She described herself as a ‘hugger’ in her Netflix series – and Meghan Markle certainly lived up to that label in Prince Harry’s new polo documentary.
This morning, the five-episode series POLO – which delves into the “fierce rivalry” between teams competing in the US Open Polo Championship – landed on Netflix.
In the final episode of the series, the Duchess of Sussex, 43, is filmed as she attends the Royal Salute Polo Challenge, which benefits Sentebale – the charity Prince Harry co-founded in 2006.
The annual event, which took place in April at the USPA National Polo Center in Wellington, Florida, saw Prince Harry’s Royal Salute team triumph over Maseru – who was led by the Duke’s close friend Nacho Figueras.
Following their victory, the Duchess of Sussex joined her husband in congratulating the players, including Adolfo Cambiaso – who has won nine US Open Polo championships over the course of his 34-year career.
As the Duchess approached Adolfo on the pitch, the player reached out for a handshake – before Meghan went in for a hug.
The mother-of-two was filmed grabbing Adolfo’s hand and pulling the polo player towards her.
During their warm conversation, Adolfo says “nice to meet you” and tells Meghan that he is doing “very well”.
Pictured: Polo player Adolfo Cambiaso – who was part of Prince Harry’s Royal Salute team – stands to shake hands with Meghan Markle after the team triumphed at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge
As the Duchess approached Adolfo on the pitch, the player reached out for a handshake – before Meghan went in for a hug
Prince Harry, who had been standing to the side during the conversation, then comes over to tell his teammate that his wife speaks fluent Spanish.
Meghan, who spent three months in Europe as a student in 2002, responds in Spanish: “I lived there about 20 years ago. In Palermo Viejo. Las Canitas too.’
Adolfo replied, “That’s great. That’s where the polo fields were.’
After this, Adolfo turns to Prince Harry and asks if she speaks Spanish.
Meghan answers “yes” on behalf of her husband, before bursting into laughter.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry added: “He knows me. He knows I don’t! [I speak] a little, a little.’
Two years ago, Meghan called herself a “hugger” in the Duke and Duchess’ hit Netflix docuseries.
In the series, the former Suits actress opened up about her first meeting with the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Pictured: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex pose with Adolfo Cambiaso after Royal Salute’s victory at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge in April
In her smash 2022 Netflix series, the former Suits actress talked about her first meeting with the Prince and Princess of Wales (pictured)
Meghan and Kelly held hands as they posed for photos at the children’s event in Los Angeles last night
Meghan Markle and her BFF Kelly McKee Zajfen put on a beautiful show at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Gala on Saturday evening
She explained, “Even when Will and Kate came over [to Nottingham Cottage] and I met her for the first time. I remember wearing ripped jeans and going barefoot.
“Like if I was a hugger, I’ve always been a hugger. I didn’t know that this is really shocking for many British people.’
‘I started to understand that the formality on the outside carried over to the inside, that there is a forward-facing way of being and then you close the door and you think, “Okay, we can relax now.”
‘But that formality works on both sides and that was surprising to me.’
While still a working royal, Meghan embraced more casual greetings with the public — and also offered warm hugs to parents whose children had fallen victim to online bullying earlier this year.
In an interview for US broadcaster CBS, the royals discussed the launch of The Parents Network with presenter Jane Pauley and embraced and spoke to parents who lost their children to suicide, which in many cases was related to the use of social media.
The CBS segment praised Sussex’s willingness to hug members of the public, with the newsreader saying at the start of the interview: “Harry and Meghan are definitely big huggers.”
Harry and Meghan were shown hugging The Parents’ Network parents as they met in person for the launch
Meghan is no stranger to showing warmth when it comes to meeting the public, including Luke Vincent, aged five, from Buninyong Public School, at Dubbo Airport (pictured)
Meghan Markle was praised on US broadcast network CBS this weekend for being a ‘big hugger’ – a trait she has repeatedly demonstrated, including during a visit to the Hubb Community Kitchen in London in 2018 (pictured)
Additionally, the Duchess is never afraid to be tactile with her husband in public and is regularly seen holding his hand tightly or placing her hand on his back.
In October, Meghan put on a show of love with her BFF Kelly McKee Zajifen at the LA Children’s Hospital charity gala.
On the red carpet, the pair – who met through Meghan’s producer ex-husband Trevor Engelson – held hands as they posed for photos and beamed affectionately at each other.
Kelly is co-founder of the Alliance of Moms, a “community of philanthropists in LA supporting pregnant teens and teens in LA’s foster care system.”
The event was undoubtedly close to Kelly’s heart after her late son George died aged nine in July 2022 after being found unconscious in their family home.
And Meghan proved to be the ultimate supportive friend, showing her best friend that she was there for her throughout the event.
In August, Meghan was also seen sharing hugs with Kelly and her husband Julian at the George Zajfen Tennis Tournament, once again showing the loving bond between them.