She also teased future projects, saying: "We have so many exciting things on the slate... I can't wait until we can announce them, but I'm just really proud of what we're creating.

"My husband is loving it too which is really fun."

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