The Queen hosts secret meeting at Windsor Castle with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

In a royal showdown few saw coming, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have made a surprise visit to see The Queen and also met Prince Charles.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have paid a surprise visit to The Queen with a face to face meeting at Windsor Castle.

The exiled royals also met Prince Charles in what is hoped to be the start of an attempt to repair relationships fractured by the couple’s departure from the UK and their tell-all with Oprah Winfrey last year where they accused an unnamed royal of racism.

It was their first joint trip to the UK since they left in March 2020 and came as they stopped off on their way to the Invictus Games in Holland.

It isn’t known if their children, Archie, two, and 11-month-old daughter Lilibet - who The Queen, 95, has never met - were present for the Windsor Castle visit.

Visitors who were at Windsor Castle for the traditional Maundy Thursday ceremony, were shocked to see Prince Harry and Meghan. The couple reportedly smiled and waved at a bus full of guests.

One onlooker said: “I couldn’t believe it when I saw who it was. We waved and they waved back.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan have made a shock return to the UK. Picture: Getty Images

“They looked happy and relaxed and waved to everyone on the bus. Charles and the Queen were at Windsor Castle at the same time so they must have met them both.

“It was quite the sight. We knew we might see Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at the ceremony but never believed we would bump in to Harry and Meghan,” the witness said.

Prince Harry is suing the British Home Office for taking away his armed bodyguards, claiming he “does not feel safe in the UK”.

Queen Elizabeth hosted Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle.

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall pose with the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard and guests as they attend the Royal Maundy Service at St George's Chapel at Windsor. Picture: Getty

Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, told The Sun the visit would have been welcome on all sides.

“It is a wonderful opportunity to clear the air and offer an olive branch. After everything that has gone on it must have taken a lot for Harry and Meghan to go to Windsor.

“Also Maundy Thursday is a very special day for the Queen as it is about forgiveness. She is not one to hold grudges and I think she would have happily welcomed them with open arms.”

Prince Harry attended the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral alone while Meghan stayed in the US, pregnant with Lilibet, and both missed the memorial service last month.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with Archie and Lilibet in their 2021 Christmas Card

The secret visit comes after confirmation The Queen won’t attend Easter Sunday service.

Her Majesty usually makes an appearance at St George’s Chapel in Windsor on Easter Sunday, but sources told The Sun she is “not expected” to be there this year.

She was due to attend a Maundy Thursday service at the same chapel today, but pulled out of that last week.

Prince Charles and Camilla will take her place at today’s service, the first time the Prince of Wales has done so.

The Queen has had a series of health issues since the death of her husband the Duke of Edinburgh last April at the age of 99, including spraining her back and a bout of Covid.

Originally published as The Queen hosts secret meeting at Windsor Castle with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle