Harry Reveals How Meghan Markle Won Over the Queen 'Straight Away' in First Meet: 'This One...'

As Prince Harry's relationship with Meghan Markle grew serious, insiders eagerly waited for her first meeting with the late Queen Elizabeth II. Their meet was surprisingly sweet and memorable—the start of something special as the Queen reportedly took a liking and even invited Markle for her private Christmas dinner that's strictly restricted for only royals. According to reports, Markle met the monarch at Balmoral Castle in September 2017. The visit was said to have gone smoothly, and Harry was all smiles, happy to see his girlfriend connect effortlessly with his family. The former actress also shared details about the same during her first televised interview with Harry the same year.

As reported by Daily Express, when asked whether Markle had been introduced to the late Queen and her adored corgis, Harry looked at her and said, "The corgis took to you straight away! I've spent the last 33 years being barked at, and this one [Meghan] walks in, absolutely nothing." As reported by The Mirror, Markle added, "[They were] just lying on my feet during tea. It was very sweet." Despite the media reports, in his memoir, Spare, Harry disclosed that Markle's first encounter with the late Queen took place at Royal Lodge, Prince Andrew’s residence, in October 2016.

Harry recounted, “Granny was dressed for church: a brightly coloured dress and matching hat. I can't recall the color; I wish I could, but it was bright. Fancy. I could see Meg regretting her jeans and black sweater.” The Duke also shared how, during their first meeting, the Queen asked his then-girlfriend about her views on President Donald Trump. However, Markle wasn't very fascinated by politics and swiftly changed the conversation to Canada instead. Speaking about the Queen, Markle said, "The Queen has always been wonderful to me."

Markle also opened up about her and the late Queen's first and only solo engagement in June 2018 during her interview with Oprah Winfrey. As reported by Newsweek, she said, "We were in the car going between engagements, and she has a blanket that sits across her knees for warmth, and it was chilly, and she was like, 'Meghan, come on' and put it over my knees as well. It made me think of my grandmother, [who] has always been warm and inviting and really welcoming." On Markle's wedding day in May 2018, the Queen even lent her one of her tiaras.

While Markle and the late Queen initially got along well, their relationship started to go downhill after Markle and Harry revealed in January 2020 that they were stepping down from their senior royal roles. A year later, the couple officially announced that they would not return as working royals and would continue their life in California. Although the Queen expressed support for the couple, a source later revealed that she had hoped for a different outcome. As reported by Us Weekly, the source said, “The Queen was hoping that they’d return, but there is not much she can do about it and accepts their decision.”