A newly unearthed video shows the moment the Queen offered to share a blanket with Meghan Markle after their first joint engagement together.
The Duchess of Sussex, 39, told Oprah Winfrey in her bombshell interview that Her Majesty, 94, had once asked her to share a blanket which sits across her knees for warmth.
A clip has now revealed the intimate moment between the monarch and her grandson’s wife, which came as they departed their first official engagement together in Cheshire in June 2018, a month after the royal wedding.
It was filmed by Eileen Owens, 56, from Chester, who was watching the interaction from The Coach House Inn, a pub owned by her husband Leslie Owens, 62, who said they ‘had no idea of the significance of that moment’ until the interview with Oprah.
In the short video, the pair can be seen departing from an engagement in the same car, with the Queen placing a blue blanket across her knees before gesturing to Meghan, who then tucks it across her own legs.
A video has emerged of the moment the Queen, 94, offered to share a blanket with Meghan Markle, 39, after their first royal engagement together in Cheshire in 2018
In the video, Her Majesty can be seen tucking her own legs beneath a blue blanket (left) before extending it to the Duchess, who placed it over herself (right)
Meghan and the Queen had gone on an overnight rail trip to Cheshire in 2018, and were pictured smiling together during a ceremony to open the new Mersey Gateway Bridge.
They had been greeted by cheering crowds in Chester, and also joined the rest of Britain in observing a minute’s silence to remember the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire on its first anniversary.
The clip shows Meghan – dressed in a stunning cream dress – bowing her head and hanging back as she watches the Queen interact with dignitaries.
With a beaming smile, she appears to follow the Queen’s lead, before the pair get into the car.
The Queen and the Duchess of Sussex attended a day of engagements together in Cheshire just one month after the royal wedding
The clip was filmed by Eileen Owens, 56, who was watching the interaction from The Coach House Inn, in Chester, a pub owned by her husband Leslie Owens, 62, on June 14, 2018
Meghan looks to initially help the Queen smooth the blue blanket over her legs, when the senior royal turns to Meghan and offers her some of the woollen covering too.
Eileen explained: ‘At the time it just seemed like a sweet gesture – it seemed like they were quite close.
‘The two seemed to be chatting and getting on quite well and the Queen really seemed to like Meghan.
‘It wasn’t just the Queen that liked her either. Everyone watching seemed to adore Meghan – people watching were screaming her name.’
Eileen and Leslie were watching the Oprah interview when they realised Meghan was describing a moment they had witnessed first-hand.
In the short video, Meghan and the Queen can be seen exiting their engagement and speaking with dignitaries (left and right)
Eileen, who runs an online auction house website, said: ‘I couldn’t believe it when I heard Meghan telling that story, because I knew exactly what she was referring to.
‘I just thought ‘wow’ when I found the video on my phone. At the time we were watching, it didn’t seem too important – but it obviously was for her.
‘For that moment to spring to Meghan’s mind, and for her to recall it on TV three years later shows it meant a lot to her.’
During the interview earlier this week, the Duchess told Oprah: ‘The Queen, for example, has always been wonderful to me. I mean, we had one of our first joint engagements together. She asked me to join her.
‘We had breakfast together that morning, and she’d given me a beautiful gift, and I just really loved being in her company. And I remember we were in the car.’
The Queen shook hands with the dignitary while the Duchess looked on at her grandmother-in-law and beamed
With a beaming smile, Meghan appears to follow the Queen’s lead to join the conversation, before the pair get into the car
The Duchess leaned her head as she looked down at the Queen during the brief chat in Cheshire, which took place as they left their first royal engagement together
Oprah asked her what the gift was, and Meghan replied: ‘She gave me some beautiful pearl earrings and a matching necklace.
‘We were in the car going between engagements, and she has a blanket that sits across her knees for warmth.
‘And it was chilly, and she was like, ‘Meghan, come on,’ and put it over my knees, as well.’ Oprah replied ‘nice’.
And Meghan continued: ‘Right? Just moments of… and it made me think of my grandmother where she’s always been warm and inviting and really welcoming.’
During their solo trip to Cheshire, the pair opened a bridge and visited a theatre before departing in a car together
As the Queen began to climb into the car, the Duchess reached out to shake the hand of the dignitary (left, right)
Yesterday the Queen broke her silence on Harry and Meghan’s bombshell interview to say that ‘while some recollections may vary’ the ‘whole family is saddened’ to hear of the couple’s ‘challenging few years’.
Her Majesty said an alleged racist comment made about what colour the Duke and Duchess’ baby Archie would be was ‘concerning’ and will be ‘addressed by the family privately’.
The monarch will reportedly speak to senior royals – including Charles, Camilla, William and Kate – behind closed doors over the couple’s allegations.
Her statement added that Harry and Meghan – using their names rather than titles – and their son ‘will always be much loved family members’.
Meghan could be seen beaming at the dignitary while the Queen began to climb into the car, with a staff member holding the door open for the royal
The Duchess briefly stayed behind to shake the hand of another member of staff before stepping into the vehicle behind the Queen
The Queen said: ‘The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan.
‘The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members.’
It is understood the Queen waited until Tuesday to comment on the devastating interview with Oprah Winfrey so Britons had the chance to watch it first – but ‘the Firm’ is not expected to make any further comments.
The video comes after Meghan called the Queen ‘wonderful’ during her explosive Oprah Winfrey interview with Prince Harry