Queen Elizabeth II Viewed Meghan Markle as an Opportunist, Book Claims Queen Elizabeth II harbored concerns about her grandson Prince Harry’s future wife, Meghan Markle, from the outset of their relationship, according to a new book by veteran political reporter Susan Page. In her upcoming work, The Queen and Her Presidents: The Hidden Hand That Shaped History, Page cites a palace aide who claimed the late monarch grew skeptical of Markle early on, perceiving her as a calculated individual with advanced public relations skills that outpaced the royal family’s outdated press operations. The aide described Elizabeth as “wary” of Markle, suggesting the queen viewed her as an opportunist who had “been on to her from the start.” The book’s revelations come amid ongoing tensions between the royal family and the Sussexes, who stepped down as senior members of the royal family in 2020 after announcing their decision to live overseas. Elizabeth, who died in September 2022 at age 96, was reportedly deeply hurt by the couple’s departure but publicly supported them. In a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan Markle described the queen as “wonderful,” emphasizing her warmth and welcoming nature. Markle’s first meeting with Elizabeth occurred in October 2016 at the Royal Lodge in Windsor, England. Both Harry and Meghan have described the encounter as impromptu, with Markle unaware she would need to curtsy to the queen. Harry recounted the moment in his 2023 memoir, Spare, stating that the royal family was “incredibly impressed” by Markle but initially skeptical of her as an American actress. “The fact that I was dating an American actress was probably what clouded their judgment more than anything else at the beginning,” Harry said.#meghan_markle #queen_elizabeth_ii #susan_page #prince_harry #royal_family
