Queen Elizabeth privately doubted Meghan’s motives, feared Harry was being manipulated
Fresh revelations from royal insiders have shed light on Queen Elizabeth II’s unease regarding Meghan Markle’s behaviour in the lead-up to her marriage to the Duke of Sussex, with concerns that the Duchess viewed Harry as a gateway to personal fame.
Renowned royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith has claimed the late Queen harboured serious doubts about Meghan’s intentions, reportedly worrying that Harry was “perhaps a bit too much in love” and vulnerable to being “manipulated.” According to Smith, the Queen confided in close aides that Harry might be “besotted and a bit weak,” raising questions about his ability to stand firm under Meghan’s influence.
Echoing these claims, royal commentator Phil Dampier said the new accounts support long-standing suspicions that Meghan never intended to fully commit to royal life. “She saw marriage to Harry as a stepping stone to greater fame and fortune,” he remarked.
Royal expert Esther Okraku also weighed in, noting that Meghan was welcomed warmly at first, but may have misunderstood what marrying into the royal family truly meant. “There was a cultural clash,” she explained, suggesting Meghan may have expected a lifestyle more in line with billionaire status.
Lady Elizabeth Anson, the Queen’s cousin and trusted confidante, allegedly voiced her own reservations just days before the wedding. She questioned whether Meghan was genuinely in love, implying the relationship was strategically planned. “The problem, bless his heart, is that Harry is neither bright nor strong, and she is both,” she reportedly stated.
Palace insiders also flagged concerns over Meghan’s conduct in the run-up to the wedding, describing “diva-like” behaviour and secretiveness around her dress plans—raising further alarm behind the scenes.
As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex continue to pursue new projects outside the royal fold, these renewed claims have added fuel to a growing narrative of distrust and cultural misalignment between Meghan and the monarchy.
