Prince Harry Reveals Regrets Over Meghan Markle’s First Meeting with the Queen: Wardrobe Clashes and Unwanted Guests
Prince Harry’s tell-all autobiography Spare, which secured historic commercial milestones as the fastest-selling non-fiction title upon its 2023 release, offered an extraordinarily detailed account of introducing his future wife, Meghan Markle, to the British Royal Family. While the Duke of Sussex characterized Meghan’s initial introduction to Queen Elizabeth II in October 2016 as generally pleasant, he openly acknowledged simmering frustrations over the awkward circumstances surrounding the encounter at Royal Lodge.
A primary source of embarrassment centered on their glaring sartorial disconnect. Having returned from church, the late monarch appeared in formal attire—a brightly colored dress accompanied by a matching structured hat. Conversely, caught without prior coordination, Meghan was dressed informally in everyday denim jeans and a plain black sweater, while Harry wore aged trousers. Harry noted that he could immediately see Meghan second-guessing her casual clothing opposite the monarch’s dignified elegance, though the Queen swiftly bypassed the aesthetic divide to inquire warmly after Meghan’s travels.
The meeting was further complicated by the unannounced presence of an unfamiliar bystander positioned beside the sovereign. Dubbed an unexpected “bogey at twelve o’clock” by the Duke, the figure was subsequently revealed by Princess Eugenie to be an associate of her mother, Sarah Ferguson. The intrusive presence irked Harry, who lamented that an outsider was inadvertently present for one of the most consequential personal milestones of his adult life.
Nevertheless, the interaction revealed Meghan’s diplomatic instincts when navigating the royal orbit. When Queen Elizabeth II inquired about her views regarding Donald Trump, Meghan prudently treated political topics as a no-win scenario and smoothly steered the dialogue toward life in Canada. Harry concluded the recollection with an amusing diplomatic faux pas: the Suits actress failed to recognize Prince Andrew as he entered carrying the Queen’s handbag, operating under the earnest assumption that the royal Duke was simply the monarch’s personal valet.
