The relationship between Queen Elizabeth II and her granddaughter-in-law, Meghan Markle, began with unprecedented gestures of acceptance and warmth before taking unexpected turns.
According to the Daily Mail, extensive research and palace sources have uncovered how the late monarch's initial welcoming approach toward Meghan Markle gradually shifted as concerns emerged about the American actress's behavior and attitude within the royal household.
The Queen demonstrated her early acceptance of Meghan through several groundbreaking decisions. She invited Meghan to spend Christmas at Sandringham in 2017, five months before her wedding to Prince Harry - a privilege not extended to other royal brides like Kate Middleton and Sophie Rhys-Jones, who had to wait until after their marriages.
The monarch's efforts to integrate Meghan into royal life went beyond traditional protocols. She fast-tracked Meghan's introduction to official duties, including her at Commonwealth Day services before the wedding.
The Queen also granted Meghan access to her personal tiara collection for the wedding preparations, allowing her to try on precious pieces in her private dressing room.
Palace insiders reveal that Elizabeth II viewed Meghan's background as a divorced, mixed-race American actress as potentially beneficial for modernizing the monarchy. She appointed Meghan as Vice-President of the Queen's Commonwealth Trust in 2018 and granted her the prestigious role of royal patron of the National Theatre.
According to Netflix series 'Harry & Meghan', Markle initially embraced royal life. She shared her initial experience at Sandringham:
I remember so vividly the first Christmas at Sandringham, calling my mom, and she's like, 'How's it going?' and I said, 'Oh, my gosh, it's amazing.' It's just like a big family, like I always wanted. And there was just this constant movement and energy and fun.
The harmonious beginning showed signs of strain as wedding preparations progressed. The Queen was reportedly surprised when Meghan declined her suggestion to receive guidance from Sophie, Countess of Wessex, about royal life. Her Majesty also expressed concerns about Meghan's choice of a white wedding gown for her second marriage.
A significant point of contention arose during wedding tiara preparations. Sources indicate that Angela Kelly, the Queen's trusted dresser, experienced difficulties with Meghan's approach to palace protocol. The situation reportedly created tension, though Prince Harry later denied in his memoir that he demanded special treatment.
Palace staff who worked during the Sussexes' time as working royals shared their observations. They suggested that Meghan appeared to seek out reasons for discontent from the beginning and may have encouraged Harry's existing frustrations about his position as the "spare" heir.
The relationship between the Queen and Meghan took a decisive turn in January 2020 when the Sussexes announced their departure from royal duties via Instagram. This was followed by their controversial Oprah interview and Netflix documentary, where Meghan appeared to mock the formal curtsy she had performed for the Queen during their first meeting.
The late monarch's efforts to welcome Meghan continued even as her health declined in her final years. However, these gestures were overshadowed by the couple's subsequent actions and public statements against the royal family.
This complex dynamic between Queen Elizabeth II and Meghan Markle reveals how initial warmth and acceptance transformed into a situation marked by misunderstanding and eventual estrangement. The story highlights the challenges of integrating modern perspectives into centuries-old royal traditions while raising questions about the future of monarchy in contemporary times.
