Meghan Markle’s bookstore opening speech in Montecito awkwardly interrupted by Oprah Winfrey

‘When you’re listening to one VIP and another walks in...’ the video was captioned

The Duchess of Sussex’s recent speech at the opening of a California bookshop was interrupted by none other than Oprah Winfrey.

Winfrey, 70, who Harry and Meghan famously gave a tell-all interview to after stepping down as working royals, is said to have arrived late and was caught on camera searching for a seat in the front row.

The interruption at the newly-opened Godmothers store in Santa Barbara was captured by journalist Elizabeth Holmes as Meghan, 43, reflected on the “safety” she felt in bookshops.

Ms Holmes said: “[Oprah] 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 clip was later shared on Instagram, where the journalist gushed at Oprah’s apologetic wave to those sitting behind her in the audience.

“When you’re listening to one VIP and another walks in...” the video was captioned.

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A post shared by Elizabeth Holmes (@eholmes)

The awkward interaction comes ahead of Prince Harry‘s 40th birthday celebration, which will also take place in California, where he lives with his family.

He is understood to be having a “low key” celebration this weekend alongside Meghan and his two young children.

The Duke of Sussex, who turns 40 on Sunday (15 September), was in his youth famed for his party loving ways, but now a family man the only other celebration planned for the milestone is a “weekend getaway in the mountains surrounded by his closest friends”, Hello! magazine reports.

Prince Harry is understood to be having a “low-key” celebration with his family when he turns 40 this weekend. (Getty)

Further details of the getaway were revealed to The Express by an insider who said the group will travel to the Cold Spring Trail in California.

“The Cold Spring Trail has lots of streams and pools which people regularly take a dip in,” they said. “But there are also lots of snakes and other wildlife to contend with, like large cats.

“Harry and his friends will truly experience the outdoors as they take on one of the long hikes. Let’s hope he’s taking an experienced guide with him.”

While the exact guestlist for Harry’s celebrations is not known, Oprah is understood to be a good friend of the Sussex’s.

Her name has become synonymous with the pair after they spared no details in their tell-all interview with her about why they stepped down as working royals, including allegations of racist comments ahead of Prince Archie’s birth.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their interview with Oprah Winfrey (Joe Pugliese/Harpo Productions/PA) (PA Media)

As he enters his fifth decade, Harry is dividing his time between the work of the couple’s Archewell Foundation, his charities and patronages, and his young children, Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three.