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Prince Harry was today joined by his American girlfriend Meghan Markle for their first ever public outing at an exclusive polo event in Ascot.

The beaming Suits actress, 35, who has been dating the fifth in line to the throne for ten months, clapped as she watched Harry play polo from the royal box.

The Los Angeles-born star looked impeccably stylish in a navy asymmetric dress by Antonio Berardi and white blazer as she proudly applauded from the balcony.

Despite initially trying to keep their romance under wraps, the outing at a formal occasion shows that their relationship is going from strength to strength.

Harry was also joined by his brother, the Duke of Cambridge, for the fun and games at the lavish Coworth Park polo club in Berkshire. 

The youngest Prince looked in his element during the first day of the competition on the Berkshire grounds in front of celebrity onlookers including Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne, dancer Darcey Bussell and actor Matt Smith. 

Prince Harry was joined by his American girlfriend Meghan Markle during an afternoon of horseplay at an exclusive polo event in Ascot today

Prince Harry has enjoyed an afternoon of horseplay at an exclusive polo event in Ascot today

The Suits actress looked impeccably stylish in a navy dress with an assymetric hem and button-down detail. Captain Mark Dyer, who acted as a mentor to Harry following the death of Princess Diana, was also seen in the royal box (second from left) 

The Prince (left) took part in the annual Audi Polo Challenge at Coworth Park polo club

The youngest Prince looked in his element during the first day of the competition, only seven miles from his familiar family haunt at Windsor

Meghan and Harry's outing comes ahead of rumours that the actress will attend Pippa Middleton's wedding on May 20 - despite reports that Pippa is decreeing a 'no ring, no bring' policy in regard to plus ones.

Despite filming in Canada, sources tell the Mail that she has taken a week's holiday and is expected to attend the ceremony and the reception.

Her appearance would fuel speculation that there may be another wedding on the cards after Pippa’s. Kensington Palace refused to comment yesterday. 

In March, Miss Markle joined Harry at his best friend Tom Inskip's wedding to Lara Hughes-Young in Jamaica.

Weeks later, when Miss Markle flew to London, Harry whisked her off to the Natural History Museum for a secret late night visit.

And Harry recently flew to Toronto to be with her over Easter while, last week, the actress - who is also a charity campaigner - was recently seen wearing a gold ring featuring what appeared to be the letter 'H'. 

Harry looked serious as he thought through tactics in a break from the action this afternoon

Hannah Bagshawe and Eddie Redmayne were two of a long stream of A-list celebs in the crowd

Matt Smith adopted his favoured geek-chic look in ankle-grazing trousers and dark shades

Harry, a keen horseman, looked comfortable as he trotted around the pitch with ease 

All in order: The Prince rearranged his riding garments to make sure he was comfortable

The Prince exchanged a cheeky grin with a fellow rider as they prepared to start playing 

It comes as Harry said he is keen to start a family, revealing: 'Of course I would love to have kids.'

The 32-year-old - a doting uncle to his brother's children Prince George and Princess Charlotte - said he was in a 'good place' and finally in a position to take his private life 'seriously'.

Although he sidestepped questions about his love life, Harry is said to be 'besotted' with Ms Markle. 

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, he added: 'I've now been able to take my work seriously, been able to take my private life seriously as well.'

In November last year, after news of their relationship emerged, Harry issued an unprecedented plea for 'racist and sexist' online trolls to leave her alone amif fears the intense scrutiny would drive her away. 

In a statement which confirmed their relationship, the Prince accused mainstream and social media of 'crossing a line'. 

The Prince said it was not right that Miss Markle 'should be subjected to such a storm'.

Until she met the prince, Miss Markle was a keen user of social media, particularly Instagram, on which she often posted pictures from her travels or at home.

In recent months, as her romance with Harry as got more serious, she has deliberately withdrawn from such personal postings and even closed down her lifestyle and wellness website, The Tig. 

Glamour: Kirsty Gallacher cut a demure figure in a fitted white dress, which she paired with metallic heels and a matching clutch bag 

Actress Laura Haddock nailed summery chic in a tangerine gown with a delicate cross-back detail 

Laura (L) looked effortless elegant as she relaxed at the exclusive polo event; while fellow actress Helen George (R) added a touch of sparkle with a printed body con dress 

She and fellow Call The Midwife star Laura Main (R), as well as comedian Vikki Stone (C), looked to be having a fabulous time

Strictly Come Dancing judge Darcey Bussell enjoyed the polo event on Saturday with her husband Angus Forbes

She looked elegant in a cream tailored blazer, while actress Ophelia Lovibond (R) opted for a scarlet button-down dress

Ophelia was pictured with actress Ellie Bamber ahead of a star-studded sit-down dinner at Coworth Park

Actress Cara Theobold (L) sported a chic daisy suit at the event; while The Replacement stars Vicky McClure and Richard Rankin enjoyed a reunion (R)

Prince Harry previously dated Chelsy Davy and model Cressida Bonas, who was unhappy with the constant attention she received in public. 

Meanwhile at Ascot on Saturday, Harry appeared to be in chirpy spirits - and even the horse seemed to be smiling as Harry cavorted around the pitch. 

Although a little cloudy, the weather held out for the charity match, keeping the players in high spirits. 

Coworth Park, a luxury hotel in Berkshire, is the only hotel in the UK where guests can practice polo and recently launcehd a £1,010 'Ultimate Polo Experience’ which gives visitors an introduction to the Royal game. 

The club, based in Windsor Great Park, boasts ten polo pitches, purpose-built clubhouse and a Royal box. The Queen is its patron and it has been referred to as the ‘most prestigious polo club in the world’.

Strictly Come Dancing professional Brendan Cole and his wife Zoe were in high spirits, wearing bright blue ensembles

Zoe with her husband's former Strictly Come Dancing partner Kirsty (L); rugby star Matt Dawson at the event with his wife Carolin Hauskeller (R)

Eddie and wife Hannah posed for photographs with actor Jack O'Connell as they mingled with other guests at the polo event

Malcolm Borwick, Jack, Hannah, Eddie and Alejandra Borwick (L-R) displayed big smiles as they spent time catching up

Tom Hardy (R) joined Jack and actress Vicky McClure, who proved to be on trend as ever in a one-shoulder dress

Actors Douglas Booth (L) and Tom Hardy (C) were at the event, along with ballet dancer Eric Underwood (R) 

Model Sarah Ann Macklin opted for a royal red outfit, perhaps to show her support of the Prince. Macklin and Harry were reportedly dating last year before he made his relationship with Suits actress Meghan Markle official

Rising star Ellie (L) opted for a daring split dress; while reality star Amber Atherton (R) wore a feminine polka dot dress

Sarah Ann Macklin (L) later joined pal Roxie Nafousi (R), who was a vision in white in a figure-hugging number

Actor Adrian Lester and wife Lolita Chakrabarti at the polo event (L);  actress Bel Powley (R) with Hayden Kays 

Terrifying moment horse flips on its HEAD and hurls rider to the turf at Badminton Horse Trials yet amazingly both got back to their feet unhurt

Equestrian enthusiasts watched in horror as a horse flipped on to its head and hurled its rider onto the grass at the famous Badminton Horse Trials in Gloucestershire today. 

Australian rider Paul Tapner was hoping to lead Bonza King of Rouges to triumph in the cross country test at the international event when King stumbled at a jump.

The crowd gasped as the dappled grey horse caught its hoof on the jump, plunged to the ground and slammed his head onto the turf. 

Equestrian enthusiasts gasped when horse Bonza King of Rouges flipped vertical and threw rider Paul Tapner out of the saddle at Badminton Horse Trials today - miraculously both rider and horse were unharmed by the dramatic tumble 

The grey dappled horse hit both his knees on the jump and flipped over the fence

'King and I are perfectly OK after our acrobatics especially thanks to protection kit,' Tapner told his 21,000 Twitter followers

Such a fall is known as a 'rotational' in the equestrian community. 

Tapner was thrown out of the saddle and landed on the ground before assistants quickly rushed to check that he was uninjured. 

The rider, who won Badminton in 2010, brushed off the horrendous fall as 'acrobatics' and announced that both he and King were safe and sound on Twitter just forty minutes after the dramatic tumble. 

'King and I are perfectly OK after our acrobatics especially thanks to protection kit,' he told his 21,000 followers.