New biography claims the late monarch quietly urged caution over the fast-moving royal romance
Prince Harry reportedly ignored advice from Queen Elizabeth II to slow down his relationship with Meghan Markle before marriage, according to claims in a forthcoming royal biography.
Harry began dating Meghan Markle in 2016. Their romance moved quickly, with the couple announcing their engagement in 2017 and marrying the following year. While the pace of the relationship surprised many royal watchers, the late Queen is said to have privately expressed concern behind palace doors.
Royal historian Hugo Vickers, who is writing Queen Elizabeth II: A Personal History, claims the monarch suggested that Harry wait a year before marrying the former Suits actress. The advice, however, was not followed.
According to Vickers, the Duke of Sussex chose to move ahead with the wedding plans despite the Queen’s suggestion.
“The Queen herself suggested that Harry should wait a year. He did not take her advice. Instead, as we know, the wedding went ahead just over six months after the couple’s engagement,” the author writes in the book.
Debate Over Meghan Markle’s Wedding Dress
The biography also claims there was quiet disapproval surrounding Meghan Markle’s wedding gown.
For the ceremony, Meghan Markle wore a white Givenchy dress designed by Clare Waight Keller. While the minimalist design drew global attention, Vickers claims the late monarch was not entirely pleased with the choice.
According to the royal biographer, the Queen reportedly felt the gown was “too white” and criticised its shoulder design.
Vickers writes that someone close to the monarch told him the Queen’s response to the wedding preparations was largely hands-off. Her attitude toward the event was reportedly: “You get on with it. It’s nothing to do with me.”
The account offers another glimpse into the reported tensions surrounding Meghan Markle’s arrival in the royal family, suggesting that concerns and disagreements existed behind the scenes even as the royal wedding captured worldwide attention.
