
For a family built on centuries of tradition and stiff upper lips, even a whisper of defiance can cause a seismic shift. And when Meghan Markle
married into Britain’s most famously photographed institution, the palace gates creaked under the pressure. As The Crown
replays history in dramatic cuts, real-life whispers of protocol, privacy, and personal choices brewed behind the scenes. What followed? Alleged tensions that left tiaras slightly askew.
While the royal family served poise and pearls on the outside, behind the scenes it was more drama than a soap opera with crowns. Here are the 7 moments
that allegedly made Queen Elizabeth II and Meghan Markle’s relationship less tea party and more tension-filled tea spill.
1. A wedding request that was anything but traditional
When Prince Harry
asked the Archbishop of Canterbury to officiate his wedding without first consulting Queen Elizabeth II
or the Dean of Windsor, Lady Elizabeth Anson described it as a major breach. Revealed by royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith in The Times of London
, Lady Elizabeth Anson said this move “really upset
” the Queen. It was not just the request; it was the royal ripple it sent through Buckingham’s polished halls.
Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Serious About Having Religious Wedding, Church Leader Says. The couple has decided to get married in a church — something the archbishop of Canterbury says they didn”t take lightly. #MeghanMarkle #ReligiousCeremony
— victória nicolli :] (@vicnicollis2) January 26, 2025
And while the Queen was reportedly still reeling from protocol whiplash, what came next, a dress kept under lock and key, only added layers to the royal chill.
2. Dress drama, royal edition
Every royal wedding dress has its secrets: lace patterns, tribute embroideries, secret sleeves, but Meghan Markle’s was reportedly secretive enough to cause concern. According to Lady Elizabeth Anson, even Queen Elizabeth II was left out of the loop.
The alleged lack of early approval raised eyebrows and perhaps hackles, making the dazzling Givenchy reveal feel more like a royal curveball than couture coordination.
Queen Elizabeth II allegedly disapproved of Meghan Markle’s wedding dress, considering it “too white” for a divorcee remarrying in church, according to royal biographer Ingrid Seward.
Seward wrote that the Queen reportedly found the ceremony “Disneyesque,” although she may not… pic.twitter.com/Hrj2mMH0CP
— Detective Tiger’s Stories (@TigerDetective) May 29, 2025
As whispers of wardrobe secrecy settled, the palace would soon face an even bigger concern: the Queen herself, reportedly upset before the first flower girl walked.
3. Windsor warning signs
Long before the trumpet fanfare and balcony waves, Queen Elizabeth II was reportedly stewing. Lady Elizabeth Anson told Sally Bedell Smith that the monarch felt increasingly uneasy about Meghan Markle’s approach to royal life. “She sees things in a different way
,” Lady Elizabeth Anson recalled, hinting that the Queen sensed a modern hurricane coming for the monarchy’s neatly trimmed hedges.
And just when it seemed emotions could not get any frostier, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s royal exit would light a spark that scorched the family tree.
4. Megxit: when duty met departure
When Meghan Markle and Prince Harry stepped back from royal duties in 2020, famously dubbed “Megxit
,” Queen Elizabeth II allegedly did not see it as a fresh start but as a deep betrayal
. For a monarch whose life was rooted in duty, the move was said to cut far beyond headlines and into the heart of royal commitment. It marked a dramatic shift, not just in roles, but in trust, leaving the Queen personally shaken.
MEGHAN WANTED THAT ROYAL TITLE FOR LEVERAGE.
Speaking after ‘Megxit’ – staff said it became clear ‘very early on’ that Meghan wanted ‘to get out’.
Sally said they also suggested Meghan was expecting ‘more money’ & an even more lavish lifestyle after her marriage into the Royal… pic.twitter.com/P1QVJ730m1— Genevieves (@_Genevieves_) July 2, 2025
While that royal exit sent shockwaves across continents, the naming of a royal baby would soon spark a fresh firestorm, this time over a nickname.
5. The Lilibet name drop heard round the world
When Meghan Markle and Prince Harry named their daughter Lilibet
, royal watchers assumed a touching tribute. But not everyone was touched. Daily Mail columnist Robert Hardman reported
in King Charles III: The Inside Story that Queen Elizabeth II never gave a full blessing.
The use of her cherished childhood nickname without explicit approval left the palace blindsided and, reportedly, livid.
‘I don’t own the palaces, I don’t own the paintings, the only thing I own is my name. And now they’ve taken that.’
More details are coming out about Queen Elizabeth’s reaction to H&M naming their daughter Lilibet, according to new book King Charles III by Robert Hardman.
This… pic.twitter.com/10XpkS5Jyv
— Irene BritUSA (@irenebritusa) January 15, 2024
As backlash brewed over borrowed nicknames, another royal reveal took shape: Queen Elizabeth II’s alleged private nickname for Meghan Markle, and it was anything but flattering.
6. The troublemaker label that allegedly stuck
Lady Elizabeth Anson did not mince words. In her conversations with Sally Bedell Smith, she revealed Queen Elizabeth II allegedly believed Meghan Markle had “engineered
” the relationship with Prince Harry and privately referred to her as “the troublemaker
.” These claims suggest the Queen’s suspicions were not tabloid fiction but private palace reality.
Tension, it seems, had a very royal nickname.
The late Queen Elizabeth saw Meghan Markle as she is–a succubus. pic.twitter.com/634NMNzl9u
— ⚔️ Lady Ҝα𝐫ϻa ⚔️ (@_BLlTZkqrMlc) July 1, 2025
And if a royal label like troublemaker felt pointed, what followed was a series of protocol breaks that reportedly left Queen Elizabeth II even more disappointed
and palace insiders quietly fuming.
7. Protocol? More like suggestions
Royal rules come with tiaras, gloves, and centuries of silent nods. Meghan Markle, however, seemed to bring in a breezier California current. From opting out of traditional royal dress codes to speaking to the press ahead of schedule, her approach was seen less as modern independence and more as calculated defiance.
According to Lady Elizabeth Anson, Queen Elizabeth II was already disappointed, and Meghan Markle’s reportedly strained relationship with Kate Middleton only deepened the monarch’s sadness.
THE QUEEN ON MEGHAN – “We hope but don’t quite think she is in love. We think she engineered it all.”
An Insider’s View of the Royal Family (Queen Elizabeth’s cousin, Elizabeth Anson).
…With parties at Dudley House, quiet dinners with close friends, & celebrations for her 80th… pic.twitter.com/XHbHKlLpae— Genevieves (@_Genevieves_) July 1, 2025
Seven moments. Countless headlines. And one royal relationship that reportedly never found its fairy-tale footing. From wedding wishes to wardrobe choices, the alleged tension between Queen Elizabeth II and Meghan Markle offers a window into how tradition collides with transformation. Whether viewed as palace protocol or personal politics, each moment added a layer to a narrative still unfolding.
Read More: Why Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Have Different Names on Archie and Lilibet’s Birth Certificates
What are your thoughts on Queen Elizabeth II vs. Meghan Markle? Let us know in the comments below.