A new account has surfaced detailing private concerns held by the late Queen Elizabeth II regarding Meghan Markle’s relationships with senior members of the Royal Family prior to her 2018 marriage to Prince Harry.
According to claims made by the late Lady Elizabeth Anson, a cousin of the Queen, to a royal author, the monarch expressed worry that Markle was not “working well” with the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Catherine. These private conversations, reportedly held before Anson’s passing, suggest a level of apprehension within royal circles about the dynamic between the two couples from the outset.
The account alleges the Queen was deeply concerned about the potential impact of the new relationship on the family and questioned the nature of Markle’s motives for marrying Prince Harry. Anson is quoted as characterizing Harry as “besotted and weak about women,” while expressing a hope, but not a conviction, that Markle was genuinely in love.
These reported private misgivings appear to contrast with the public image presented at the time. In early 2018, the two couples made a joint appearance at a forum, where they were informally dubbed the “Fab Four” by observers. However, even during that event, there were hints of underlying strain. When asked if the couples ever disagreed, Prince William laughed and replied, “Oh yes,” with Prince Harry quickly clarifying they were “healthy disagreements.” William then added, more soberly, “Is it resolved? We don’t know.”
Further context for these reported tensions can be found in Prince Harry’s subsequent memoir. He wrote of his brother’s initial discouragement of the relationship, claiming William felt it was moving “too fast” and made disparaging remarks about dating an “American actress.” Harry also recounted an early, awkward meeting where Markle’s informal greeting—a hug—reportedly unsettled William, and described a later clash between Markle and Catherine over a comment made about postpartum hormones.
The foursome continued to undertake some joint engagements until 2020, when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back from their roles as senior working royals. The newly revealed claims offer a glimpse into the private concerns that may have simmered beneath the surface of the royal family’s public facade during a period of significant transition.
