Harry left wincing during 'goat yoga' hours after children reunite with King Charles

Prince Harry made his final public appearance of his UK visit today at Maxstoke Castle in Warwickshire, joining approximately 200 youngsters and their families at the Scotty's Little Soldiers summer festival.

The Duke of Sussex threw himself into the festivities with characteristic enthusiasm, taking part in what organisers described as a royal first: a session of goat yoga.

The duke was also subjected to a thorough soaking, pelted with water balloons by eager children at the charity event supporting bereaved military families.

His appearance came mere hours after a significant private gathering with King Charles at Highgrove on Friday afternoon, following his Invictus Games launch in Birmingham.

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Neither Buckingham Palace nor the Sussexes have offered further comment on the family meeting.

The yoga session featured six nanny goats and their four-month-old offspring, with participants encouraged to mimic the animals' bleats and gaze into their eyes.

"Let me in!" Harry called out as he approached the enclosure. "Is there health and safety? Do they bite?"

Positioned on a blue mat, the Duke adopted a tree pose variation, balancing on one leg while forming goat ears with his hands.

Complications arose when he reclined, and the animals clambered across him, with one stepping rather unfortunately onto a rather sensitive area.

The duke later engaged in a spirited water balloon battle with three-year-old River at an inflatable obstacle course.

"You're naughty!" he told the youngster, who repeatedly struck his royal target before Harry retaliated with a thorough drenching.

During a question-and-answer session in a marquee, the prince fielded enquiries from children who had lost parents in military service.

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When asked about his favourite destination, Harry diplomatically acknowledged Wales before selecting Botswana for "the space and the animals and the beauty".

Nine-year-old Poppy enquired what brought him joy on difficult days, prompting the Duke to pat his heart and acknowledge the question had touched him deeply.

"My dog makes me laugh, my children make me laugh," he shared, adding that sometimes laughter simply is not possible on hard days.

Perhaps most poignantly, Sebastian, 16, asked whether Harry marked his mother's anniversaries.

"Yes, we do lemon drizzle cake," he revealed. "I think traditions are really really important, especially when they're sweet."

The light-hearted trip came amid more family chaos for Harry.

His Highgrove gathering yesterday evening marked a momentous occasion, representing the first time King Charles has seen his grandchildren Prince Archie, now seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, since 2022.

For young Lilibet, it was only the second encounter with her grandfather in her lifetime.

The Duchess of Sussex accompanied her husband and children to the Gloucestershire estate, her first known return to British soil since September 2022.

Meghan has opted not to attend any public engagements during this visit.

The reunion took place on Friday afternoon, with both the King and Queen present at the private family gathering.

It represents a notable step in relations between the Sussexes and the senior royals, though all parties have maintained discretion regarding the details.

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