Prince Harry was reportedly left momentarily stunned by Queen Elizabeth II’s surprising reaction when he sought her blessing to marry Meghan Markle — a
Prince Harry was reportedly left momentarily stunned by Queen Elizabeth II’s surprising reaction when he sought her blessing to marry Meghan Markle — a pivotal moment in royal history now resurfacing with new revelations.
According to royal biographer Ingrid Seward, the Duke of Sussex approached his grandmother privately, expecting a formal approval.
Instead, the Queen responded with a typically dry — and somewhat ambiguous — remark: “Well then, I suppose I have to say yes.”
Seward claims the Queen’s reply “floored” Harry at first, leaving him unsure whether he had received her genuine support. However, he soon understood that her remark, though unexpected, was indeed her way of granting permission.
A Quiet Proposal — Without Charles or Philip Present
The significant exchange reportedly took place not in a grand royal residence, but in a windswept Norfolk field — far removed from the usual formality of royal protocol. Neither King Charles (then Prince of Wales) nor Prince Philip were present during the conversation.
Seward, writing in her biography My Mother and I, notes that the Queen later confided in her close friend Lady Elizabeth Anson, who regularly spoke with Her Majesty and offered insights into her private thoughts.
Doubts Behind Palace Walls
While the Queen ultimately approved the engagement, not all voices within the royal inner circle were as optimistic. Journalist and royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith recently revealed via her Royal Extras Substack that Lady Elizabeth privately expressed concern just days before the royal wedding.
According to Smith, Lady Elizabeth allegedly said: “We hope but don’t quite think she is in love. We think she engineered it all.”
She reportedly continued: “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.”
These doubts reflect the quiet but persistent unease within certain palace circles ahead of the couple’s high-profile nuptials.
The Queen’s Private Concerns Over the Wedding
Ingrid Seward also claims that the Queen had personal reservations about aspects of the wedding itself — particularly Meghan’s choice of gown. The Duchess of Sussex wore a stunning white Givenchy dress for the ceremony at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.
However, the Queen reportedly felt the dress was “too white” for a bride who had previously been married. Meghan was married to film producer Trevor Engelson from 2011 to 2014.
Traditionally, royal protocol suggests that divorcees marrying in church should opt for off-white or alternative shades. The Queen’s opinion, though never publicly expressed, reflected a more old-fashioned approach to royal decorum.
A Moment That Defined a Royal Chapter
The Queen’s quietly complex response to Harry’s request and the private concerns that swirled around Meghan’s entrance into royal life continue to offer a window into the challenges the couple faced from the very beginning.
While history now shows that Harry and Meghan’s path within the royal family was far from smooth, this early moment — in a windswept field, without fanfare — marked the beginning of a new, and ultimately turbulent, chapter in royal history.
