It was the moment that warmed the hearts of the entire country in the days after the Queen died, when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined the Prince and Princess of Wales for a stroll around Windsor.
However, Meghan Markle, 42, had her own awkward moment when she struggled with a royal aide over floral bouquets at the event.
A video clip shows the Duchess working with royal aides to collect flower arrangements. Fans notice a seemingly volatile disagreement over what to do with the bouquets.
When she was approached by an assistant who wanted to take over the growing number of floral tributes from her, images show that the royal family initially said she would place them at the gate herself.
A second assistant asked again moments later and the Duchess politely thanked them for their help and finally handed over the flowers.
Meghan Markle, 42, had her own awkward moment when she struggled with a royal aide over floral bouquets during a walk in Windsor after the Queen’s death
The walkabout was thought to mark an apparent thaw between Prince William and Harry and their wives as they made their first public appearance since March 2020.
The walkabout was thought to mark an apparent thaw between Prince William and Harry and their wives as they made their first public appearance since March 2020.
United in grief over the queen’s death, the quartet, once dubbed the ‘fab four’, appeared in black at Windsor Castle to inspect the sea of floral tributes lying outside the gates of the Berkshire estate and talk to those who had gathered to pay their money. respect for the late queen.
While the foursome were greeted with applause as they walked through the gates of Windsor Castle together to honor Her Majesty’s legacy, there was speculation from onlookers that the Duchess of Sussex had been reluctant to hand flowers to an aide who had passed. to her by a benefactor.
The mother-of-two could be seen accepting flowers from royal fans in the crowd, who were eager to have their bouquets added to a large floral tribute outside the gates.
Meghan gestured to a royal aide that she would like to continue gathering the flowers in her arms, before being approached by a second staff member, who appeared to tell her to take them away from her.
It was only when she was approached by another royal aide that she handed over the flowers, breaking her apparent promise to bring flowers to the gate herself.
Royal fans speculated that Meghan was unaware that aides wanted to take the flowers from her for her own safety.
Some pointed out that the bouquets may contain dangerous substances or explosives and that royals should therefore not wear them.
Meghan had wanted to ‘walk with flowers to the huge floral tribute’ at the Windsor Gates, but was asked by aides to hand over the tribute flowers; she is captured here thanking an assistant but telling him she will place the flowers herself
The assistant turns around and Meghan still has the flowers firmly in her hand
After some back and forth, Meghan, 41, eventually did so, politely thanking the aides accompanying the royal couple for their help.
Another clip showed a conversation between Meghan and an assistant, during which the Duchess of Sussex was explained that she should hand over the flowers, which she eventually did.
The Duchess was handed several bouquets of flowers by royal fans waiting in the crowd, but appeared eager to hold them
Meghan gestured to a royal aide that she was happy to continue gathering the flowers in her arms, before being approached by a second staff member, who appeared to tell her to take them away.
Meghan was seen cooing over babies in the crowd and even offered hugs to some waiting mourners — but others in the crowd, stony-faced Meghan greeted this evening as she took part in the walkabout.
The reunion marked the first time the two couples had all appeared in public since Commonwealth Day on March 9, 2020, just weeks before the Covid lockdown.
Harry and Meghan, who sensationally left their frontline duties to strike out on their own in California two years ago and subsequently made a series of bombshell accusations against The Firm, held hands as they watched the tribute , with Harry at one point lovingly reaching out to put his hand on Meghan’s back.
They were seen pointing to and discussing various tributes as members of the crowd waved at them.
A source at Kensington Palace said the Prince of Wales had invited the Sussexes to join him and the Princess of Wales.
The Sussexes’ friend and favorite journalist, Omid Scobie, later claimed on Twitter that the invitation had been made at the ‘eleventh hour’.
The Duchess of Sussex takes a walk to meet the public at Windsor Castle in Berkshire
The ‘fab four’ reunited in Windsor to mourn the death of The Queen; it was the first time the couples had been together in public since March 2020
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex view the tributes left behind after the death of Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle
However, he hinted that William is willing to extend an olive branch to Harry and work on melting the ice between them: “It is without a doubt an important moment in the history of the relationship between the two brothers.”
Meanwhile, the Duchess was seen getting a big hug from a young girl in the crowd at Windsor Castle.
Meghan walked to part of the crowd and approached a teenager, who covered her mouth with her hand in shock. The pair spoke briefly and Meghan was seen reassuring her by placing her hand on her shoulder.
The girl then said, “Can I have a cuddle?” and Meghan nodded, before leaning in and giving her a big hug. The touching moment was filmed by other members of the public.