When Harry met Willie

He might have just been expecting to exchange a few old war stories, but Willie Apiata was never going to let Prince Harry get off that lightly.

The Victoria Cross winner seized the opportunity to hongi royalty when the pair caught up at the Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada yesterday.

The New Zealand Defence Force tweeted a photo of the greeting and it quickly gained more than 80 retweets.

It’s not the first time Prince Harry has experienced a hongi. Two years ago, 24-year-old Ohinemataroa Iti-Kereopa gave him one as he was welcomed to Wellington during the official powhiri at Government House. The Invictus Games, first started in 2014, were created by Harry as an international multi-sport event for wounded, injured or sick armed services personnel and veterans. The Defence Force is on its way to their most successful Invictus Games yet, with a medal tally of 10, including several golds.