The late Queen Elizabeth II reportedly made a revealing comment when informed that Meghan Markle would not be attending Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021, according to royal biographer Tom Bower. In his book, "Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the war between the Windsors," Bower claims that when aides told the Queen about Meghan's absence, she simply responded by saying, "Thank goodness."
Prince Philip's death came just one month after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's explosive tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, during which the couple made several shocking allegations about the royal family. These claims, including speculation about their son's skin color and accusations that Princess Kate had made Meghan cry before their wedding, led to strained relations between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family.
At the time of the funeral, Meghan was pregnant with the couple's second child, and COVID-19 restrictions were still in place, resulting in the Queen famously sitting alone during the service. It was ultimately decided that Meghan would remain in California while Harry traveled to London alone.
The Queen's alleged relief at Meghan's absence highlights the tension that existed within the royal family following the Oprah interview. In another recent book, "My Mother and I," royal biographer Ingrid Seward delves into Prince Harry's public fall-out with his family and his "anger" at the British monarchy.
Seward writes, "He had discovered a way of making himself the centre of attention and that was by dissing his family, about whom he felt increasingly bitter." She adds that while sibling rivalries are not uncommon, "the anger aimed at the British monarchy, his father and step-mother, was totally unnecessary."
According to Seward, the Queen found herself in an "impossible position" due to Harry's actions. "However much she loved Harry - and she did - she couldn't condone the way he was speaking about the institution of the monarchy that she had spent 70 years preserving," the author explains.
Lady Elizabeth Anson, a cousin and close friend of the Queen, further confirmed that Harry's attitude had "upset his grandmother," according to Seward's book. Lady Anson also revealed the Queen's thoughts on Harry and Meghan's romance, stating, "'Too in love' was her response to Prince Harry being under his future wife's spell."
In a separate report, the Daily Mail's Richard Eden claimed that Queen Elizabeth offered special treatment to four young staff members who assisted with Meghan and Prince Harry's wedding in May 2018. The Queen allegedly approached the troopers while they were tending to their horses in the stables at Windsor a few days after the wedding.
Eden reported that the Queen told them, "I am most happy with my boys on the wedding day. You kept the horses at the right distance from the carriage, and there were no accidents or problems with the horses." As a token of her appreciation, she allegedly offered to send the four staff members on a holiday to Canada, staying with the Canadian Mounties, out of her own purse.
These revelations shed light on the complex dynamics within the royal family during a tumultuous period, as well as the Queen's personal thoughts and actions regarding her grandson's marriage and subsequent fall-out with the monarchy. As the royal family continues to navigate the aftermath of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's departure from their roles as senior royals, these insights provide a glimpse into the challenges faced by the late Queen Elizabeth II during her final years.
