It was a flower puzzle.
Meghan Markle was caught in an awkward moment with a bouquet of flowers as she mourned the loss of Queen Elizabeth II along with her husband, Prince Harry, as well as Prince William and Kate Middleton.
In a video captured by a mourner outside Windsor Castle on Saturday, Markle was seen carrying the bouquet when a royal aide approached her to ask if he could take the flowers from her. Markle seemed to decline the offer and told the assistant she would put them down herself before turning to the crowd with the bundle still in her arms.
But moments later, another assistant came over to grab some flowers Harry had been given by an audience member and then reached for Markle’s bouquet too. The “Suits” alum initially seemed to resist, but after the assistant appeared to explain the situation, Markle did and handed over the flower arrangement.
“The big guns had to intervene when Meghan refused to let go of the flowers that the first assistant was trying to take from her, because she wanted to pay tribute to the other herself,” a fan account tweeted.
Several Twitter users suspected that Markle wanted to hold the flowers and place them by the fence for photo purposes.
“She wanted it for the optics, but it was crushed by people who know exactly what she’s trying to achieve,” tweeted one viewer, adding: “I think she’ll get the money if she puts the flowers down with the other floral tribute. ”
“She probably wanted to be captured and filmed walking alone, putting flowers there and taking action. In fact, if you think about it, she really is a narcissist, she always tries to make everything about her at every opportunity! Glad she stopped!” a second agreed.
“She is absolutely classless, it’s that simple,” added a third.
However, other Twitter users gave Markle the benefit of the doubt, saying she was just trying to mourn the Queen in peace.
“I can’t believe the Meghan bashing has already started, it’s her first time experiencing this and she did her best, she probably promised to put the flowers down herself and that’s what she was going to do until Harry said it was good to pass them on. over,” tweeted one person in Markle’s defense.
“She probably didn’t understand that the flowers are being removed for safety reasons. After all, there could be a small explosive in it, nerve gas, a poisonous insect, some things, that are hidden in it,” explained a second fan of the royal protocol.
“Oh my God…STOP IT!!!! Leave this poor woman alone. Take a deep breath…..this will play out the way it will play out. Be glad the whole world doesn’t count with every move YOU make. Enough already,” wrote another.
Markle, 41, and Harry, 37, joined William and Middleton, both 40, to lay flowers outside Windsor Castle to pay tribute to the late monarch.
The outing marked the first time the Duke and Duchess of Sussex appeared in public with the newly crowned Prince and Princess of Wales since Commonwealth Day in March 2020.
A royal source told Vidak For Congress that William extended the invitation to his estranged brother and sister-in-law, adding: “We are all very grateful — both sides put all things aside for the Queen.”
Harry rushed to be with the Queen last Thursday morning when Buckingham Palace announced her health was rapidly declining, but he arrived after his grandmother’s death – and without his wife, who reportedly feared she would not be welcomed warmly.
Harry released a sentimental statement Monday about the loss of the monarch.
“Grandma, although this last goodbye brings us great sadness, I am forever grateful for all our first encounters – from my earliest childhood memories with you, to the first time I met you as my commander in chief, to the first moment you have my dear woman and hug your beloved great-grandchildren,” he said.
Harry added: “I cherish these moments I’ve shared with you, and the many other special moments in between. You are already sorely missed.”
Markle hasn’t released a statement yet, though the couple mourned together over the loss of the Queen by having their Archewell organization’s website disappear.