Meghan Markle reflects on her only joint engagement with the Queen in Variety magazine, saying she’s grateful the late monarch showed her such ‘nice warmth’
- Meghan Markle, 41, said Queen made her feel ‘special’ on first joint outing
- Royal told Variety magazine that she was ‘proud’ to have had ‘warmth’ in her encounters with the late Monarch, who died on September 8th
- Added she was grateful she was able to be with Prince Harry during mourning
- Duchess of Sussex spoke about a wide-range of issues including ‘misconceptions’ about her during the latest US interview
Meghan Markle has opened up about her relationship with the Queen in her latest interview, with US magazine Variety.
The Duchess of Sussex, 41, said she has been reminiscing about her first joint engagement with Queen Elizabeth II, which took place in June 2018 in Widnes, Cheshire, since the death of the late Sovereign on September 8th.
Speaking with one of her favoured US magazines at her Montecito home, Meghan, said the late Monarch made her feel special during the event, which saw them opening the Mersey Gateway Bridge.
Photographs from the time saw the two women appearing to enjoy each other’s company, sharing a joke and laughing.
More than four years on, and after Meghan and Prince Harry’s much talked about departure from the royal family and bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, the Duchess of Sussex said she is ‘grateful’ to have been able to spend time with Queen Elizabeth, with whom she said she shared a ‘nice warmth.’
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The Duchess of Sussex, 41, has been reminiscing about her first – and only – joint engagement with the late Queen in June 2018. She told Variety magazine, she had experienced a ‘nice warmth’ from the monarch
This week, Meghan Markle appeared on the cover of Variety, where she has talked about her relationship with the late Queen Elizabeth
Photographs from the time saw the two women appearing to enjoy each other’s company as they opened the Mersey Gateway Bridge, in Widnes, Cheshire in 2018
Meghan took part in a glamorous photo shoot for the interview, and was also filmed talking about her recent trip to the UK with Harry where their pseudo-royal tour was interrupted by Her Majesty’s death aged 96.
In a hint that her death had been troublesome for Harry, who reportedly found out about the passing of his grandmother the just five minutes before the rest of the world, she said of the days and weeks afterwards: ‘It’s been a complicated time, but my husband, ever the optimist, said: “Now she’s reunited with her husband”.’
Speaking of her engagement with the Queen four years ago, Meghan told the publication: ‘I’ve reflected on that first official engagement that I had with her, how special that felt. I feel fortunate.
‘And I continue to be proud to have had a nice warmth with the matriarch of the family,’ she added.
At the time, the 92-year-old Monarch seemed to enjoy a growing bond with her grandson’s wife, 36.
Meghan and the Queen seemed to be getting on famously, with Meghan whispering into the Queen’s ear while watching a children’s performance at the opening of the new bridge.
The Duchess of Sussex also describes what life was like after that explosive Oprah interview, Harry’s love for In-N-Out Burger, her podcast ‘Archetypes,’ and the Netflix documentary they are making as part of their $100million contract with the streaming giant
Meghan had worn a Givenchy cream outfit for the occasion of her engagement with the Monarch
The newly married Duchess of Sussex and the Queen seemed to thoroughly be enjoying each other’s company during the 2018 engagement
The royal visitors were seen smiling and chatting to each other and to dignitaries as they watched youngsters dance to a seven-minute medley of music that included Edgar’s March Pomp and Circumstance and The Beatles’ Can’t Buy Me Love.
The visit had been perceived as the occasion for the Sovereign to give a masterclass on how to handle royal engagements to newcomer Meghan.
Former Suits star Meghan couldn’t resist sporting another creation by her wedding designer Givenchy for the visit, and looked elegant in the cream fitted dress with a cape feature at the shoulders, nipped in at the waist with a black belt, carrying a simple black bag by the same designer.
And in another sign of her growing friendship with the Queen at the time, Harry’s wife sported a pair of delicate pearl earrings, given to her by the monarch as a gift.
Meghan took part in a walkabout of Chester, where she met with locals and was handed flowers
The Duchess of Sussex, who was still learning the intricacies of royal life, looked typically stylish for the event
Meanwhile, her Majesty was vibrant as ever in a lime green ensemble by Stewart Parvin and hat by Rachel Trevor Morgan.
The former actress enjoyed an inaugural overnight trip on the Royal Train with the Queen, ahead of her first day of engagements with the monarch, and arrived at Runcorn Station this morning after travelling up from London with the head of state on the distinctive burgundy-liveried locomotive.
Meghan couldn’t completely hide her nerves during the event, which saw her struggle as she learned her way around royal protocol.
There was a moment of confusion as the Duchess appeared unsure who should get into the car first. ‘What is your preference?’ she asked the Queen.
‘You go first,’ said the Queen. ‘Oh OK,’ said the duchess.
Their first stop was the new £1.86 billion Mersey Gateway Bridge, where they met with locals and the Halton Council officials, architects and engineers and others involved in the 25-year project.
Meghan, who seemed nervous about the event, and struggling to get her head around royal protocol, gently waved at the royal fans who had come to see her
The Duchess was absolutely interested in the dance performance and in the history of the various bridges that have crossed the river,’ said David Parr, Halton Council’s chief executive.
Before they left, the Queen and Meghan accepted posies from two schoolgirls, Savannah Cafferty, 11, and Alarni Wain, who was celebrating her eighth birthday.
Andrew Curphey, whose theatre company had brought 80 children aged 5-18 from nine local schools together to create their show, said of Meghan: ‘She was really calm considering it was her first official engagement with the boss. She is with the boss so no pressure.’
The Queen and Meghan then observed a minute of silence to mark the first anniversary of the Grenfell Tower disaster.
Meghan and the Queen visited the Storyhouse theatre complex in Chester, which features a library and performing arts spaces.
Inside they watched as a group of children from Ashgrove Farm day nursery took part in an enthusiastic rendition of The Wheels On The Bus.
The royal visitors watched a performance by Fallen Angels, a dance theatre company for people recovering from addiction.
She and Meghan then moved into the theatre to watch a medley of songs from Storyhouse’s latest production, ‘A Little Night Music’, as well as a performance by actors from ‘Swallow and Amazons’ and children from schools including Cherry Grove, Queen’s School and St Clare’s.
They concluded the engagement with a walkabout around Chester, where they were greeted by hundreds of applauding fans.
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