Long before the royal rift became tabloid fodder, Queen Elizabeth II had already seen the warning signs.
According to royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith, the late monarch privately expressed that something simply wasn’t working between Prince William, Princess Kate, and Meghan Markle.
As relayed by her cousin Lady Elizabeth Anson, Her Majesty once remarked: “Meghan and William and Kate are not working well — especially the two girls.”
A quiet but telling observation that revealed the Queen’s growing discomfort with the dynamics forming between the Sussexes and Cambridges.
Harry & Meghan: Love, Loyalty, and Unease
The Queen’s misgivings extended beyond workplace synergy. She reportedly viewed Prince Harry as emotionally vulnerable, calling him “not bright nor strong,” and questioned whether Meghan’s commitment was driven by love — or ambition.
Multiple palace insiders say Meghan’s confidence and directness clashed with centuries-old protocols. One insider claimed Buckingham Palace was “really worried” about the way she shook up the royal routine.
Friction in the Fab Four
What looked like royal unity in public was unraveling in private:
Wedding tension: The Queen was said to be displeased when Harry sidestepped royal protocol during wedding planning, particularly when he invited the Archbishop of Canterbury without consulting the Dean of Windsor.
Style vs. tradition: Meghan reportedly ruffled feathers by challenging how things were traditionally done. From wardrobe choices to royal duties, she was seen as breaking the mold — sometimes uncomfortably so.
Meghan vs. Kate: Disputes over bridesmaid dresses and borrowed makeup weren’t just tabloid gossip — they symbolized the strain between the duchesses, making the Queen’s concern over “the two girls” feel all the more poignant.
A Monarch’s Intuition
For all her restraint, Queen Elizabeth was no stranger to emotional insight. She reportedly feared Meghan was “engineering” the relationship and that Harry’s devotion left him isolated. Her private thoughts underscore just how much tension simmered beneath the glossy image of the royal “Fab Four.”
In Hindsight
Looking back, the Queen’s subtle warnings reflect her long-honed ability to read both people and politics. Her concern that the key players in the modern monarchy were not aligned hints at deeper fractures — ones that would later explode into the public eye with “Megxit,” Oprah interviews, and royal resignations.
Bottom Line:
Behind the crown and controlled expressions, Queen Elizabeth saw a family struggling with its future. Her quiet doubts about Meghan, Kate, and William weren’t just personal—they were prophetic. In the end, even the world’s most composed monarch knew: not all fairy tales in Windsor have happy endings.
