Behind the Vows: Queen Elizabeth’s Hidden Discomfort with Harry & Meghan’s Ceremony

As the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing is remembered, new reports from royal experts and biographers have shed light on private tensions surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding in May 2018. 

Behind the grandeur of the royal ceremony, the late Queen reportedly expressed unease over certain details that, in her view, broke with long-standing traditions of the monarchy.

One of the most striking points of contention was Meghan’s decision to be escorted down the main aisle by Prince Charles, rather than her father, Thomas Markle.

Thomas had withdrawn from attending the ceremony just days before, following controversy over staged paparazzi photographs. 

According to accounts, the Queen described this adjustment as “uncomfortable” and voiced her concerns in private discussions with close confidantes such as Lady Elizabeth Anson, though she refrained from issuing any public comment.

Royal biographer Ingrid Seward, in her book My Mother and I, added that Queen Elizabeth was uneasy about other aspects of the ceremony. 

These included the length of the engagement and Meghan’s wedding dress, which the Queen reportedly thought was “too white,” a choice she considered inconsistent with older royal wedding traditions.

Other authors, including Robert Hardman and Sally Bedell Smith, have also noted that the Queen was troubled by Prince Harry’s handling of the final organizational details. Yet, in keeping with her lifelong practice, she chose not to voice her reservations publicly, limiting her remarks to a small circle.

Despite these private concerns, the ceremony projected a unified royal front in support of the couple. 

However, Meghan’s strained relationship with her father deepened after the wedding; the two have not met since, and Thomas Markle has yet to meet his grandchildren.

Observers note that the episode reflected a broader contrast between the strict protocols of royal tradition and the more personal, independent approach Harry and Meghan sought to bring to their wedding.

For Queen Elizabeth, the event was another moment of balancing personal sentiment with her enduring commitment to the values of the institution she represented for decades.