Prince Harry Took on Role of Royal Aide During Early Walkabout

Social media users are revisiting an awkward moment from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's past when the Duke of Sussex appeared to take on the role of a royal aide during their first official walkabout together in Nottingham. The resurfaced clip from December 1, 2017, occurred as the couple greeted fans outside the National Justice Museum and Nottingham Contemporary to mark World AIDS Day, shortly after announcing their engagement.

During the event, as well-wishers presented Meghan with numerous bouquets of flowers, Harry was seen collecting the flowers for his then-fiancée. He stood behind her with the growing stack of blooms until she turned to accept them. This action, while seemingly helpful, deviated from typical royal protocol.

Royal protocol generally dictates that aides quickly collect gifts and flowers from senior royals. This practice serves both security purposes, allowing for checks for hidden items, and helps maintain the pace of the walkabout. Typically, large quantities of flowers are later redistributed to charities, hospitals, or churches after undergoing security checks.

This particular walkabout in Nottingham is significant as it marked the couple's first official outing together after their engagement announcement. It also precedes their recent return to the UK for a series of unofficial engagements as 'private citizens'.

The Duchess of Sussex has encountered other instances involving flowers during royal duties. In September 2023, following Queen Elizabeth II's death, Meghan was seen struggling with a royal aide over floral bouquets during a walkabout in Windsor. Another notable moment occurred in October 2018, when Harry humorously intervened as Meghan was handed a very large bunch of flowers, remarking to the well-wisher, 'You can’t give flowers that big to my wife, what is that all about?'

The couple's return to Nottingham this week is for a series of engagements at local charities, including the Community Recording Studio. Amid these public appearances, there are ongoing discussions about Meghan's potential return to acting, with reports suggesting she has been reviewing scripts.