Meghan dazzles in emerald green as royal couple begin Irish visit

Meghan paid tribute to her Irish hosts with the choice of colour for her stylish Givenchy outfit, as the couple’s much anticipated two-day trip began.

The husband and wife touched down in a private chartered jet at Dublin Airport for their first official overseas tour as a married couple.

Waiting to greet them at the bottom of the plane’s steps was Britain’s Ambassador to Ireland, Robin Barnett, his partner Agnieszka Kepka and senior officials from the British embassy.

Harry and Meghan looked relaxed as they made their way down the steps and shook the hands of the waiting officials in turn, before being led to their car at the head of a motorcade.

Nearby nine Garda motorbike outriders were waiting to escort the couple to a meeting with Ireland’s Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who will formally welcome the couple to his country.

As their car pulled away Harry, looking smart in a suit, shirt and tie, smiled at the ranks of journalists, photographers and cameramen capturing the moment, and waved at them.

The trip to Dublin is not the first time the duke and duchess have been away since their May 19 wedding, which fused tradition with modernity and diversity.

Harry and Meghan slipped away unnoticed for their honeymoon and the destination for the traditional break has remained under wraps for now.

The airport greeting marked the start of the duke and duchess’s whirlwind tour that will see them celebrate Ireland and its people.

After the royal couple left the airport, their entourage were seen leaving the private plane including hairdresser George Northwood who created Meghan’s evening look on her wedding day.

Later Ireland’s Taoiseach Leo Varadkar rolled out the red carpet for the duke and duchess at Dublin’s Government Buildings when he officially welcomed the couple to his country.

Before the couple arrived Mr Varadkar said: “It is the first visit they will have made overseas since they got married and even though they haven’t officially visited Ireland before, I think they are going to be extremely welcome and I look forward to welcoming them.”

The unseasonably warm weather appeared to be an immediate topic of conversation between the trio, with Mr Varadkar pointing out a nearby patch of parched brown grass around a fountain.

In Mr Varadkar’s private offices, the duke and duchess were introduced to a number of employees including 18-year-old intern Tabitha Owen, from London, who is on a short summer secondment before starting a degree at Oxford University in September.

“You’re really busy?,” asked Harry. “What time do you normally knock off? Not until very late? Ah!”

Referencing the student’s connection to the UK, Mr Varadkar told the couple his “big sister” worked at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

When it was time to sign the visitors’ book Harry wrote his name and joked “I never sign big enough,” then when Meghan signed her name with a flourish, he added: “Yours is much nicer than mine.”

They then sat down for private talks with Mr Varadkar.

Sources said that during the private meeting, the Taoiseach and Harry discussed the possibility of the Irish Defence Forces participating in the Invictus Games.