Prince Harry has taken a few hours away from his newborn son Archie to launch the countdown to next year’s Invictus Games.
The proud new father arrived in the Netherlands and was greeted with cheers of congratulations and presents for his first child.
The Duke of Sussex, whose son was born on Monday, was met by Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and chairman of the games Mart de Kruif.
He launched the countdown at the Sportcampus Zuiderpark in The Hague as part of a programme of events to mark the official launch of his Invictus Games in 2020.
The last competition between injured service personnel took place last year in Sydney during his Commonwealth tour with wife Meghan.
The visit to the Netherlands comes the day after he and Meghan showed off new addition Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor in a photocall at Windsor Castle.
Meghan has remained at the couple’s Frogmore Cottage home with her mother Doria Ragland while Harry is away on the short trip.
The couple revealed their newborn son yesterday with Meghan movingly saying she has ‘the best two guys in the world’
The couple broke with royal convention by not using a title for their baby boy.
Harry and Meghan’s first born, who is seventh in line to the throne, made his debut with his mother and father at the castle on Wednesday.
Archie was then formally introduced to his great-grandmother the Queen and great-grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh.
The Duchess described her son as having the ‘sweetest temperament’, while a delighted duke called him ‘our own little bundle of joy’.
Meghan added: ‘It’s magic, it’s pretty amazing. I have the two best guys in the world so I’m really happy.’
The couple’s son arrived on Monday at 5.26am, weighing 7lb 3oz and his father said, when announcing the birth, the baby’s late arrival had given them longer to decide on a name.
Harry’s trip to the Netherlands had originally been scheduled to last for two days but it was reduced to one for ‘logistical reasons.’
The Duke watched a wheelchair basketball training session in a sports hall at the Sportscampus building.
He shook hands and spoke to competitors.
He then gave a hug to a young girl who presented him with a gift and letter.
The Duke unwrapped the gift to reveal a blue and white baby’s cube toy decorated with rabbits.
He was also given a tiny babygrow with the Invictus logo on it.
The Invictus Games were founded by Prince Harry in 2014 after he left the army.
He told the crowd in the Netherlands: ‘When we launched the first Invictus Games in 2014 I knew that these men and women, who had given it their all in service to their country, would now do the same on the sports field, inspiring millions of people around the world and changing mindsets around disability forever.
‘I had seen first-hand the transformative power of sport in helping people physically and psychologically recover and knew that the Invictus Games would change lives, capture hearts and inspire a generation, the Invictus generation.
‘Now here we are, launching the countdown to the fifth Invictus Games and I am absolutely thrilled that many more wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women will have the opportunity to continue their journey to recovery.’