Prince Harry once shared a candid insight into Meghan Markle’s early days within the royal family, recounting an awkward moment between the Duchess of Sussex and the Princess of Wales during Meghan’s first Trooping the Colour appearance in 2018.
In his memoir Spare, released in January 2023, Harry reflected on the atmosphere during the event, describing it as initially “good” and “upbeat.” The ceremony took place shortly after he and Meghan returned from their honeymoon, but what started as a cheerful family gathering reportedly took an uncomfortable turn.
Meghan’s one-word comment falls flat
Harry recalled that Kate asked Meghan what she thought of her first Trooping the Colour. Meghan, aiming for humor, replied: “Colourful.”
However, the lighthearted response didn’t seem to land as she intended.
Harry wrote: “And a yawning silence threatened to swallow us all whole.”
The exchange reportedly marked one of several early moments of tension between Meghan and other members of the royal family as she adjusted to life inside “The Firm.”
Harry’s support on the balcony
During the royal family’s appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony, Prince Harry was seen quietly reassuring his new wife.
According to a lip reader cited by The Mirror, Meghan admitted she felt “nervous” during the high-profile event, her first major public engagement as a member of the royal family, HELLO! reports.
Harry, ever the supportive husband, was caught on camera asking: “Okay?” to which Meghan responded: “Yeah, are you?”
When she confessed to being nervous, Harry reassured her again: “Yes… okay?”
Though Meghan appeared calm and poised as she waved to crowds gathered along The Mall, the brief exchange revealed just how overwhelming her first experience as a senior royal may have been.
A royal tradition
The couple went on to attend Trooping the Colour again in 2019, before making their final joint appearance at the event in 2022, just months before the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Trooping the Colour, held annually on Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall, marks the monarch’s official birthday and features a spectacular military parade attended by the King and other senior members of the royal family.