A new royal book has shed light on the tension that simmered between Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle before and after their 2018 wedding.
Sources say disputes began over the duchess’s request to rehearse with Queen Mary’s historic tiara, which the monarch reportedly denied, siding with her dresser, Angela Kelly.
Over time, Prince Harry and Meghan’s distance from royal duties, along with intense media attention, reportedly left Queen Elizabeth cautious and guarded during interactions with the couple.
Queen Elizabeth II Was Allegedly Frustrated By Meghan Markle’s Tiara Rehearsal Request: ‘It’s Not A Toy’
A new royal biography is revealing details about an alleged behind-the-scenes clash involving Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex ahead of their 2018 wedding.
According to author Robert Hardman, tensions reportedly arose when Harry and Meghan requested that Queen Mary’s diamond bandeau tiara be sent over in advance so the duchess could rehearse her look. The request allegedly didn’t sit well with the late monarch.
In his book, Hardman claimed that Elizabeth grew frustrated after hearing that her grandson had been repeatedly “calling around the Royal Household demanding that the tiara be dispatched forthwith.”
“The mood turned sour nearer the wedding when the couple rang the palace to ask the Queen’s dresser and curator, Angela Kelly, to send over the tiara. Meghan wished to practice putting it on,” Hardman wrote per the Daily Mail.
Siding with her longtime dresser, Angela Kelly, Elizabeth is said to have dismissed the request for the tiara entirely, stating bluntly that “it’s not a toy.”
She also allegedly referenced how Kate Middleton prepared for her own wedding, noting that her hairstylist practiced with a replica of the tiara instead of the real one. From her perspective, Meghan’s team could have taken a similar approach.
Royal Wedding Jewels Reportedly Faced Extreme Scrutiny Over Prince Harry And Meghan Markle’s Tiara Request
Hardman further emphasized that royal wedding pieces are handled with extreme care due to the intense global attention they receive, particularly when historic jewels are involved.
He noted that “even if the tiara had only a few offcuts from South Africa’s mighty Cullinan diamond, that could be enough to generate furious headlines about colonial theft.”
According to the account, one staff member even questioned how such a situation might have played out publicly on the wedding day, suggesting it could have caused unnecessary controversy.
The Duke Wrote About The Tiara Debacle In His Memoir
Harry himself addressed tensions with the late queen’s dresser, Kelly, in his memoir “Spare,” describing her as “obstructive” and calling her “a troublemaker” he did not need as an enemy.
Separate reports have also painted a more difficult picture of Harry’s behavior in the lead-up to his wedding.
According to royal commentator Sally Bedell Smith, the duke was allegedly short-tempered with Elizabeth II, at one point speaking to her in a way that left her feeling unsettled.
The late monarch was also said to have been concerned after Harry reportedly approached the Archbishop of Canterbury about officiating the ceremony without the Dean of Windsor’s permission.
Queen Elizabeth II Reportedly Took Precautions During Calls With Prince Harry
In “Queen Elizabeth II: A Personal History,” author Hugo Vickers alleges that after the Sussexes stepped back from royal duties, Elizabeth took precautions during phone calls with her grandson, often asking her “lady-in-waiting to stay with her.”
He added that the “distress the Sussexes caused the Queen in the last years of her life cannot be overestimated.”
Sources also claimed that conversations between Elizabeth and Harry became increasingly brief and distant, with the monarch reportedly keeping her guard up following the fallout.
“There were lots of one-word answers, ‘yes’ and ‘no,” an insider told Page Six. “The Queen clearly wanted some kind of protection. I think the Queen was also on her guard with Harry because she was so hurt by what he had done.”
Meanwhile, Susan Page, in her upcoming book “The Queen and Her Presidents: The Hidden Hand That Shaped History,” alleges that Elizabeth had grown cautious of Meghan early on, viewing her as highly media-savvy in a way that outpaced the “palace’s outdated press operation.”
Queen Elizabeth II Reportedly Kept A Guarded Distance During Harry And Meghan’s Visit With Princess Lilibet
Royal author Vickers further claims that Elizabeth II chose not to meet Harry and Meghan alone when they introduced their daughter, Princess Lilibet, during the Platinum Jubilee in June 2022.
According to his account, the couple was staying at Frogmore Cottage at the time, where they marked Lilibet’s first birthday with a small celebration. When they later visited the Queen, a lady-in-waiting was reportedly present throughout the meeting.
Vickers also alleges that the monarch declined a request to allow a photographer to capture the moment, reportedly concerned that the image might later be shared publicly.
He goes on to suggest that the monarch struggled to understand her grandson’s new life in the United States, claiming she once questioned his decision to step back from royal duties, wondering what he had ultimately gained from the move.