
Prince Harry continued to charm the crowds and athletes at the Invictus Games in Toronto on Friday, paying particular attention to an adorable baby who caught his eye backstage.

The royal couldn't resist giving the infant's toes a squeeze at the Swimming Finals at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Center, cooing as the little boy smiled for the camera.

He was not the first child to catch the prince's eye throughout the sporting event. On Wednesday, he was besotted by two-year-old Emily Henson as they watched her father play in the Sitting Volleyball event.

Harry has made no secret of his love of children and his desire to have his own. His fatherly tendencies at this Games coincide with his first public appearance with his girlfriend Meghan Markle, raising hopes that a royal engagement is on the horizon.

After greeting the little boy, Harry met with some of the athletes before taking his seat in the stands.

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Prince Harry doted on a little boy behind the scenes at the Invictus Games in Toronto on Friday, squeezing the baby's toes and cooing as bystanders watched

After greeting the baby, Harry spoke with some of the athletes taking part in the Swimming Finals

He spoke sincerely with many of the participants, shaking their hands and congratulating them on their performances

It was the seventh night of the games at which Harry has been present every day. Above, he chats with members of the UK team before the Swimming Finals

Harry documented some of the action on his iPhone on Friday, filming from the stands as others cheered the swimmers on

Earlier in the day on Friday, he caught up with former US President Barack Obama.

The 33-year-old royal has met the 56-year-old politician on several occasions previously and struck up a warm friendship with him and wife Michelle.

Both men were casually dressed at the Pan Am Centre as they took their seats to watch a fast-paced match between the USA and France, all the while chatting enthusiastically, laughing and joking.

Although their arrival was unannounced, the high-profile duo was mobbed by a huge crowd as they walked in and word quickly spread.

Obama enjoyed a hugely successful state visit to the UK in 2011, when he and his family stayed with the Queen.

He applauded as the swimmers raced up and down the pull, keeping a close eye on the action with other spectators

Harry's friend Dave Henson, whose daughter caught his eye earlier in the week, enjoyed a beer in the stands as he watched

Harry poses with Sonya Newman Australia at the Swimming Finals on Friday night

On Wednesday, Harry doted on two-year-old Emily in the stands at the Sitting Volleyball. He is seen feeding her popcorn

And last year he and his wife had dinner with William, Kate and Harry at Kensington Palace, where they met Prince George.

Obama has also thrown his support behind Harry's Invictus Games, a Paralympic-style event for injured servicemen and women, taking place in Toronto this week.

When it was held in Florida last year the two men struck up a hilarious viral rivalry to publicize the competition, Harry playing the trump card by invoking his grandmother, the Queen to appear in a short 'skit' with him.

Harry and Obama were flying solo at the event, as they were both seen without their respective other halves, Michelle and actress Meghan.

Earlier in the day, Harry and former US President Barack Obama attended a wheelchair basketball match on Friday during the Invictus Games

Both men were casually dressed at the Toronto Pan Am Centre as they took their seats

Harry has met with Obama on several occasions, and he has struck up a warm friendship with the former president and his wife, Michelle

The two were joined by former US Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill

Both Obama and Harry appeared to have plenty to say about the game, and were happily chatting as they sat in the front row

Obama, 56, happily chatted with Harry, 33, while they watched the game together

Obama and Harry were having an animated conversation when Biden appeared to throw a glance at the royal

Obama was grinning from ear to ear throughout most of the game

At point, Prince Harry had the former president in stitches over something he said

Clearly very amused by a joke that had been passed between them, neither man could wipe the smile off his face

However, they were joined by former US Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, who sat alongside the pair as they enjoyed the thrilling game from front-row seats.

Financial analyst Jessica Stickle, 24, who also joined the pair on the front row, told DailyMail.com that she had no idea she would be seated alongside such a high-profile group.

She said: 'It was awesome. I had no idea I was going to be sat with them or that Barack Obama was coming.

'I just said to Barack 'thank you so much for what you've done. I love you and my grandma loves Prince Harry.

'Prince Harry said, 'It's nice to meet you and thanks for being here.' They were both chatting to the two ladies next to me. I think they're both nurses in Germany.

'Harry and Barack were laughing a lot with each other and seemed like best buds. They were cheering and Barack was giving the thumbs up so he seemed really happy with the result.'

Among those who met the Prince and Obama were three small children who approached the pair shyly for a photograph.

Otis Harding-Withers, six, was lifted onto Prince Harry's lap after saying hello, while Jakob Israel, eight, and his seven-year-old sister Grace posed in front of Obama.

Jakob and Grace are the children of Jason Israel, who has served three tours in Afghanistan with the Canadian forces and and competed in the track events after suffering an operational stress injury.

Former US Vice President Joe Biden waves to the crowds with his wife Jill on Friday

All four mingled in the afternoon after taking in the action

It was a fast-paced match between the USA and France

Obama and Harry both donned similar outfits for the game, dressing casually in button-up shirts and trousers

Harry happily threw his hands up in the air while Obama had his eyes on the action on the court

Harry looked like he was a bit stressed during a nerve-wracking point in the game

While Obama stared at the court, Prince Harry shielded his eyes with his hands

Obama seemed to be amused by the two women who were sitting next to Prince Harry

Biden, who sat with his arm around wife Jill, appeared to be on the edge of his seat during the excitement of the game

Jakob's emotional mother, Amanda Israel, said she had used the moment to thank Prince Harry for setting up the Games.

'I told him: thank you for giving me my husband back,' she said, sobbing with emotion as she spoke.

'It was the first time we could share and say thank you to him. The fact Barack Obama was with him as well, incredible.

'Grace has been talking about him all week.'

Heather Harding, mother of Otis, said her son has simply walked over towards the Prince just as he and Mr Obama settled into their front row bleacher seats.

'Harry asked me if it was OK and put him on his lap,' she said.

'He was as lovely as I thought he would be.'

At the start of the Invictus Games, Harry was joined by President Trump's wife Melania; however, Donald has not made an appearance at the games.

Chuckle: Harry was seen covering his mouth as he chuckled at something that Barack said to him

Both men appeared very animated during their conversation, using their hands to demonstrate a particularly important - or entertaining - point

Let's go! Both men took a break from chatting with one another to cheer on the teams, clapping and yelling in support

At one point, Harry leaned behind Obama in order to say a few words to Mrs. Biden, who cracked up as the prince spoke

Obama took the chance to pay attention to the game, as Harry and Jill spoke behind him

Prince Harry became the first member of the Royal Family to meet a Trump since last year's presidential election after he met First Lady Melania in Toronto ahead of the Invictus Games' opening ceremony on Saturday.

Melania and Harry spent less than 30 minutes together before the royal left for another engagement - the Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge.

Despite its brevity, the meeting appeared cordial with the pair warmly shaking hands before settling down to talk in a room at the Sheraton Hotel.

The prince dressed in a dark blue suit while the 47-year-old first lady wore a tailored black-and-white dog tooth Dior suit and black heels.

Harry initially appeared awkward when he was introduced to the Slovenian former model, smiling brightly for the cameras before letting it drop as he turned away.

The pair then engaged in small talk with Melania thanking the prince for coming before he asked her if she had been in Canada long.

Later, Harry gushed over the Canadian city during a brief meeting with outgoing Governor General David Johnston.

Obama turned away from Harry for a minute to chat with his former vice president

At one point, the two looked like they were involved in an enthusiastic debate, with Harry making a rather odd gesture with his hands as Obama gestured up - perhaps at the big screen in the center of the court

Obama and Harry were all smiles as they took pictures with people at the game

Obama and Harry stopped to chat with a fan they took pictures with after leaving their seats

The two were both grinning from ear to ear as they chatted with the woman at the event

Obama and Harry kept the conversation going even after they left their seats

Obama, Harry, Biden and his wife also posed for photos with members of the US team

Obama and Harry each threw one of their arms around a member of the team

Toronto has won a special place in the prince's heart since he began dating Suits actress Meghan Markle who keeps a home there.

Harry, who has spent quiet weekends there with his girlfriend and her dogs, told Governor General Johnston it had become a 'home away from home' for him.

'It's always fantastic to be here,' he said. Asked by the Governor General about the Invictus Games Harry said: 'They have just grown and grown. I'd like them to go on for fifty years if I could.'

Mr Johnston is standing down at the end of the month after seven years in the job to be replaced by businesswoman and former astronaut Julie Payette, who last week met the Queen at Balmoral.

During their formal meeting earlier in the day, Harry and the first lady then settled down to discuss the Invictus Games' success. Subsequently Melania moved on to meet some of the veterans taking part for Team USA in the games while Harry moved on to a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Melania led the US delegation at the international sporting event in her first solo foreign trip, as well as her first meeting with Harry.

It's not the Trumps' first encounter with royalty, however. In November 2005, the President and First Lady - then just a newlywed couple - met Harry's father, Prince Charles, during a reception at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Prince Harry had his first meeting with US First Lady Melania Trump in Toronto ahead of the Invictus Games' opening ceremony on Saturday (Pictured, smiling for photographers)

The prince dressed in a dark blue suit while the 47-year-old wife of US President Trump wore a tailored black-and-white dog tooth Dior suit and black heels

Melania and Trudeau later joined Prince Harry and the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in the VIP box inside the stadium

Prince Harry's girlfriend, Suits actress Meghan Markle, sat in the stadium 18 seats away from him and Melania

Her decision to lead the American delegation, whose members include Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, professional golfer Nancy Lopez and entertainer Wayne Newton, reflects the first lady's 'utmost respect' for the hard work, courage and sacrifice of the US military, said Stephanie Grisham, a spokeswoman for Melania.

'She feels strongly that they - and their families - should be honored every day,' Grisham said.

Grisham said Melania, who became a US citizen in 2006, also has 'great admiration for the role the games have played in empowering those who have been injured while serving.'

Later in the afternoon, Mrs Trump returned to the Sheraton to take part in a reception with Team USA athletes where she made a brief speech that lasted less than two minutes.

In the address, she said: ‘Invictus means unconquered and pays tribute to your fighting spirit. You have given so much for your country. You truly are our heroes. On behalf of my husband and our entire country, I want to thank you and your families for all you have sacrificed to keep us safe.

'I also want to wish you good luck but I know you won’t need it in these games. Take that fighting spirit that I know you have and bring home the gold.

‘God bless you. God bless your families and God bless the United States of America.’

Following her remarks, FLOTUS shook hands with several athletes, including a seven or eight who approached her and asked for individual photos with their cellphones.