Begin humble. Meghan MarkleAppeared to have an immediate bond with Queen Elizabeth II — and despite the duchess’ ups and downs with the royal family, their friendship is still intact.
The BenchAuthor was introduced to the queen in 2017 shortly before she and Prince HarryThe couple announced their engagement in fall 2018. Once the couple tied the knot in May 2018, Meghan’s relationship with the queen blossomed.
“[Her Majesty]Has a great sense of humor. That’s one of the first things that brought her and Meghan closer,” a source exclusively told Us WeeklyAfter Meghan joined Elizabeth in June 2018, she made a solo appearance. “It’s that warm side of her that has made Meghan feel so at ease.”
In her March 2021 CBS tell all interview, the Archewell cofounder said that her trip to Cheshire in England with the monarch was more relaxed then some might think.
“We were in the car going between engagements. And she has a blanket that sits across her knees for warmth, and it was chilly,” Meghan remembered. “And she was like, ‘Meghan, come on,’ and put it over my knees as well. … And it made me think of my grandmother, where she’s always been warm and inviting and really welcoming.”
Though they started on the right foot, Meghan’s relationship with her grandmother-in-law hit a snag after she and Harry announced in January 2020 their plans to step back from their senior royal duties. One year later, they confirmed that they would not return as working royals but would continue to live in California.
The queen signed a statement of support for Archie and Archie, but later a source said that she was not the only one to do so. UseElizabeth wanted a different outcome. “The queen was hoping that they’d return, but there is not much she can do about it and accepts their decision,” the insider said in February 2021.
Their relationship was further strained when Harry and Meghan spoke out against the monarchy in their CBS sit-down in March 2021. The Sussexes claimed that Meghan had experienced racism in London while she was living there and that they felt unsupported by The Firm.
“The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan,” a statement from Buckingham Palace read after the allegations made headlines.
An insider tells Use that same month, “The queen has always had a soft spot for Harry and looked out for him, so [she] is incredibly hurt and shocked that it has come to this.”
The drama surrounding Harry, Meghan, and Meghan seemed to recede somewhat when the couple welcomed Lili, their daughter named after Elizabeth, in June 2021. (The queen’s nickname is Lilibet, which is Lili’s full first name.)
The Southern California residents “have a huge amount of respect for the queen,” a source told Use after Lili’s birth, noting that the moniker was “always their favorite” but had to be approved by the queen before they chose it.
Scroll down to relive Meghan’s relationship with the royal matriarch through the years:
