Oprah Winfrey awkwardly interrupted Meghan Markle‘s speech at a bookstore opening in Montecito last weekend as she appeared to arrive late to the exclusive event to take her seat.

Journalist Elizabeth Holmes captured the moment the TV mogul stepped in front of her camera as she tried to record Meghan’s speech during the grand opening of Godmothers in the picturesque town in Santa Barbara.

In the clip, which Elizabeth shared on Instagram, Meghan stood on a small stage and recalled the feeling of ‘safety’ she gets from being in a bookstore, when her neighbour Oprah walked into the room to take a seat in the front row.

Speaking about the incident on her Instagram stories Elizabeth said: ‘Meghan had just started speaking and I was really focused on filming that and Oprah was so discreet, so she was in the green room prepping for her panel and then she was seated while Meghan was speaking.

‘She came in so quietly that I didn’t even realise, I am sat there studiously filming and then all of a sudden it’s like Oprah right there, and she is like ”sorry” and I am like no you never need to say sorry. Anyway, surreal.’

Oprah Winfrey awkwardly interrupted Meghan Markle ‘s speech at a bookstore opening in Montecito on last weekend

The author of HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style, captioned the video: ‘A little wave from OPRAH! (This was the second day of the @godmothersbooks opening weekend festivities.

‘Oprah had been in the green room, prepping for her part of the program, and was seated as Meghan was speaking. She slipped in so discreetly I didn’t realize it was her until she was right in front of me. So surreal!)’

Meghan and Prince Harry enjoyed an evening with ‘friends and family’ of literary agent Jennifer Rudolph Walsh and cosmetics star Victoria Jackson, who are the owners of Montecito’s local community bookstore.

Town and Country Magazine reported that the royal couple arrived in a ‘darkened Range Rover’ and warmly greeted other guests at the venue.

After Jennifer and Victoria shared some brief words with their intimate audience, Meghan, 43 – who donned a chic Ralph Lauren top and matching white trousers – was heard hollering out a ‘Woo!’

Photos from the event show a grinning and glamorous Duchess hugging the talkshow host, who interviewed them for their bombshell 2021 broadcast.

Other pictures from the evening show a delighted Harry and Meghan posing outside the bookstore with its founders.

Elsewhere, when asked for book recommendations, the Prince reportedly jokingly pointed to a copy of his memoir – Spare.

Victoria, who has been close to the royal couple since their arrival in California four years ago, said that ‘seeing them be able to come here and be in a safe space… it’s what we want it to be’.

In the clip, which Elizabeth shared in her Instagram , Meghan stood on a small stage and recalled the feeling of ‘safety’ she gets from being in a bookstore, when her neighbour Oprah walked into the room to take a seat in the front row

She added: ‘Their support, and the light that it will shine on Godmothers, is pretty extraordinary.’

The outlet also revealed that Prince Harry, 39, played a part in curating the bookshop’s name, as he had, at his own book party in Beverly Hills, thanked Oprah, Victoria and Jennifer for being his ‘fairy godmothers’.

It is then perhaps no wonder that Spare is displayed proudly and boldly at the store – along with his wife’s children’s book, The Bench.

Oprah’s sensational interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – fresh off the heels of their resignations as senior royals – rocked The Firm when it aired in 2021.

It firmly cemented the famous American talkshow host, 70 – who attended their wedding in 2018 – as an ally of the Sussexes amid their rift with King Charles and the Prince and Princess of Wales.

‘I support them 1,000 percent,’ she had said of the pair’s move away from the UK, and distancing from regal duties.

Jennifer also shared a personal joke with the Duke as she spoke about learning from people who are both younger and older than us, joking that ‘once he turns 40, she’s got to find new people in their 30s!’.

On the Saturday, Meghan looked typically chic while speaking at her close friend Oprah Winfrey’s book club session.

The Duchess of Sussex opted for a smart appearance as she attended the event at Godmothers bookstore.

Putting on an elegant display, the mother-of-two kept it simple in a sleeveless collared jumpsuit from Canadian-brand Club Monaco, which specialises in luxury casual clothing.

The Sussexes enjoyed an evening with ‘friends and family’ of literary agent Jennifer Rudolph Walsh (left) and cosmetics star Victoria Jackson (right)

 

The outlet also revealed that Prince Harry, 39, played a part in curating the bookshop’s name, as he had, at his own book party in Beverly Hills, thanked Oprah, Victoria and Jennifer for being his ‘fairy godmothers’. Pictured, decor at the bookshop

In January 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan fled the Royal Family and the UK to begin their new life in America. And a year later, some 50-million people around the world watched as, on March 7, 2021, the duo took part in an 85-minute tell-all interview with Oprah

 

Harry and Meghan’s friendship appears to have been sparked when they extended their wedding invitation to Oprah to include the evening reception at Frogmore House, attended only by their closest relatives and pals

She paired it with minimal accessories, including her £5,000 Cartier Love bangle, that she’s owned since at least 2017, her Logan Hollowell diamond tennis necklace and Princess Diana’s £17,800 ($22,950) Cartier Tank Française watch.

Adding height to her smart look, Meghan sported her Jimmy Choo Etana 50mm sandals in tan and tortoise.

Town and Country Magazine revealed that Meghan thanked Jennifer and Victoria for ‘not just creating the space, but for holding the space for so many people to feel seen through the pages, either in laughter, in grief, in feeling less alone’.

However, much like her close friend Oprah, the Duchess had to leave the ‘incredible’ event early – because she had to ‘make dinner for the kids’.

Speaking about Godmothers on her Instagram, Jennifer said: ‘I just love it. People come in here and the phrase we hear over and over again is “I don’t know why but this makes me feel like crying.”

‘And that makes me feel like crying because I know why, because we’ve put so much love and intention into everything.

‘It’s like – you know when you just take a bite of pound cake and you’re like why is this so delicious. Oh it’s the butter? Well the butter is the love in this and it’s buttery and delicious.

‘And people are feeling that and they’re feeling like they’ve found a home away from home.’