Meghan Markle’s awkward moment with royal aide has left fans divided

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An encounter caught on camera between Meghan Markle and a royal aide has sparked a debate on social media with some accusing her of seeming "passive-aggressive" in the apparently innocent moment. 

"She was rude to the aide when he went to take her flowers and she wanted to hold onto them for a PR stunt later. In mid-sentence she saw the camera and put on her phoney thank you, I appreciate it act," one user wrote after the clip of the aide trying to take the flowers from Meghan while she was visiting mourners was shared on Twitter.

"She was unnecessarily rude. His job was to relieve them of their bouquets so they could shake hands, etc. and there was a woman doing the same. I don't think he went near her again," another added.

A third said, "Who needs to read the bullying report when you can watch footage like this? Now imagine her behaviour behind closed doors.

However, others came to the Duchess’ defence, saying she simply said to the aide: "I told them (the fans) I'd place them over there. Thank you. I appreciate it though."

Another awkward moment came when some royal fans thought Prince William told Meghan “stand back from me”, while others thought he may have said “wave with me”.

This comes after the Duchess  cancelled several planned appearances in New York
following the death of Queen Elizabeth.

The 41-year-old royal had been scheduled to visit the UN General Assembly in Manhattan with her husband Prince Harry and appear solo on 'The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon' on September 20, but those plans have been axed as the late monarch's funeral is expected to take place on September 19.

Meghan is also reportedly set to delay the release of the next episode of her podcast 'Archetypes', following the death of her husband's grandmother.

A source told the New York Post's Page Six: "Meghan was due on Fallon. I don’t even know what she was going to talk about, but that’s obviously cancelled now."

Meghan and Harry, 37, who reside in California, had been in the UK for some planned events when the Queen died this week, and they are expected to remain there until the funeral.

It is not known if their children Archie, three and Lilibet, 15 months, will be brought over from California during this time.

Although the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been at odds with Harry's family ever since they stepped down as senior royals in 2020, King Charles, 73, offered them an olive branch in his first televised speech to the nation this week.

He said: "I want to express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas."

- The Hits, additional reporting by Bang! Showbiz