Inside Fab Four’s ‘awkward’ meeting that ‘both couples found hard’ as they went to lay flowers together for Queen

A ROYAL expert says the Fab Four's reunion to lay flowers at Windsor was "awkward" and both couples "found it hard".

Prince William and Kate Middleton came together with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to greet well-wishers on a walkabout two days after the Queen's death.

Her Majesty died peacefully aged 96, marking an end to her historic reign, prompting an outpouring of grief as the country went into national mourning.

In a show of unity, the Prince of Wales invited his brother and Meghan to join him and Kate to look at tributes for the Queen.

But a palace insider says it may have been tougher than it looked to the hundreds of people who caught a glimpse of the royal couples.

They told : "It was awkward. Both couples found it hard.

"They were in a stoic spirit of just getting through it for the Queen."

The Sun has approached Buckingham Palace for comment.

Prince William's eleventh hour olive branch to Harry for their reunion led to a tense 45 minute delay so the US-based couple could be included in the walkabout.

A royal source said: "It was an important show of unity for the Queen.”

William and Kate were originally expected to meet the public from 4.30pm in Windsor.

The foursome then emerged from the same car at 5.15pm to the surprise of the waiting crowds.

They spent 40 minutes looking at the sea of tributes left for Her Majesty outside the gates of the Berkshire castle.

Before the display of unity, brothers had barely spoken for 2½ years after the Sussexes left for the US.

And it was the first time the couples have been seen in public as a foursome since Commonwealth Day in March 2020.

A senior Palace source said: “The Prince of Wales invited the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to join him and the Princess of Wales earlier.

“The Prince of Wales thought it was an important show of unity for the Queen at an incredibly difficult time for the family.”

But it is understood past wounds haven’t fully healed, and the walkabout was more a temporary truce.

The quartet initially appeared strained as they turned left through the gate to look at the thousands of flowers.

As the crowd applauded, a nervous-looking Meghan, 41, held Harry’s hand for reassurance.

Royal insiders claim William and his wife Kate were "relieved" when Harry and Meghan left for the US.

The Prince and Princess of Wales reportedly felt "a sense of relief" when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex decided to give up royal life to move to California because "the drama was gone".

It comes after the Queen's heartbreaking reaction to the family split was revealed by royal insiders.

A source close to Her Majesty claimed that she was "hurt and exhausted" by the 'Megxit' saga.