Meghan Markle's Shocking Lack of Royal Etiquette Exposed by Queen Elizabeth's Childhood Friend
Queen Elizabeth's close childhood friend, Lady Anne Glenconner, offers insightful revelations about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's understanding of royal expectations Delve into her candid perspective on the couple's journey within the royal family
On June 14th, 2018, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, inaugurated the Mersey Gateway Bridge at the Catalyst Science Discovery Centre in Widnes, Cheshire. This event preceded their participation in various other engagements within the vicinity. (Source: Mega Agency)
Lady Anne Glenconner, a close childhood friend of Queen Elizabeth, expressed her thoughts on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, stating that when Meghan joined the royal family, she had little understanding of what was expected of her. Anne, who had known Harry since he was a child, also suggested that the actress may have had unrealistic expectations of being treated like royalty.
“I think she simply saw it as being just another actress, you know,” she remarked. However, the truth is that royal life can be incredibly mundane, according to Anne. (Similarly, when Meghan announced her relationship with Harry in 2017, she faced severe scrutiny from the UK press and supposedly even from some members of The Firm, who displayed racist tendencies.)
Anne, who served as a lady-in-waiting for Princess Margaret and was one of Elizabeth’s maids of honor during her coronation, went on to elaborate that a significant portion of a royal's time is spent constantly meeting countless individuals whom they will never encounter again, striving to always say something pleasing and kind."
Anne expressed her sadness regarding the Sussexes' choice to relinquish their positions as senior royals in 2020. During her meeting with Senator John Kerry at the coronation of King Charles III in May, she inquired about the general opinion on the Sussexes in the United States.
“We all feel very, very sorry for Harry,” Kerry responded, according to Anne.
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Harry and Meghan maintained a close relationship with the queen until her passing in September 2022 at the age of 96. Meghan expressed her admiration for the monarch in the couple's 2021 CBS interview, stating, "The queen has always treated me with kindness." Throughout his life, Harry held a deep connection with his grandmother.
“It’s amazing to experience meeting her through [Harry’s] perspective, not only witnessing his honor and reverence towards her as the monarch, but also feeling the deep love he has for her as his grandmother,” Meghan, who married Harry in 2018, expressed during their joint engagement interview in 2017. “All of these aspects have played a vital role in preparing me to meet her, creating a profound understanding and immense respect for the opportunity to spend time with her. She truly is an extraordinary woman.”
In response to their announcement of withdrawing from royal life, the queen released a statement supporting the couple.
In 2020, Queen Elizabeth expressed her love and appreciation for Harry, Meghan, and their son Archie, acknowledging the challenges they faced due to intense scrutiny. She supported their desire for a more independent life and thanked them for their dedicated work in various regions. The Queen also expressed pride in how quickly Meghan became a part of the family. She and the whole family hoped that the agreed-upon terms would enable Harry and Meghan to construct a joyful and tranquil new life. After relocating to California, Harry and Meghan joyfully welcomed their daughter Lilibet, who was named after the Queen, to join their family of four.
