The weeks leading up to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s May 2018 wedding were described as “intense” and “drama-filled.”
According to the new book “My Mother and I” by royal author Ingrid Seward, even the late Queen Elizabeth II was not immune to the “nonsense” surrounding the event.
Seward shared how Her late Majesty “was not comfortable” with “numerous” elements of the marriage service.
The scribe disclosed that the Queen was uneasy about Prince Charles standing in for Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle.
Additionally, she had concerns about 96-year-old Prince Philip walking down the aisle without a stick, given his recent hip replacement just five weeks prior.
Harry and Meghan’s much-hyped nuptials were the “last major royal wedding” Elizabeth II and her long-serving consort attended. The late monarch and Prince Philip were both said “to be delighted” by the union at the time, but Seward’s book further reveals how Philip thought of Meghan as “the new Wallis Simpson”.
Some analysts in 2018 even claimed then-Prince Charles was also initially “uncomfortable” about giving Meghan away, but relented.
“I asked him to, and I think he knew it was coming, and he immediately said, ‘Yes, of course, I’ll do whatever Meghan needs, and I’m here to support you,” the Duke of Sussex revealed later that year in the documentary, Prince, Son and Heir: Charles at 70.
Meghan seemed to be all for ditching her dad, who suffered a heart attack shortly before the wedding and left Thomas claiming that he and his royal rebel daughter haven’t spoken since. However, the HRH-to-be did have one request of her own regarding the future king giving her away.
Author Robert Hardman wrote: “The reply, according to one friend, was not quite what he [Charles] was expecting: ‘Can we meet halfway?’ Here was an indicator that this was no blushing bride, but a confident, independent woman determined to make a grand entrance on her own.”
Apparently, Elizabeth II also felt that the dress was “too white” to adorn a divorcee in a church wedding.
The monarch, who reigned over Britain and the Commonwealth for 70.5 years, also felt uncomfortable with the aesthetics and tone of the wedding, including the “long sermon” from American Archbishop, Michael Curry, which became one of the praised standouts of the “modern royal wedding.”
Elizabeth II and the Duchess of Sussex would go on to attend their sole joint engagement with one another on June 14, 2018. Her Majesty would be left “severely disappointed” when Harry and Meghan decided to ditch the monarchy and Britain in early 2020. After the Queen’s death on September 8, 2022, and the automatic accession of King Charles III, the former actress would go on to chide her late grandmother-in-law with a mock curtsey in the late 2022 Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan.
In the months leading up to the much-anticipated May 2018 royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, tensions ran high within the royal family. Despite the excitement surrounding the event, there was no shortage of drama and controversy. According to royal author Ingrid Seward’s latest book “Behind Palace Doors,” Queen Elizabeth II was reportedly quite uneasy about several aspects of the wedding ceremony.One of the key concerns that troubled the late monarch was Prince Charles stepping in for Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle, who was unable to attend the wedding due to health issues. The Queen felt that this substitution was not traditional and raised some eyebrows among the royal family members. Additionally, there was worry about Prince Philip’s ability to walk down the aisle without assistance, considering his recent hip surgery.The wedding itself was a grand affair, with Harry and Meghan’s union being the last major royal wedding that the Queen and Prince Philip attended together. While the couple seemed happy and in love, behind the scenes, there were lingering doubts and reservations among certain family members. Prince Philip reportedly compared Meghan to Wallis Simpson, the American socialite whose relationship with King Edward VIII led to his abdication from the throne.As the ceremony approached, tensions eased somewhat, and Prince Charles ultimately agreed to walk Meghan down the aisle. However, Meghan, known for her independence and confidence, requested a compromise from the future king, suggesting they meet halfway in their arrangement. This move signaled Meghan’s desire to assert her independence and make her own mark on the royal family.Even the Queen had reservations about certain aspects of the wedding, including Meghan’s choice of dress, which she felt was too white for a divorced woman marrying into the royal family. The ceremony itself was marked by a lively sermon from American Archbishop Michael Curry, a departure from the usual tone of a royal wedding.Despite the initial misgivings and concerns, the wedding was a memorable and joyous occasion, with the Queen and Meghan making their first public appearance together shortly after the ceremony. However, as time passed, tensions would once again rise, culminating in Harry and Meghan’s decision to step back from their royal duties in early 2020, much to the disappointment of the Queen.The relationship between the monarch and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would continue to be strained in the years that followed, leading to public disagreements and discord. In a documentary released after the Queen’s passing, Meghan was seen making a pointed gesture towards her late grandmother-in-law, highlighting the ongoing tensions within the royal family.Overall, the lead-up to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding was a time of intense scrutiny and drama within the royal family, with the Queen herself expressing reservations about various aspects of the ceremony. Despite the challenges, the wedding day itself was a joyous occasion, bringing together family and loved ones to celebrate the union of two individuals in love.
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Source: Tampa Bay Times
