Meghan Markle's awkward encounter with Princess Kate at Trooping the Colour unearthed

King Charles has been joined by his wife Queen Camilla, son Prince William and daughter-in-law Princess Kate for his official birthday celebrations, Trooping the Colour 2023.

Royal fans may have spotted that two key people missing are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who are thought to have remained in Montecito, California where they live with their two children Archie and Lilibet.

Harry and Meghan on the palace balcony during Trooping the Colour 2018

Harry and Meghan attended Trooping the Colour days after their honeymoon in 2018

The event will likely bring back memories for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who have attended the birthday parade on several occasions in the past for the late Queen Elizabeth II. However, not all of the memories will be fond ones, according to Harry, who revealed Meghan suffered an awkward encounter with Kate during her first Trooping appearance alongside the royal family back in 2018, days after they returned to the UK from their honeymoon.

They were pictured smiling with other royals on the balcony

It was one of his many confessions in his book Spare, which was released in January. He admitted Duchess Meghan tried to make a private joke with the Princess of Wales, but it was met with a “yawning silence.”

Discussing the incident, which marked one of Harry and Meghan’s first public appearances as newlyweds, he recalled: “Everyone present was in a good mood, upbeat. But then: Kate asked Meg what she thought of her first Trooping the Color. And Meg joked: Colorful. And a yawning silence threatened to swallow us all whole.”

Meghan Markle smiling to Princess Kate at Trooping 2018

Meghan Markle made a joke to Princess Kate at Trooping 2018

The following year also saw Meghan looking uncomfortable during a balcony appearance – see the clip below…

WATCH: Prince Harry reminds Meghan Markle to ‘turn around’ on Buckingham Palace balcony

In 2022, the Duke and Duchess flew over to the UK for the late Queen Elizabeth II’s last Trooping the Colour, which coincided with Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

The royals did not make an appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the flypast, but the Duchess was spotted enjoying a sweet interaction with Peter Phillips’ daughters, Savannah and Isla, and Zara Tindall’s children, Mia and Lena at the windows.

Trooping the Colour falls on the third Saturday of June and marks the monarch’s official birthday – the King’s actual birthday on 14 November.

Soldiers gather on The Mall at Trooping the Colour

Members of the Household division on The Mall before the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade

This year’s event was a milestone moment for Harry’s father, as it was his first Trooping event as reigning monarch. After deputising for Queen Elizabeth II’s Birthday Parade last year, he rode onto Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall as the nation’s head of state.

The Princess of Wales was seen with her three kids in their carriage at Trooping 2023

He was joined on horseback by the Prince of Wales, Colonel of the Welsh Guards, the Princess Royal, Gold Stick in Waiting and Colonel of The Blues and Royals, and the Duke of Edinburgh, Colonel of the 1st Battalion London Guards.

Charles and William ride on horseback during Trooping the Colour

Charles rode on horseback for the first time as monarch

They travelled from Buckingham Palace, down The Mall to Horse Guard’s Parade. Charles, Queen Camilla and other members of the royal family viewed the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards Troop their Colour. Following the parade, the royals will return to Buckingham Palace for the March Past and the fly-past.

WATCH: Prince George and Princess Charlotte bow during King Charles’ birthday parade