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Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Why the Queen was 'not at all content' at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, according to the Mail's royal experts on PALACE CONFIDENTIAL
The late Queen Elizabeth II was 'not at all content' on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 's wedding day, it was claimed this week. Lady Elizabeth Anson, a great-niece of the Queen Mother and a goddaughter of King George VI, was Her Majesty's party-planner and confidant for many years. Now, her words have been reported by journalist and royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith in her Substack 'Royal Extras', describing her private conversations with Lady Elizabeth, who was fondly called Liza by friends. Liza claimed that Meghan was 'full of charm' and appeared 'natural, intelligent, and thoughtful' after she became engaged to Harry in 2017. But as the wedding came closer, Liza claimed that both Harry and Meghan upset the Queen. Harry was apparently 'rude' to his grandmother for ten minutes in one meeting. Meghan allegedly refused to share details of her wedding dress with the monarch. Speaking on the YouTube show Palace Confidential, Rebecca English, the Daily Mail's Royal Editor, said: 'I know from my own sources that the Queen was bemused and saddened by some of Meghan's behaviour but by their behaviour as a couple. 'It did overshadow her last few years of life, of course.' But there was another reason why the Queen was reportedly 'not at all content' while sat in the pews at St George's Chapel on May 19, 2018. Ms Bedell Smith wrote: 'According to Liza, the Queen was dismayed that Harry had asked the Archbishop of Canterbury to perform the wedding service in St. George's Chapel without first requesting permission from the Dean of Windsor.' 'It sounds quite niche in the circumstances,' Rebecca said o n the latest episode of Palace Confidential. 'But I do think it gets to the crux of the issue. 'She was really quite unhappy that Meghan and Harry wanted the Archbishop of Canterbury to marry them at St George's Chapel at Windsor because actually that was the Dean of Windsor's territory and it really shouldn't have happened.' Although Rebecca acknowledged that Palace Confidential viewers may find this 'silly', she explained: 'When you know about the set up of things, it really was the Dean's territory. 'It kind of illustrated how she felt there was a fundamental misunderstanding from the couple about how things worked. 'It just didn't sit comfortably with her,' she added. As a result, Ms Bedell Smith wrote that Lady Elizabeth believed Harry had 'blown his relationship with his grandmother'. Rebecca stars on the hit royal YouTube show alongside host Jo Elvin and Richard Eden, the Daily Mail's Diary Editor. Responding to Rebecca, Richard said: 'You might remember in Harry and Meghan's Oprah interview that Meghan actually said: "You know what, we got married the night before!" 'They got the Archbishop of Canterbury round to their backyard, as she called it, and they got married and we know what that was. In reality, that was a rehearsal and they were just going through their vows. 'That caused awful confusion because the Church actually had to issue a formal statement saying: "We did not marry them the day before i.e. break the law."' Rebecca added: 'I think the Church suggested it was just basically a blessing ahead of their big day but it did put the Archbishop of Canterbury in a difficult position. 'He was a big supporter of Harry and Meghan because they had their marital lessons and they had spent time with him discussing their feelings and where they were going. 'But they totally threw him to the wolves over that,' she added. Circling back to Lady Elizabeth's words, which were published this week, Richard said the 'most damning of all' was her apparent suspicion of the former Suits star's motives in marrying Harry. 'We hope but don't quite think she is in love,' Liza said. 'We think she engineered it all.' She also warned: 'It's worrying that so many people are questioning whether Meghan is right for Harry. The problem, bless his heart, is that Harry is neither bright nor strong, and she is both'. 'Meghan is clearly brighter than Harry, but she has to be careful not to overshadow him', she added. Liza apparently told Ms Bedell Smith at the time: 'I don't trust Meghan an inch. Meghan could turn into nothing but trouble.' A spokesman for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex declined to comment on the claims made by Sally Bedell Smith. But a source close to the couple dismissed the sensational claims as 'just gossip'.
News.com.au
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Exact moment Prince Harry ‘blew' relationship with Queen
Prince Harry allegedly 'blew' his relationship with Queen Elizabeth II shortly before his 2018 wedding to Meghan Markle. The monarch, who died in 2022 at age 96, felt 'left out' of the Duke of Sussex's wedding plans, according to royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith. Smith told her Substack readers on Monday that the former military pilot, 40, was 'rude to [Elizabeth] for 10 minutes' in a February 2018 meeting about the nuptials, leaving the queen 'very worried' about the 'besotted and weak' groom. 'The Queen was dismayed that Harry had asked the Archbishop of Canterbury to perform the wedding service in St. George's Chapel without first requesting permission from the Dean of Windsor,' Smith wrote. Elizabeth was additionally aggrieved that Markle, 43, would not reveal her wedding dress details prior to walking down the aisle, Smith claimed. She also wrote that Elizabeth was bothered by 'Meghan and [Prince] William and Kate [Middleton] not working well together' leading up to the ceremony. Smith reportedly received her intel via a phone call from Elizabeth's late cousin, Lady Elizabeth Anson, ahead of her 2020 death. 'We hope but don't quite think she is in love,' Anson told Smith in the February 2019 conversation. 'We think she engineered it all.' At the time, Anson claimed that Elizabeth said the 'jury was still out' on whether she liked Markle. As for her relationship with Harry, Elizabeth and her grandson reportedly 'patched things up' in April 2018. Harry's rep has yet to respond to Page Six's request for comment. He and the Suits star tied the knot in May 2018 — and reports continue to circulate about tensions leading up to the big day. In May, biographer Katie Nicholl alleged in The New Royals that Markle 'berated' her wedding caterer so badly over a dish that wasn't vegan or macrobiotic that Elizabeth stepped in. The queen reportedly said, 'Meghan, in this family we don't speak to people like that.' Harry hit back at negative reports about his wife over the weekend, saying at the 2025 Nexus Global Summit that she was the 'most trolled person in the world' in 2018. The couple notably left England in 2020, moved to the United States and quit their royal roles. They now live in a Montecito, California, mansion with son Archie, 6, and daughter Lilibet, 4. While the little ones primarily stay out of the spotlight, Markle has shared more frequent photos of them since rejoining Instagram in January.
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Princess Eugenie left one chair empty at her wedding and this is the reason why...
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank 's Great Gatsby wedding at St George's Chapel was pure sophistication from start to finish. The princess wore a low-back gown in an ivory brocade fabric with shoes by Charlotte Olympia. Her stunning emerald tiara is known as Margaret Greville's tiara and was inherited by The Queen Mother in 1942. Eugenie and Jack invited 850 royals, aristocrats, VIPs and friends - 150 more than Harry and Meghan when they married at the same venue five months prior. Among the guests were celebrities such as Cara Delevingne to Robbie Williams. Arriving on the arm of her father, Prince Andrew, Eugenie was beaming throughout the hour-long service, while Jack appeared overcome with emotion. But some eagle-eyed royal observers noticed one 'unusual' detail: One of the best seats in the church was left empty. People began to speculate why this was with some questioning if it was out of respect to a deceased relative, or that there was a missing guest. Some eagle-eyed royal observers noticed one unusual detail: One of the best seats in the church was left empty But the real reason was due to royal protocol - and to keep the late Queen happy. Traditionally the Queen and the rest of the royals sit in the right hand choir pews at St George's Chapel, closest to the altar. Royal protocol dictates that no one is allowed to sit in front of the Queen and obstruct her view. This specific seat is also said to be one the late Queen 'didn't find comfortable'. Instead it is thought that she preferred to be in the second row alongside her husband, Prince Philip. For this occasion, Prince Charles, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle also joined her in the second row. The bride's mother, Sarah Ferguson, Princess Beatrice and Zara and Mike Tindall all sat in the front row. This gave the Queen - who stood at a mere 5 foot 3 inches - an unobstructed view of the nuptials. Eugenie had a close relationship with the late Queen, affectionately calling her 'Granny'. They often spent time together when Eugenie was a child, including summers at Balmoral. As an adult, they often attended various royal events together. Eugenie admired her grandmother's sense of duty, dedication, and love for her people, both in public and private. The Queen trusted Eugenie to wear the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara on her wedding day, as she had promised her as a child. It has been reported that Meghan initially wanted to wear this tiara for her wedding, but the Queen ultimately chose a different one. When Prince Harry married Meghan earlier the same year, he also left a seat vacant in front of the Queen. It was initially believed that this was in honour of his mother, the late Princess Diana but was later revealed to be for the Queen to have a better view. The Queen didn't need the accommodation at Prince William and Kate Middleton's 2011 ceremony, however, as she was seated in the front row then. According to Buckingham Palace sources, the spot in front of the Queen is always left empty. Queen Elizabeth memorably sat in the same spot at the 2021 funeral of Prince Philip, her husband of 73 years. Due to Covid restrictions that required social distancing, the monarch sat alone in the pew. Since Charles became king in 2022, this tradition has continued for him. At Queen Elizabeth's committal service, the chair in front of Charles was kept empty. There have also been occasions when the Royal Family has honoured the deceased by leaving a chair vacant. In 2021 following the death of his father, Prince Philip, Charles said there was a noticeably empty seat at his family's table, where his father would have once sat. The following year, in 2022, Charles left an empty seat opposite him in the Royal Ascot carriage in honour of the Queen's absence. Royal protocol is not a set in stone set of rules and is often broken for various reasons. Both King Charles and heir to the throne Prince William are much taller than the late Queen was, standing at 5 foot 10 and 6 foot 3 respectively. Their view is unlikely to be obstructed by somebody sitting in front of them but the tradition may remain for the sake of tradition. But for the wedding of Eugenie and Jack, this small detail meant that the Queen was comfortable and could get a full view of her granddaughter as she married the love of her life.
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Meghan and Harry's 7-year itch! Couple on different career paths as they mark their wedding anniversary - amid claims the Duchess aims to be a 'billionaire' while Prince lacks her 'ruthlessness'
As they look back on their wedding at St George's Chapel seven years ago today, Harry and Meghan remain united in their desire to live a different life away from the Royal Family, but they are not on the same page in every single sense. During their brief period as working royals where they appeared to be the perfect double act. Even during the drama of 'Megxit', Harry and Meghan's early business ventures were almost entirely joint which included the formation of their non-profit organisation Archewell and a lucrative Netflix deal which saw the pair star in a documentary. However, as the couple celebrate their seventh wedding anniversary, there appears to be a growing career chasm between the Sussexes in their business ventures with both taking on more solo projects. According to one royal insider, the couple could be suffering from a so-called 'seven-year glitch' where by they are still very much happily married but are separating their professional lives. Speaking to MailOnline, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said that Meghan has ambitions to become a billionaire with her various projects including TV and investing in start-ups, but Harry lacks the same 'ruthlessness'. 'Harry is increasingly finding himself as the spare in a relationship with Meghan which undoubtedly involves mutual affection, but where their priorities differ widely. 'Meghan likes glitz and glamour and is absolutely ruthless as the interview on Oprah showed so clearly. Because she married Harry, her brand does have reach. 'She would like to be a billionaire influencer and an A-list celebrity but she has very few A-list friends.' Richard said that Harry's comfort zone is his charity work, and this is the direction in which he naturally finds himself leaning. 'Invictus means a lot to him, it was a joy to see him at the WellChild Awards last year. He genuinely enjoyed being with the children, it seemed as though the "old Harry" was temporarily back,' he said. However, he cautioned that the Duke has made a 'large number of mistakes'. These include his 'angry and resentful half hour interview with the BBC after he lost his court case over security and his ill-judged memoir Spare'. He added: However, though often emotional, he lacks Meghan's ruthlessness, which was so apparent in the Oprah interview.' As for Meghan's hopes of reaching her billionaire goal, Richard said that her public image could be problematic. 'Her declining popularity in the United States is partly due to the bullying allegations which have dogged her though she strongly denies them, and partly because, as was pointed out by critics of her With Love, Meghan cookery show, she is too self-obsessed,' he explained. 'She should take advice from the infamous but pragmatic 16th century diplomat Nicolo Machiavelli who wrote 'It is not necessary that a prince (in her case a princess) be just. It is very necessary that he (she) appear to be'. 'The talent isn't there, the ambition is boundless, the self-love infinite and it shows far too obviously. The novelty has worn off, too. If you preach love but rubbish the royal family, which you married into, you might not make the fortune you seek!' Indeed, Meghan does appear to have focused much of her energy on her solo business projects in recent years. In March 2024, she soft-launched American Riviera Orchard before changing the companies name to As Ever. Announcing the new venture, Meghan said: 'This new chapter is an extension of what has always been my love language, beautifully weaving together everything I cherish - food, gardening, entertaining, thoughtful living, and finding joy in the everyday.' The food products sold by the brand include an assortment of teas, edible flower sprinkles and a £20 jar of honey. Meghan has also invested in a number of companies including the vegan coffee brand Clevr Blends and haircare line Highbrow Hippie. She has also invested in asset manager Ethic, which focuses on sustainable investments. Harry and Meghan signed a lucrative £18million deal with Spotify in 2020. However despite appearing to be a joint venture, the only show they produced was hosted by Meghan. In the series, titled Archetypes, Meghan interviewed various celebrities from Serena Williams to Paris Hilton. In 2022, the first Netflix series about the Sussexes was released aptly named Harry and Meghan. While it holds the record for the biggest debut for a Netflix documentary it received mixed reviews from critics The deal was 'mutually ended' in June 2023 with sources claiming the music streaming giant did not see a enough content to warrant the full payout. Earlier this year, the duchess launched her Confessions of a Female Founder with Meghan podcast which saw the royal chat with female business owners from an array of successful companies. In a slight career change, Meghan also penned a children's book in 2021 titles The Bench. The book follows the relationship of a father and son through the eyes of the mother. It received mixed reviews from critics. Harry remains focused on his charity work. He is still involved heavily with the Invictus Games and the foundation which supports the tournament as well as the HALO Trust - a charity working to remove landmines which Princess Diana was supportive of. The Duke of Sussex also launched more new projects in recent years including an eco-travel campaign through his non-profit Travalyst, aimed at encouraging sustainable travel. In November 2023 he became the global ambassador for Scotty's Little Soldiers - a charity which cares for children whose parents died while serving in the armed forces. A jar of honey for sale on As Ever which sells an array of food products Prince Harry and Meghan on their wedding day in May 2018 In their television projects, Harry and Meghan have kept a much more united front but even so the couple do now appear to be doing much more separate projects. Although an official figure was never announced, Harry and Meghan's deal with Netflix was allegedly worth around £80million and seen the couple produce multiple shows. In 2022, the first Netflix series about the Sussexes was released aptly named Harry and Meghan. While it holds the record for the biggest debut for a Netflix documentary it received mixed reviews. The pair were also executive producers on the Polo sports documentary series which followed athletes at the US Open Polo Championship. In 2023, Meghan did not join Harry as an executive producer on the Heart of Invictus series, although the duke and duchess did appear together during the show. Meghan's first major solo television project was her lifestyle programme called With Love Meghan which saw the duchess team up with a number of famous guests to cook and create homeware products. Harry was almost entirely absent from the series aside from a very brief cameo in the last episode. A source from the show has since reported that neither Harry nor their children will appear in the next season of the show.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Wedding Broke the Same Tradition as King Charles and Queen Camilla's Big Day
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Royal weddings are full of tradition and meaning, including special touches like Welsh gold wedding rings, significant flowers and historic churches. But when King Charles and Queen Camilla got married in 2005, they broke an unwritten but longstanding practice—and 13 years later, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle went on to make the same choice with their own Windsor wedding. The Queen Mother and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were both married on Thursdays, while Princess Diana and Prince Charles got married on Wednesday, July 29, 1981. Three decades on, Prince William married Kate Middleton on a Friday morning, but when King Charles walked down the aisle for the second time, both his civil service and church ceremony took place on a Saturday—and so did Harry and Meghan's 2018 wedding. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will celebrate their seventh wedding anniversary on May 19 after tying the knot at St. George's Chapel on a Saturday afternoon, just like Harry's father did. While The King—then known as the Prince of Wales—originally planned to marry Camilla Parker Bowles on a Friday, Pope John Paul II's funeral ended up being scheduled for the same day. The couple made the decision to push the ceremony back to Saturday, April 9 out of respect for the late pope. There's no set rule that royal marriages should take place on a weekday, but for weddings of heirs like Prince Charles and Prince William they were both made bank holidays, giving the country an extra day off work to celebrate and enjoy the moment. Sadly, it looks like there won't be another British royal wedding for years to come. But if you find yourself camped outside a church in London waiting for Prince George to ride by in a carriage one day, it'll probably be on a weekday—and a major celebration for the future King and country.
