Meghan’s speech was captured during the opening of a book store in the picturesque town in Santa Barbara

Meghan Markle’s speech at the opening of a new bookstore was interrupted by TV host Oprah Winfrey.

The moment, which was captured by TV journalist Elizabeth Holmes, showed Winfrey walking in front of her camera as she tried to record Meghan’s speech during the grand opening of Godmothers in the town in Santa Barbara.

In the footage, Meghan stood on a small stage and recalled the feeling of “safety” she gets from being in a bookstore.

Shortly after, Oprah walked into the room to take a seat in the front row.

The Sussexes and the TV presenter have remained close

Speaking about the incident on social media, Holmes 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.”

The royal author 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 realise it was her until she was right in front of me. So surreal!)”

Oprah Winfrey at Harry and Meghan’s wedding

It comes as Meghan is “planning a party” for Prince Harry as the Duke of Sussex gets ready to celebrate a milestone, according to insiders.

Harry will celebrate his 40th birthday on September 15, but is unlikely to return to the UK to see his father, King Charles, or his brother, Prince William. Sources told Page Six that the Duke of Sussex is planning to celebrate his big day with a party organised by Meghan.

The festivities will be held in Montecito, California, where the Sussexes live with their two children, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three.

A source told Us Weekly that Harry “has a small [group] of close friends,” in the US and likes to keep his circle tight for “understandable reasons”.

As he approaches the milestone, the Duke of Sussex wrote an emotional tribute to his children, Archie, aged five, and Lilibet, aged three.

Speaking to People magazine, Prince Harry said: “The best gift I’ve ever been given is, without a doubt, my kids.

“I enjoy watching them grow every single day, and I love being their dad.”