Cheeky schoolboy, 16, who hugged Meghan tells Prince Harry, ‘Sorry I cuddled your wife’

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THE lad who hugged Meghan when she visited his school has written to Harry, saying: “Sorry I cuddled your wife.”

Aker Okoye, 16, penned the apology after leaping on stage on Friday.

Student Aker Okoye, 16, has written an apology letter to Harry after he hugged Meghan on stage on Friday

The teenager says Friday was ‘the best day of my life so far’

But the cheeky teenager, of Dagenham, East London, said: “It was the best day of my life so far.”

He hopes Harry will take it in the same spirit as his wife, who he claims “didn’t mind”.

The Duchess had asked for a “brave young man” to come up on stage on Friday and talk about International Women’s Day.

Head boy Aker bounded up and appeared to lean in for kiss with Meghan to roars of laughter from his fellow pupils.

He waited for their reaction to die down then stunned everyone by saying into the microphone: “She really is beautiful, innit?”

The hall erupted — and the pair had a hug on stage at Robert Clack School in Dagenham, East London.

‘BEST DAY OF MY LIFE’

Aker said yesterday it was “the best day of my life so far” — but decided to write to Harry to apologise, and wish the outgoing royals luck.

His handwritten note reads: “Dear Harry and Meghan. Harry, hope you don’t mind me writing this letter.

“I hope you didn’t mind me cuddling your wife. I was just overwhelmed and shocked to see her arrive at my school.

“It was a pleasure to hear her speech and to speak in front of her as well. She is truly inspirational.”

He said Harry recently visited his home town of Dagenham — but the teenager missed him.

Aker wrote: “I nearly met you (Harry) last year when you came to East London to open the Future Youth Zone but I was away with the school. I hope to meet you one day.

“Good luck for the future. With kind regards, Aker.”

Aker has told Harry, ‘I hope you didn’t mind me cuddling your wife’

He ends the letter by telling wishing Harry and Meghan ‘good luck’

He will be posting the letter to Buckingham Palace, where the couple have an office until April 1 before they quit royal duties.

Footage appeared to show Aker leaning in for a kiss though it was unclear whether he succeeded.

Aker admitted last night the whole episode was a “blur”. He told HOAR: “I’ve written the letter to make sure Harry doesn’t have a problem with it and to say sorry really and that I hope he didn’t mind.

“Meghan didn’t – she found it funny and I’m sure Harry will as well. When she asked which brave young man wanted to do a talk I jumped at the chance.

“I leapt up there. I thought it would be proper protocol to give her a cuddle. It’s all a blur. The whole crowd erupted.”

Despite his bravado, Aker admitted he was “starstruck” being in Meghan’s presence.

He went on: “I was overwhelmed to get the chance to speak in front of someone so famous and important. I just wanted to grab the opportunity.

‘BEST DAY OF MY LIFE’

“I thought she was amazing and so special. Her talk was very inspirational. I was in awe of her. She is beautiful and elegant.

“I was starstruck. When I saw her I thought I was doing the right thing by cuddling her. She found it funny which was great. Everyone at school was so thrilled that she was there.”

He added of his showstopping microphone moment: “I called her beautiful because it was an initial reaction. It was just what I thought. I have no idea why I said ‘innit’ – it just came out.

“It was great. It was the best day of my life so far. I’ll never forget it.

“I’ve had so many messages from mates. They’re really pleased for me. To speak after someone like her was just a really great experience.”

But he added: “Thankfully, I’m single. If I had a girlfriend I’ve no idea what she would have made of it all.”

Meghan had asked for a ‘brave young man’ to come up on stage on Friday and talk about International Women’s Day

Aker told HOAR: ‘If I had a girlfriend I’ve no idea what she would have made of it all’

During her surprise visit – her final solo engagement as a royal – Meghan urged her young audience to “speak up for what is right”.

She told the pupils to fight for what they believe in — an echo of her battle to quit the Royal Family.

Meghan, 38, said: “No matter how small you might feel, no matter what colour you are, no matter what gender you are, you have a voice and you certainly have the right to speak up for what is right.”

She got a standing ovation — as she did again on Saturday night when she attended a charity music festival with Harry, 35, at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

The couple are on their final round of engagements before quitting royal life with ten-month-old Archie.

Year 11 pupil Aker is hopeful he will get a reply from the outgoing royals — and wishes them happiness “whatever they do next”.

‘MY DAD WAS SHOCKED’

He added: “It’d be buzzing if I got a reply. It’d be amazing. I really hope they enjoy their life. Whatever they do next I really hope they enjoy themselves and have a good time.

“I just want them to be happy and enjoy life. She’s such a lovely and down-to-earth person.”

Aker, who is studying GCSEs, said his two brothers aged 12 and 14 “were stunned”.

He added: “They’re fans of Harry and Meghan and just couldn’t believe it. Meghan is one of the most famous people in the world. When you say it like that it makes you realise how big it is.

“I didn’t tell my dad so when the news came out he was really shocked. He’s really pleased as well.

“He thought I was a bit cheeky going for a kiss but I keep saying it was to be polite.”

Tube driver dad Erick, 42, said he was proud of his son — even though he failed to tell him about his stage appearance.

He said: “He told us Meghan visited the school but forgot to tell us he’d gone up on the stage while she was there and had hugged her.

“He’s really excited by it all. It sounds like Meghan took it well which is great. I think this will stay with him for the rest of his life.”

Aker said into the microphone, ‘she really is beautiful, innit?’

Despite his bravado, Aker admitted he was ‘starstruck’ being in Meghan’s presence

Aker says he’s had ‘loads’ of messages from his mates who are all pleased for him

Aker is expecting a reply to his letter