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Don't touch my heir! Playful Harry and Meghan enjoy a spot of child's play in Dublin's Croke Park as youngsters grab her locks and his beard

Daily Mail 11/07/2018 Stephanie Linning

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex watch traditional Gaelic sports being played at Croke Park on the second day of their visit to Dublin, Ireland. © Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire/PA Images The Duke and Duchess of Sussex watch traditional Gaelic sports being played at Croke Park on the second day of their visit to Dublin, Ireland. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex couldn't keep the smiles from their faces as they spent time meeting children in Dublin.

a group of people standing in the grass: Look at me! Three-year-old Walter Kieran didn't want to miss his chance to meet Meghan © Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited Look at me! Three-year-old Walter Kieran didn't want to miss his chance to meet Meghan The newlyweds looked perfectly at ease joking and teasing the young sports fans during a visit to Croke Part on their whistle-stop tour of the Irish capital on Wednesday.

a group of people standing in the grass: Gotcha! The duchess spun around and playfully grabbed hold of the little boy's hand © Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited Gotcha! The duchess spun around and playfully grabbed hold of the little boy's hand Three-year-old Walter Cullen was snapped reaching for Meghan's hair while another young supporter tugged on Harry's beard - much to the prince's delight.

a group of people that are talking to each other: Playful: Meghan and Walter enjoyed a fun-filled moment as Harry looked on smiling © Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited Playful: Meghan and Walter enjoyed a fun-filled moment as Harry looked on smiling The Duke of Sussex, 33, who enjoys a close relationship with his niece and nephews, didn't miss a beat and smiled happily back at the cheeky youngster.

a group of people that are talking to each other: Has someone been naughty? Adorable Walter cheekily covered his mouth with his hand © Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited Has someone been naughty? Adorable Walter cheekily covered his mouth with his hand Harry followed in his footsteps of his grandmother the Queen by making the symbolic visit to Croke Park.

a group of people sitting in the grass: Engaged: Harry looked in his element as he knelt down to speak to the young boy © Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited Engaged: Harry looked in his element as he knelt down to speak to the young boy The stadium is steeped in history and witnessed one of the most infamous incidents of Ireland's War of Independence when British soldiers opened fire on a crowd of spectators in 1920, killing 14 people.

Prince Harry et al. standing in front of a crowd: Playtime! The Duke of Sussex, 33, who enjoys a close relationship with his niece and nephews, didn't miss a beat and smiled happily back at the cheeky youngster as he tugged on his beard © Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited Playtime! The Duke of Sussex, 33, who enjoys a close relationship with his niece and nephews, didn't miss a beat and smiled happily back at the cheeky youngster as he tugged on his beard Today the Duke and Duchess watched dozens of children playing Gaelic football and hurling.

Come here! Harry pretended to grimace as the curious young boy felt his facial hair © Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited Come here! Harry pretended to grimace as the curious young boy felt his facial hair They walked hand-in-hand around the sprawling pitch as Gaelic Athletic Association representatives talked the couple through the rules of Gaelic games.

a group of people standing on top of a grass covered field: Prince charming: Harry shook hands with a girl taking part in a Gaelic games demonstration © Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited Prince charming: Harry shook hands with a girl taking part in a Gaelic games demonstration

a group of people in a field: Special gift: Prince Harry was presented with a hurley by Nathan Charney Kiely © Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited Special gift: Prince Harry was presented with a hurley by Nathan Charney Kiely They spoke to young children about their involvement in sport and what it meant to them playing at Croke Park.

Earlier, Harry's mind was on another sport when he gave England a boost ahead of their crucial World Cup match, declaring football was coming home as he met Ireland's president.

The duke was asked by a reporter if 'football was coming home' - the chant from the hugely popular Three Lions anthem.

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle standing in the grass: Dream team: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex applauded the youngsters playying sport © Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited Dream team: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex applauded the youngsters playying sport As Harry and Meghan posed for a picture with President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina, the duke replied laughing 'most definitely'.

The duke and duchess met the president and his wife at the head of state's official residence Aras an Uachtarain, the former British Viceregal lodge in Dublin's Phoenix Park.

Related: Top fashion moments of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

Top fashion moments of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

They rang a Peace Bell installed in the garden of the grand 18th century house in 2008 to mark the 10th anniversary of Northern Ireland's Good Friday peace agreement and toured the grounds with the presidential couple and their two Bernese mountain dogs, Brod and Sioda.

a group of people posing for the camera: Learning the rules: Meghan listened intently as two bright youngsters shared their knowledge © Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited Learning the rules: Meghan listened intently as two bright youngsters shared their knowledge Meghan, who along with Harry signed the visitors' book at the Aras, wore a Roland Mouret dress for the presidential visit. She later changed into a black trouser suit.

Prince Harry et al. standing in the grass: Talking tactics? Prince Harry seemed to be offering the young players advice on the pitch © Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited Talking tactics? Prince Harry seemed to be offering the young players advice on the pitch Elizabeth Ring, a 19-year-old law student, said of her conversation with the couple: 'Meghan said Dublin was her favourite city. Harry said he'd come back with his jacket over his head, incognito.'

Emma Boden, 10, gave the couple a handmade card. 'Meghan said thank you very much and she told me that she loved a hand written card,' she said.

'Then she shook my hand. She smells really, really nice and now my hand smells really nice as well. I don't think I'll wash them for a long time.'

a group of people that are standing in the grass: Cracking a joke: One woman had the royal visitors laughing with her winning sense of humour © Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited Cracking a joke: One woman had the royal visitors laughing with her winning sense of humour David Balfany, on holiday in Dublin from the United States, said he had invited Meghan to a student reunion at Northwestern University where they were both students. 'She told me she didn't think she would be able to make it,' he said.

Pauline Beatty was delighted to have got a hug and kiss from Harry.

a group of people standing in front of a crowd: Meghan mania! The young supporters looked excited to meet the duchess and her husband © Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited Meghan mania! The young supporters looked excited to meet the duchess and her husband 'When I asked him for the hug he said: 'I can't hug you because then I'll have to hug everybody else.' So I just grabbed him. He was scarlet.'

a group of people standing in the grass: Your turn! Meghan was given her own hurley so that she could try her hand at the sport © Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited Your turn! Meghan was given her own hurley so that she could try her hand at the sport Two girls wearing 'When Harry Met Meghan' T-shirts were very excited to meet the couple.

a group of people in a field: Me? Meghan looked slightly confused as she received the gift during the visit to Croke Park © Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited Me? Meghan looked slightly confused as she received the gift during the visit to Croke Park 'Harry asked me where we got the T-shirts and I told him Asda,' said Stephanie Jordan from Belfast. 'He asked if they were really selling them there?'

The couple later stopped for a private lunch before continuing on the packed final day of their pre-Brexit charm offensive in Ireland, which comes less than a month after Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall visited the country.

Croke Park Stadium

Croke Park is one of Europe's largest stadiums, with a capacity of 82,300.

1864-1913: The history of the stadium dates back to 1864 when the grounds were owned privately before being bought by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) in 1913

1918: The GAA was declared a dangerous organisation by the British Government and gaelic games were banned before 54,000 members defied the ban, playing games at 3pm across Ireland. This day became known as 'Gaelic Sunday'

1920: On November 21, 13 spectators and Tipperary footballer Michael Hogan, died in Croke Park when British Troops entered and opened fire during a challenge match between Tipperary and Dublin. Over 10,000 people attended the match which become known as 'Bloody Sunday'

1963: Princess Grace and Prince Rainier of Monaco attended the All-Ireland Hurling Final

1972: Muhammad Ali fought Al 'Blue' Lewis in Croke Park

1985: U2 play their first concert in Croke Park

2003: Nelson Mandela, U2, The Corrs and Muhammed Ali attend the opening ceremony of the Special Olympic Games in Croke Park

2011: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the arena, as part of their historic state visit to Ireland

2012: Xi Jingping, the Vice-President of the People's Republic of China, paid a visit to Croke Park on the second day of his official visit to Ireland

Related: In-depth: Prince Harry (provided by Cover Video)