- Meghan Markle, 36, and her mother Doria Ragland, 61, will enjoy afternoon tea with Queen Elizabeth II, 92, today.
- With the royal wedding tomorrow, it will be the first time the mother of Prince Harry’s bride will meet the British Monarch.
- On Wednesday this week, Doria – who has flown in from Los Angeles for the wedding – met Prince Charles, 69, and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall, 70.
- It has now been announced by Kensington Palace that Prince Charles will walk Meghan down the aisle.
Friday 18 May 2018: 7:31pm
Meghan’s dad, Thomas Markle, reportedly told TMZ, he was “honoured and grateful” Charles will be giving his daughter away.
He is said to have added Meghan and Harry called him, and he kept the secret about Charles, so Meghan could announced the news herself.
Friday 18 May 2018 2:01pm
Meghan Markle still has a lot to learn about royal life, former royal butler Grand Harrold told Sky News earlier today.
“There is a lot to learn because it is not just British etiquette but it is also being part of the Royal family, what to do, how to behave, what to do, what not to do when you meet the Queen and other members of the Royal family,” he said.
“So she will very much be learning as she goes along. People have said to me ‘will there be people coming in to train her or to teach her?
“Personally, I think that she will learn from the family because they are masters when it comes to etiquette and how to behave.
“All she will do is watch them and attending many events with them and she will learn the role from doing that.”
Friday 18 May 2018 10:09am
Prince Charles will accompany Meghan down the aisle tomorrow, Kensington Palace announced this morning.
The statement, which they shared on Twitter, read: “Ms. Meghan Markle has asked His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales to accompany her down the aisle of the Quire of St George’s Chapel on her Wedding Day.
“The Prince of Wales is pleased to be able to welcome Ms. Markle to the Royal Family in this way.”
Friday 18 May 2018: 8:36am
Meghan Markle will accompany her mother Doria today to meet Queen Elizabeth II for the first time.
Yesterday, Doria met Prince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall. This took place at Clarence House and was Doria’s first appointment after greeting her daughter Meghan.
The meeting, which also took place over the very English ceremony of tea, was said to have gone well. It was described as “a very jolly afternoon,” a source told The Times yesterday.
Despite the turbulence surrounding Meghan’s family in the last week – which including news Thomas has staged paparazzi photos – it is believed the Queen will be “welcoming” towards Doria.
“Given the difficulties of this week, I think she will be as welcoming as possible,” the Queen’s former press secretary Charles Anson told Vanity Fair.
“She is always welcoming, but particularly to those who are not familiar with [royalty]. She’ll be very understanding, I’m sure. She will, I am sure, understand that what has happened this week is beyond the control of her future granddaughter-in-law.”
Meghan is believed to have met the Queen on a number of occasions before the announcement of her engagement to Harry in November 2017.
Meghan’s first meeting with the Queen was said to be over tea, just like Doria’s will be later today.
Doria, who was pictured holding a Burberry garment bag as she left her LA home for the UK, will have an important role in the wedding.
She will accompany her daughter to the wedding venue, St. George’s Chapel, in a car ride tomorrow.
It has also been hotly speculated by bookies she will walk her daughter down the aisle.
This comes yesterday’s confirmation Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle Sr, who was originally supposed to walk her down the aisle, will not attend the wedding.
In a statement yesterday, Meghan confirmed that her dad would not be coming to the wedding for “health” reasons.
“Sadly, my father will not be attending our wedding. I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health.
“I would like to thank everyone who has offered generous messages of support.
“Please know how much Harry and I look forward to sharing our special day with you on Saturday.”
