Prince Harry's 'awkward moment' with Meghan at Trooping the Colour explained

Prince Harry's 'awkward moment' with Meghan at Trooping the Colour explained The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's last Trooping the Colour in 2019 saw the couple share what appeared to be an awkward exchange on the Buckingham Palace balcony The annual Trooping the Colour is due to get underway on Saturday, with members of the Royal Family and royal enthusiasts descending on the Mall to mark King Charles' birthday. Following the Horse Guards Parade and during the RAF flypast, the senior members of the Firm will gather on the Buckingham Palace balcony, which has famously served as the backdrop for numerous iconic moments. From Prince William being reprimanded by the late Queen, to Prince Louis upstaging everyone with his mischievous behaviour, the balcony appearance is frequently the most eagerly awaited part of the day for fans to catch a glimpse of their favourite royals. One particular instance dates back to the 2019 Trooping the Colour, which marked the last occasion Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended the annual ceremony. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were accompanied on the balcony by numerous royals, including the late Queen Elizabeth, the then Prince Charles and Camilla, along with William, Kate and their three children amongst others. As all the royals waved at devoted supporters lining the Mall and took in the RAF flypast, sharp-eyed observers believed they caught an uncomfortable moment between Harry and Meghan, creating a somewhat strained atmosphere on the balcony. Footage circulated of the incident on X showed Harry glancing inside the room adjacent to the balcony before uttering a few words to someone beyond the camera's view. Meghan turns her head slightly and mouths something, then faces her husband. The couple exchange a few words and Meghan faces forward. She then turns back once more towards Harry - and it's at this moment it appears he tells her to "turn around" - which she promptly does. Harry maintains his serious expression while Meghan awkwardly attempts to compose herself before the camera, which prompted fans to wonder if they may have exchanged heated words. Yet when the video is played with full audio, the context becomes apparent and reveals there was more happening during the uncomfortable moment than initially thought. With the sound enabled, the footage demonstrates the moment took place just a second or so before the National Anthem begins playing, suggesting there's a strong possibility that Harry was simply alerting Meghan that the music was about to commence so she wouldn't be caught facing the wrong direction. Rather than standing uncomfortably after a presumed tense conversation, they are in fact simply listening to the opening part of God Save the Queen. While the majority of senior working royals are anticipated to feature on the Palace balcony on Saturday for King Charles' birthday celebrations, it's hardly surprising that Harry and Meghan will not be in attendance. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended just two Trooping the Colour ceremonies before stepping back from royal duties in 2020, appearing in 2018 and 2019. At the time of the 2018 procession, Meghan and Harry had recently married at their stunning Windsor Castle wedding ceremony. When they emerged for the Trooping in 2019, their firstborn Archie had arrived only the month prior. The yearly tradition of Trooping the Colour has served as the official birthday celebration of the reigning monarch for over 260 years. The ceremony features hundreds of horses and servicemen executing intricate battlefield drill movements to military music. More than 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians unite for the spectacular showcase. Throughout the parade, members of the Royal Family travel from Buckingham Palace along The Mall to Horse Guards Parade in a grand procession - either mounted on horseback or riding in carriages. At Horse Guards, they observe the military spectacle before rejoining the procession returning to Buckingham Palace when it concludes. Following the parade, the royals assemble on the Palace balcony for a march-past and the RAF fly-past, featuring the Red Arrows, which brings the day's festivities to a close.