William, Harry, Meghan and Kate’s Windsor Castle reunion nearly derailed by tense negotiations

While the unified appearnce of Prince William, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton shocked fans, the eleventh hour olive branch had its issues.

Prince William’s eleventh-hour olive branch to Prince Harry for their Windsor reunion led to a tense 45-minute delay.

The Prince of Wales invited his brother and Meghan Markle to join him and Kate Middleton yesterday to look at tributes for the Queen.

A royal source told The Sun said: “It was an important show of unity for the Queen.”

But the crunch discussions sparked a 45-minute delay so Harry and Meghan could be included in the walkabout.

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Discussions to include Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in the public appearance stalled their appearance for 45 minutes. Picture: Chris Jackson/ WPA Pool/ Getty Images.

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 two-and-a-half years after the Sussexes left for the US.

However, the foursome surprised mourners. Picture: Chris Jackson/ WPA Pool/ Getty Images.

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.”

The act of solidarity was a temporary truce. Picture: Chris Jackson/ WPA Pool /Getty Images.

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.

Well-wisher Winnie Davidge, 13, from Godalming, Surrey asked Harry: “Are you missing the Queen?”

He replied: “The castle feels so quiet. You can feel her presence in every room.”

Harry told others in the crowd it was “a lonely place up there now without her”.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and has been republished with permission

Originally published as William, Harry, Meghan and Kate’s Windsor Castle reunion nearly derailed by tense negotiations