Bombshell claims have emerged alleging the late monarch was left “very upset” in the run up to the May 2019 Royal nuptial over the planning of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry‘s wedding. Journalist Sally Bedell Smith has painted an extraordinary picture of the turmoil behind the scenes on her Substack channel ‘Royals Extra’, based on her conversations with Her Majesty’s cousin – Lady Elizabeth Anson.
Lady Elizabeth was a great-niece of the Queen Mother and a goddaughter of King George VI, and also a well-known party planner. Also known as Liza, she had been asked to meet Meghan to discuss ideas for the royal wedding. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle married on May 19, 2018, in a wedding in St George’s Chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle. It was attended by many high-profile politicians, celebrities and even international royals. Ahead of the big event, the Sussexes upset Elizabeth II for three reasons, it is claimed.
High-society party planner, and close confidante of Queen Elizabeth II, Lady Elizabeth, had her ideas dismissed by the couple in the run up to their nuptials, it is claimed.
While Meghan “was full of charm”, she quickly dismissed any ideas that Liza had for their nuptials by saying she couldn’t “make any decisions” until Harry returned to the UK from Botswana.
“He will write from Africa,” Meghan reportedly told Liza.
The party planner further told journalist Sally, Prince Harry had been in touch to say they had decided to go “another way” with their plans, and claimed his grandmother was “content with this” decision.
“When I spoke with the Queen, she said she is not at all content,” Liza told Sally. She added: “Meghan could turn into nothing but trouble. She sees things in a different way.”
Sally also claimed the relationship had become further strained with the late Queen. She was also saddened after “Meghan wouldn’t tell her” anything about her wedding dress, Sally wrote, adding that Harry was “rude to her for ten minutes” during a meeting.
According to Liza, the Queen was dismayed that Harry had asked the Archbishop of Canterbury to perform the wedding service in St. George’s Chapel without first requesting permission from the Dean of Windsor.
“Harry seems to think the Queen can do what she wants, but she can’t,” said Liza. She added: “On the religious side, it is the Dean of Windsor’s jurisdiction.”
She explained in detail: “I was shocked when the Queen told me this, how she was so saddened. I had no idea about the conversation, that he was rude to her for ten minutes.”
After Harry and Meghan quit as senior members and moved to the US, another staff member reportedly said it became clear very early on that Meghan wanted “to get out”.
Sally said they also suggested Meghan was expecting an even more lavish lifestyle after her marriage into the Royal Family, adding: “She wanted that royal title that she could leverage.”
Lady Elizabeth Anson was born at Windsor Castle during World War II and with King George VI as a godfather, she grew up surrounded by, and was on first name terms with, the royals.
For almost 60 years, she presided over London’s party scene and threw the capital’s best parties.
She arranged the Queen’s 80th birthday party and an event to mark the 50th anniversary of her Coronation.