Meghan Markle ‘asked chefs to turn up the heat’ when she and Prince Harry visited an Indian restaurant in Canada – while the Duke ‘joked that spicy food makes him red’.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were in Vancouver to celebrate the one-year countdown to the next Invictus Games, and to attend last night’s glittering ‘One Year to Go’ gala.
But while in town, Harry and Meghan made a pit stop at locally acclaimed Indian restaurant Vij’s, much to the delight of those working in the kitchen.
Virkam Vij, owner of the restaurant, explains CTV News that the royal couple seemed to have very different tolerances for spices, with Meghan ordering the ‘spiciest dish on the menu’.
The Duchess also asked for extra chillies and spicy pickles to add to her meal, Mr Vij said, adding: ‘She loved it.’
Meghan Markle ‘asked chefs to turn up the heat’ as she and Prince Harry visited an Indian restaurant in Canada – while the Duke ‘joked that spicy food turns him red’
Meanwhile, the restaurateur said Harry found the food “a little spicier.”
He added: ‘He actually said himself, “Do you know I’m a ginger? What does that mean if I eat spicy food, I turn red?”
Vij’s said on Instagram that they were “truly honoured” that Harry and Meghan joined them for dinner on Thursday evening, sharing a photo of the royal couple and Mr Vij.
Videos were also shared of Harry and Meghan visiting people in the kitchen.
In one clip, Harry asks: ‘Who made the lamb curry?’ while star-struck chefs point to each other in response.
The Duke and Duchess were joined at the restaurant by musician Michael Buble and his wife Luisana Lopilato, who later also attended the ‘One Year to Go’ gala.
Mr Vij said the famous faces entered the restaurant through the kitchen after their security guard arrived to scout the area.
“It was just incredible and my kitchen staff was so happy,” he added. “They were so excited.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were in Vancouver to celebrate the one-year countdown to the next Invictus Games and attend last night’s glittering ‘One Year to Go’ gala
But while in town, Harry and Meghan made a pit stop at locally acclaimed Indian restaurant Vij’s, much to the delight of those working in the kitchen. They were accompanied by Michael Buble and his wife Luisana Lopilato
It comes as Prince Harry and Meghan were given a Canadian farewell on Friday evening, with Michael Bublé singing the rewritten lyrics of Frank Sinatra’s classic ‘My Way’, with a nod to the duke.
The couple attended a lavish gala dinner with 200 guests in Vancouver to conclude their tour in preparation for the 2025 Winter Invictus Games.
Shortly before a speech from the Duke, Bublé performed a rewritten version of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” with nods to Prince Harry throughout.
It included the line: “Every day you earned the right to say: I did it my way,” and called Harry a “visionary.”
The Canadian crooner also sang “Our Healing Wishes for Your Father,” in a moving gesture for King Charles III, who was recently diagnosed with cancer.
Meghan was glamorous in an olive green one-shoulder dress by Canadian designer Greta Constantine, a Logan Hollowell necklace and Manolo Blahnik shoes.
Bublé then performed a rewritten version of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” peppered with nods to Prince Harry.
Harry, dressed in a dark suit and black tie, then spoke about the Invictus Games, telling the audience that the athletes, made up of wounded and sick service members, embodied “courage, leadership and fortitude.”
Meghan, 42, wore an olive green one-shoulder dress by Canadian designer Greta Constantine, a Logan Hollowell necklace and Manolo Blahnik shoes.
Meghan and Harry were expected to head home to Montecito, California, after three days of Invictus Games events in Whistler and Vancouver, but they extended their trip by one night to enjoy a celebration with athletes and organizers.
From left to right: Squamish Nation Councilor, Wilson Williams, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Chief of the Tsleil-Wauth Nation, Jen Thomas, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex exchange greetings after being given blankets at dinner in Vancouver on Friday
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex watches dancers from the Tsleil-Wauth Nation during the ‘One Year to Go’ Invictus Games dinner in Vancouver on Friday, February 16, 2024
Although not part of the official program and intended to be kept out of reach of the media, the gala – held at the Vancouver Convention Center – was marked with black and gold Invictus signs.
Towards the end of the evening, the crowd gave a standing ovation as Prince Harry took to the stage – who joked that he was going to sing before welcoming Bublé to the stage.
Bublé said it was emotional for him to be there and that he loved that “we can show Harry and Meghan how beautiful this place is.”
Other lyrics traded by Bublé included: “Nothing tames, Invictus Games, you play them your way,” “One man, a life-changing plan, he does everything he can, he’s a visionary.”