Queen Elizabeth II reportedly had private reservations before Prince Harry‘s wedding to Meghan Markle, suggesting a more cautious approach despite supporting the couple.
Tensions reportedly arose over Meghan’s wedding dress, veil, and even a pre-wedding vegan dish, though she later praised the Queen’s leadership and warmth.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Meghan have strongly rejected claims in a forthcoming royal biography, dismissing it as “deranged conspiracy and melodrama.”
Queen Elizabeth II Allegedly Had Reservations About Meghan Markle And Prince Harry’s Wedding
Queen Elizabeth II reportedly had private reservations ahead of her grandson Prince Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle, according to a new royal biography. While the late monarch supported the couple, she is said to have encouraged a more cautious approach.
Author Hugo Vickers notes in the Daily Mail serialization that the Queen suggested Harry wait a year before marrying, advice he ultimately did not follow, proceeding with the wedding just over six months after the engagement.
The Queen’s reported ambivalence also extended to aspects of the ceremony itself, including Meghan’s wedding dress. Vickers writes that the monarch reportedly found the gown “too white” with “ungainly shoulders,” and her general attitude was described as, “You get on with it. It’s nothing to do with me.”
By contrast, Princess Eugenie’s wedding to Jack Brooksbank later that year in St George’s Chapel was seen as more traditional and less publicly scrutinized, leaving the Duke of York disappointed it wasn’t televised for major networks.
Meghan Markle’s Wedding Dress And Veil Choices
For her big day, Meghan opted for a custom Givenchy gown by Clare Waight Keller, featuring a bateau neckline, fitted bodice, and three-quarter sleeves that highlighted her slim frame.
Another royal account, “William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story” by Russell Myers, revealed that Meghan’s insistence on wearing a veil caused tension in the lead-up to the wedding.
According to Myers, “The Queen was upset that Harry had asked the Archbishop of Canterbury to perform the ceremony at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, instead of the Dean of Windsor, as tradition would dictate.”
Meghan, a divorcee, also chose a veil that broke from precedent, as most royal divorcees, like Queen Camilla and Princess Anne, had opted for alternative headpieces rather than traditional veils.
Her custom silk tulle veil, however, carried symbolic significance, featuring delicate embroidered flowers representing all 53 Commonwealth nations, a design crafted by Clare Waight Keller to honor her global audience.
The Late Queen Allegedly Cautioned Meghan For The Way She Spoke To People
Tensions reportedly arose during a pre-wedding food tasting at Windsor Castle.
Veteran royal biographer Katie Nicholl, in “The New Royals,” described Meghan noticing an egg in one of the planned vegan and macrobiotic dishes and voicing her concern about it.
The Queen then entered the room and reportedly told Meghan, “In this family, we don’t speak to people like that,” seemingly causing an awkward and tense atmosphere.
However, despite these early clashes, Meghan has since spoken warmly of the late monarch.
The Duchess Described Queen Elizabeth As The ‘Most Shining Example’ Of Female Leadership
Following Elizabeth’s death in 2022, Meghan described her as the “most shining example” of female leadership in a Variety interview, expressing gratitude for the time they shared.
She reflected on the Queen’s lasting legacy and recounted her husband Harry’s comforting words: “Now she’s reunited with her husband,” referring to Prince Philip, who passed away 17 months earlier in 2021.
Meghan also looked back fondly on her first official engagement with the Queen shortly after her wedding, calling the experience “special” and expressing pride in the warmth she felt from the family matriarch.
Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Slam Forthcoming Royal Biography As ‘Deranged Conspiracy And Melodrama’
Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan have strongly pushed back against claims in a forthcoming royal biography, dismissing the author’s work as filled with “deranged conspiracy and melodrama.”
Excerpts published by The Times include assertions by author Tom Bower that Queen Camilla allegedly told a friend Meghan had “brainwashed” Harry and that Meghan had become a polarizing figure, perceived by Prince William and Kate Middleton as a “threat.”
In response, a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex criticized Bower’s narrative, accusing him of letting criticism slide into obsession.
The statement noted the author has previously commented that the monarchy “depends on actually obliterating the Sussexes from our state of life,” and argued that his work is built on “elaborate theories” about individuals he has never personally known.
“Those interested in facts will look elsewhere,” the spokesperson said, “but those seeking deranged conspiracy and melodrama know exactly where to find him.”