Meghan Markle Made an Unexpected “Suits ”Joke with Invictus Games Athletes (Exclusive)

Meghan Markle may have played Rachel Zane on Suits, but the character's style didn't cross into the Duchess of Sussex's personal closet.

While in Canada for the 2025 Invictus Games, Prince Harry and Meghan surprised Team U.S.A. at their team breakfast on Feb. 8. Meghan even shared photos of the gathering on her newly launched Instagram page, her Instagram Story debut.

Leandra Moehring was part of the group that met the couple, telling PEOPLE that some of the female athletes couldn't help but gush over Suits, the show that Meghan starred on from 2011 to 2017.

"We told her we saw her on Suits," Moehring says. "And she's like, 'I'm sorry I'm not wearing a pencil skirt,' " referring to her character's go-to legal office uniform.

Related: Meghan Markle Shares Candid Family Story in Unplanned Speech About Prince Harry at Invictus Games Reception

Moehring — who is set to compete in skiing, indoor rowing, skeleton and swimming at the Invictus Games — shares that Meghan, 43, and Prince Harry, 40, were generous with their time.

"They really took the time with each and every one of us. And despite people who are trying to keep them on schedule, they just did not mind taking pictures at all. And it was just super neat," she tells PEOPLE exclusively. "I loved them."

Related: Meghan Markle Rewears a Coat with a Special Meaning — 6 Years Later! — for Hockey Game with Prince Harry

Bryce Ewing adds that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were "so down to earth."

"When Meghan looks at you, she really looks at you, and you feel it in your soul," Ewing — who is set to compete in snowboarding, swimming, rowing and seated volleyball — shares. "She's really caring. She's very intuitive. She's so down to earth, and she looks like she really cares."

Ewing adds that while "people were pulling them away," Meghan and Harry were "still trying to sit and talk."

"They would just notice little things about us," she says. "I think one of our friends had a picture of her mom and dad in the back of her phone case, and she was walking away, and [Meghan] was like, 'Oh, I really like that picture.' They just noticed everything, and they were just so happy to be there."

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Christopher Bryde — an athlete taking on the biathlon, wheelchair rugby, swimming and rowing — tells PEOPLE he had a nice meeting with Prince Harry.

The Duke of Sussex "came up, gave me a hug, got a cheeky selfie. We had a short conversation," Bryde says. "We were both in Afghanistan in 2008, so we had that connection there. And he was a really kind guy. It's like you met someone down at the pub."

Michael Murphy, who also met Prince Harry at the Invictus Games in The Hague that took place in 2022, agrees: "They're not quick to be like, 'Hey, I got to go.' They literally sat with every single one. I'm very blessed to have my finacé with me, and they took selfies with us. They took group photos. They're asking us our stories. It's real people, and it gives you a whole different perspective on the Hollywood scene, the royalty scene. It's just something that I never thought I'd experience in my life."

Murphy — who will represent the United States in snowboarding, skeleton, indoor rowing and swimming at this Invictus Games — adds that the event is "way bigger than competition."

"It's family, it's camaraderie and it's truly just inspiration," he says. "It's life-changing, not just my story, but anyone you meet. There's extreme impact from story to story — people may think that they're small in their own little world, but you come here, and you're not alone."

The Invictus Games, which run from Feb. 8 to Feb. 16 in Vancouver and Whistler, brings together wounded, injured, and sick service members from around the world, fostering camaraderie and resilience through sports.

Following cycles in London (2014), Orlando (2016), Toronto (2017) and Sydney (2018), the Hague (when the COVID-19 pandemic pushed the event back to 2022) and Düsseldorf (2023), this year's competition marks the first time the Invictus Games have returned to a previous host country.

Dominic Reid, the outgoing CEO of the Invictus Games Foundation, recently praised Prince Harry's dedication to the event, telling PEOPLE that he has "created extraordinary opportunities" for veterans and service members, making them feel "seen, heard, and cared for."

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