Meghan Markle was “unwelcome” to join the royal family on the day Queen Elizabeth passed away, according to a royal expert.
In his book Betrayal, published earlier this year, author Tom Bower details the late Queen’s final moments on 8 September 2022. At the time, the Sussexes hit back at the claims in the book, accusing the author of “fixation” and “crossing a line”.
Meghan Markle was reportedly ‘unwelcome’ to join the royal family on the day Queen Elizabeth passed away (@ Getty Images)
That morning, the author writes, Charles had been informed by a telephone call that his mother was seriously ill and immediately travelled by helicopter to Balmoral Castle, her beloved residence in Scotland, where she retreated during her final weeks.
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He telephoned both his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, with the news, advising them to head to Northolt airport in West London, where a jet would be waiting to take them to Scotland.
But back in Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, deliberated, the author claimed. He also wrote of Charles’s reaction when he found out the Duchess of Sussex planned to join her husband to travel north.
Why was Meghan not welcome?
Tom Bower writes: “When Charles heard that Meghan intended to come, he called Harry. That was unacceptable, said Charles.”
Later, he explains the reason why her presence was “unwelcome”, claiming that Meghan had “refused” the Queen’s invitations to visit at Balmoral.
Meghan and Harry at the late Queen’s lying-in-state (@ Getty)
He says: “Since Meghan had refused the Queen’s invitations to Balmoral in the Queen’s lifetime, she was unwelcome at her death. Sharing his grief with Meghan, who maligned the monarchy, was unthinkable, said Charles. He believed that, to her dying day, his mother was shocked by Harry’s disloyalty.” Harry was “outraged” by the reaction, the author claimed.
“Charles ended their argument by revealing that Kate would not be coming, so Meghan had not been picked on,” Bower added. “Still fuming, Harry discovered that William, who was unwilling to wait any longer, had ordered the plane to take off.”
Reports in 2019 speculated that Harry and Meghan did not visit the Queen at Balmoral that year as their son, Prince Archie, was only four months old. However, this was never confirmed.
The Sussexes and the Waleses were last seen together for the late Queen’s funeral (@ Chris Jackson)
The late monarch passed away on 8 September 2022, aged 96, with “old age” listed as the official cause of death. Her funeral, attended by Harry and Meghan, was held on 19 September that year.
A controversial royal book
Betrayal: Power, Deceit And The Fight For The Future Of The Royal Family explores the “split” between the Houses of Sussex and Windsor, examining the potential causes of the rift between Prince William and Prince Harry.
Queen Elizabeth II passed away in 2022 (@ Getty Images)
Passages from the book include claims that the Queen urged Harry not to rush his marriage to Meghan, and an exploration of the tense relationship between Harry and his uncle, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
In a statement issued in March, in response to the book, a spokesperson for Prince Harry and Meghan said: “Mr Bower’s commentary has long crossed the line from criticism into fixation. This is someone who has publicly stated, ‘The monarchy in fact depends on actually obliterating the Sussexes from our state of life,’ language that speaks for itself.
“He has made a career out of constructing ever more elaborate theories about people he does not know and has never met. Those interested in facts will look elsewhere; those seeking deranged conspiracy and melodrama know exactly where to find him.”
Meghan’s relationship with the late Queen
Meghan and Her Late Majesty appeared to have a close bond according to other accounts. The Suits star has described Queen Elizabeth in interviews as an “incredible woman” and noted how special it was to get to know Harry’s beloved grandmother.
In a BBC interview after her engagement to Prince Harry, she enthused: “It’s incredible to be able to meet her through his lens, not just with his honour and respect for her as the monarch, but the love that he has for her as his grandmother… She’s an incredible woman.”
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Queen Elizabeth II during their first official outing together (@ Getty Images)
During Meghan’s initial meetings with the late Queen, the monarch’s famously discerning corgis took to Meghan immediately, a sign of instant rapport.
After marrying Harry, the late Queen was said to be “very keen” to see Meghan succeed in her new royal role. Her Majesty reportedly offered to have the Duchess of Edinburgh, act as a mentor to guide her through integrating into the royal family.
It was also plain to see their friendly rapport when Meghan embarked on her first-ever solo visit with Queen Elizabeth in June 2018. The pair were pictured laughing and joking together in a tender show of affection.