In November 2017, Prince Harry proposed to Meghan Markle in a beautiful and intimate setting, surrounded by electric candles and white flowers in the peaceful walled garden of Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace.
While many might have expected the proposal to be grander, Harry explained during their 2022 Netflix documentary Harry and Meghan that he had originally planned to propose sooner.
However, there was one significant hurdle: he had to first ask for permission from his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, which meant he could only do so in the UK.
The Unusual Request for Permission
Before Harry could pop the question, he had to seek the approval of the Queen, a requirement for royal engagements.
This moment occurred after a long day spent shooting at Sandringham.
The request itself happened unexpectedly, in the middle of a windswept field in Norfolk.
As royal biographer Ingrid Seward recounted in her book My Mother and I, Harry seized a rare opportunity when he found the Queen alone, picking up dead birds after the final drive with her Labradors, without any security around her. In this quiet moment, Harry asked his grandmother for her blessing.
The Queen’s response, though cryptic, was warm: “Well, then, I suppose I have to say yes.”
The Queen’s Support for Meghan
The late Queen Elizabeth II had a surprisingly positive relationship with Meghan.
After meeting the American actress for the first time over tea at the Royal Lodge in Windsor, the Queen was pleased that her grandson had found someone who could reciprocate his intense feelings.
According to Lady Elizabeth, one of the Queen’s closest confidantes, Her Majesty had high hopes for Meghan, especially regarding what she could bring to the royal family, including her potential work with the youth of the Commonwealth.
The Queen continued to champion Meghan, even in the face of some concerns voiced by Prince Philip.
Prince Philip’s Reservations About Meghan
However, not everyone was as enthusiastic about Meghan.
Prince Philip, who was often wary of new people, felt an uncanny resemblance between Meghan and Wallis Simpson, the American divorcee for whom King Edward VIII abdicated the throne.
According to Seward, Prince Philip even nicknamed Meghan “DOW” after Wallis.
While the Queen had no qualms about Meghan’s involvement in the royal family, Philip’s doubts lingered, and he felt Meghan’s charm was too reminiscent of Wallis’s. Still, the Queen’s affection for Meghan remained strong.
The Wedding Dress and the Queen’s Opinion
When Meghan married Harry, she chose a white Givenchy gown designed by Claire Waight Keller.
The dress, a simple yet elegant creation with long sleeves and a bateau neckline, drew attention, but not all of it was positive.
The Queen, typically reserved about offering opinions, made her disapproval clear to those close to her.
Lady Elizabeth revealed that the Queen thought Meghan’s wedding dress was “too white” for a divorcee remarrying in church.
She felt the dress was too “flamboyantly virginal,” especially given Meghan’s previous marriage.
Meghan’s Veil and Traditional Choices
Meghan’s choice of veil also raised some eyebrows, particularly with the Queen.
The 16-foot-long veil was a remarkable feature of her wedding look, adorned with lace symbols representing each of the 53 Commonwealth countries.
This extravagant choice contrasted sharply with Queen Camilla’s more traditional decision not to wear a veil at her 2005 wedding to Prince Charles, despite her own previous marriage.
Prince William’s Concerns
Amidst all the family dynamics surrounding Harry and Meghan’s relationship, Prince William had significant concerns about the rapid pace at which the couple’s romance was progressing.
According to royal expert Tina Brown, William was worried about Harry rushing into the relationship, having seen his brother’s past love affairs.
William expressed his doubts to Harry, suggesting the relationship was moving too quickly, and even made a pointed remark about Harry’s frequent trips to Botswana with different girlfriends.
These concerns deepened as Harry’s relationship with Meghan accelerated, and William feared his brother was heading for trouble.
Harry and Meghan’s Relationship and the Reactions from Friends
It wasn’t just family members who expressed their worries. Harry’s long-time friend, Tom “Skippy” Inskip, also warned him about rushing into a serious relationship.
Inskip, along with some of Harry’s other friends, believed that Harry should take more time to get to know Meghan before making any major commitments.
Despite these cautions, Harry was resolute in his feelings for Meghan, and by November 2018, a little over a year after meeting her, he proposed.
A Quick Proposal and Harry’s Belief in Destiny
In their engagement interview with BBC’s Mishal Husain, Harry shared the emotional sentiment behind his swift proposal.
“The fact that I fell in love with Meghan so incredibly quickly was a sort of confirmation to me that everything, all the stars were aligned,” he said.
Harry truly believed that their love was meant to be, feeling as though fate had brought them together.