The moment Meghan met her 'cousin' for the first time

The Duchess of Sussex has been introduced to a distant (and high-profile) cousin while attending the first regular season Major League Baseball (MLB) game played in London.

Meghan, 37, warmly embraced Mookie Betts, outfielder for the Red Sox, when she and Harry made a surprise appearance at the game on Saturday.

The Duchess and Betts shared a sweet embrace before the royal couple were introduced to the rest of the team.

Betts, 26, is a star baseball player and only recently became aware of his distant royal link.

"Yes I read about it, I was informed, I was informed last year when I found out we were coming," he said after the pair's encounter.

"So I figured, 'I hope I get to meet her', and I did, and I gave her a hug, and I think she invited me over for dinner."

In 2018 Betts became the first player in Major League history to win several awards in one season, including Most Valuable Player, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove, batting title and the World Series.

He was drafted by the Red Sox in 2011 and made his MLB debut in the 2014 season.

He is engaged to longtime girlfriend Brianna Hammonds and the couple welcomed their first child, daughter Kynlee Ivory on November 6, 2018.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made the surprise appearance on Saturday, stepping away from baby Archie for the event at London Stadium.

The royals were escorted onto the field before the game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees took place.

The game was held in support of the Invictus Games Foundation, with the first pitch being thrown by some Invictus competitors.

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