Meghan’s most awkward moment? How Duchess struggled with royal aides over flowers as they tried to help her  while greeting well-wishers at Windsor after the Queen’s death

It was the moment which warmed hearts across the nation in the days after the Queen died, as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined the Prince and Princess of Wales for a walkabout in Windsor. 

However Meghan Markle, 42, suffered her own awkward moment as she struggled with a royal aide over floral bouquets during the event.

A video clip shows the Duchess working with royal aides to collect floral tributes – with fans spotting an apparently fleeting disagreement over what should happen to the bouquets. 

When approached by an aide who wanted to take the growing number of floral tributes from her, footage shows the royal initially said she would place them at the gates herself.

A second aide then asked again moments later and the Duchess politely thanked them for their help and eventually handed over the blooms. 

The walkabout was thought to have marked an apparent thawing between Prince William and Harry and their wives as they made their first public appearance since March 2020

The walkabout was thought to have marked an apparent thawing 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 laid outside the gates of the Berkshire estate and chat to those who’d gathered to pay their respects to the late Queen.

While the foursome were greeted by applause as they walked through the gates of Windsor Castle together to honour the legacy of Her Majesty, there was some speculation from bystanders that the Duchess of Sussex had been reluctant to hand over flowers to an aide that had been passed to her by a well-wisher.

The mother-of-two could be seen taking flowers from royal fans in the crowd, who appeared keen for their bouquets to be added to a large floral tribute in front of the gates. 

Meghan gestured to a royal aide that she was happy to continue collecting the flowers in her arms, before being approached by a second member of staff, who appeared to tell her they had to take them from her. 

It was only when she was approached by another royal aide that she did hand the flowers across, her apparent promise to take flowers to the gates herself broken. 

Royal fans speculated that Meghan did not know aides wanted to take the flowers from her for her own safety. 

Some pointed out that the bouquets could contain dangerous substances or explosives, which is why royals should not carry them. 

Meghan had ‘wanted to walk flowers over to the huge floral tribute’ at Windsor gates – but was asked by aides to hand over the tribute blooms; she’s captured here thanking an aide but telling him she’ll place the flowers herself

The aide turns on his heels, and Meghan has the flowers firmly still in hand

After a little to-ing and fro-ing, Meghan, 41, eventually did, politely thanking the aides accompanying the royal couple for their help

Another clip showed a conversation between Meghan and an aide ensued, where it was explained to the Duchess of Sussex she needed to hand the flowers over, which she eventually did 

The Duchess was handed multiple bouquets of flowers by royal fans waiting in the crowd, but appeared to be keen to hold onto them 

Meghan gestured to a royal aide that she was happy to continue collecting the flowers in her arms, before being approached by a second member of staff, who appeared to tell her they had to take them 

Meghan was seen cooing over babies in the crowd and even offered hugs out to some of the mourners waiting – but others in the crowd greeted Meghan with stony faces this evening as she took part in the walkabout.

The reunion marked the first time that the two couples have all appeared in public since Commonwealth Day on March 9, 2020, just weeks before the Covid lockdown.

Harry and Meghan, who sensationally quit frontline duties two years ago to strike out on their own in California and then levied a series of bombshell allegations against The Firm, held hands as they looked at the tributes, with Harry at one point affectionately putting his hand on Meghan’s back.

They were seen pointing at different tributes and discussing them as members of the crowd waved at them.

A Kensington Palace source said that the Prince of Wales invited the Sussexes to join him and the Princess of Wales. 

The Sussexes’ friend and preferred journalist Omid Scobie later claimed on Twitter that the invitation was made at the ’11th hour’. 

The Duchess of Sussex on a walkabout to meet members of the public at Windsor Castle in Berkshire

The ‘fab four’ reunited at Windsor to mourn the death of The Queen; it was the first time the couples have been together in public since March 2020

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex view the tributes left after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, at Windsor Castle 

However, hinting that William is prepared to extend Harry an olive branch and work towards melting the ice between them, he declared: ‘It is, without a doubt, a significant moment in the history of the relationship between the two brothers’.

Meanwhile the Duchess was seen being given a close hug by a young girl in the crowd at Windsor Castle.

Meghan walked over to a section of the crowd and approached a teenager, who was seen putting her hand over her mouth in shock. The pair spoke briefly for a few moments and Meghan could be seen assuring her by putting her hand on her shoulder.

The girl then said: ‘Can I have a hug?’ and Meghan was seen nodding, before leaning in and giving her a big hug. The touching moment was filmed by other members in the crowd.