Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pay their first joint visit to Scotland.

Couple greet the crowds, meet the mascot and visit social enterprise

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, celebrated Edinburgh and its people during a whirlwind tour of the capital.

The prince and his bride-to-be also met Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and were offered the services of a local band for their forthcoming wedding.

Hundreds of well-wishers had braved cold and wet conditions outside the castle to meet the couple, who were carrying out their fourth joint engagement.

After shaking hands, posing for photographs and sympathising with royal fans for enduring the weather, the couple were introduced to Corporal Cruachan IV, the mascot of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, by Pony Major Mark Wilkinson.

Later inside the castle at the Edinburgh Garrison, the prince and Ms Markle joined Sergeant Dave Beveridge, district gunner, Royal Artillery, for the firing of the One O’Clock Gun.

Harry and Ms Markle’s visit to Edinburgh also took them to the New Town to visit Social Bite, a social enterprise cafe that distributes 100,000 items of food and hot drinks to homeless people across Scotland each year, as well as employing staff who have experienced homelessness.

Prince Harry asked co-founders Josh Littlejohn and Alice Thompson when they were bringing the concept down south.

Later, when speaking to staff in the kitchen, Ms Markle said she wanted to work there because it seemed “fun”.

They were the latest in a string of highprofile visitors to Social Bite premises.

Hollywood star Leonardo Di Caprio stopped for lunch at Social Bite venture Home in Edinburgh’s west end in November 2016 while the Duchess of Cornwall and George Clooney have been to Social Bite’s Rose Street branch.

The couple ended the day at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where they met the First Minister during a reception to celebrate the achievements of young people in Edinburgh.

A band from Impact Arts were among the performers and they made a tonguein-cheek pitch to play at the royal wedding on May 19.

Band member Darren Telford said: “What we said was that a little birdie had told us that Ed Sheeran was going to be playing an upcoming wedding and if he couldn’t make it we are free if they wanted.”

…if he (Ed Sheeran) couldn’t make it, we are free. DARREN TELFORD

Pictures: PA. Clockwise from above: Meghan and Harry greet the Edinburgh crowds; Prince Harry and his fianceé during their Edinburgh walkabout; the couple during their visit to Social Bite; Pony Major Mark Wilkinson introduces the couple to Royal Regiment of...