Labrador 'comforted' Prince Harry and Meghan as they met well-wishers in Windsor

A Labrador puppy was seen 'comforting' Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in a tender moment following Queen Elizabeth II's death.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex met with members of the public at Windsor Castle over the weekend, alongside Prince William and Kate Middleton - marking the first time that the two couples have been seen in public together since the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral last year.

While greeting mourners, who travelled from all across the country to pay their respects to the royal family, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were besotted with a precious pooch named Louis.

Dog-owner Sarah Gracie shared some snaps of Louis' sweet interaction with the royal couple, tweeting: "When our little pup Louis met Meghan and Harry as we paid our respects to The Queen."

People were thrilled to see Harry and Meghan spending some time with the cute canine, suggesting that Louis probably offered the couple some much-needed 'comfort' in that moment.

Reacting to the adorable snaps, one royal fan wrote: "Awww that's your dog... thank you for comforting Harry and Meghan. They need the love."

A second tweeted: "Aw I bet they needed that. Dogs make such a difference in stressful times."

And a third told Sarah: "You and Louis provided some well needed comfort for them".

Responding to all the touching messages, Sarah Gracie wrote: "Thank you everyone for your lovely comments about our precious Louis. We witnessed a really beautiful moment at such a difficult time for them.

"Louis had the best day and is at his happiest when he is being cuddled, petted and surrounded by people."

The Sussexes have been known for their love of animals, and just last month, they adopted a seven-year-old rescue dog name named Momma Mia.

The beagle had been one of 4,000 dogs that was rescued from a research plant in the US, and has now joined Harry and Meghan's other three dogs - a Labrador-German Shepherd mix named Bogart, a black Labrador named Pula, and another beagle named Guy.

The couple also have a chicken coop in the backyard of their Montecito home, where they house a collection of chickens that were rescued from a factory farm.

On Monday (12 September), the couple broke their silence and issued an emotional statement paying tribute to Harry's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

"In celebrating the life of my grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen - and in mourning her loss - we are all reminded of the guiding compass she was to so many in her commitment to service and duty," the statement reads.

"She was globally admired and respected. Her unwavering grace and dignity remained true throughout her life and now her everlasting legacy."

The couple continued: "Let us echo the words she spoke after the passing of her husband, Prince Philip, words which can bring comfort to all of us now: 'Life, of course, consists of final partings as well as first meetings'.

"Granny, while this final parting brings us great sadness, I am forever grateful for all of our first meetings - from my earliest childhood memories with you, to meeting you for the first time as my Commander-in-Chief, to the first moment you met my darling wife and hugged your beloved great-grandchildren.

"I cherish these times shared with you, and the many other special moments in between. You are already sorely missed, not just by us, but by the world over. And as it comes to first meetings, we now honour my father in his new role as King Charles III.

"Thank you for your commitment to service. Thank you for your sound advice. Thank you for your infectious smile. We, too, smile knowing that you and grandpa are reunited now, and both together in peace."