Meghan Markle reflects on her first engagement with the Queen
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Meghan Markle is candid about her relationship with the Queen in her latest interview with American magazine Variety.
The Duchess of Sussex, 41, said she reminisces about her first joint engagement to Queen Elizabeth II, which took place in Widnes, Cheshire, in June 2018, since the late Sovereign’s death on September 8.
Speaking to one of her favorite American magazines at her home in Montecito, Meghan, the late Monarch said it made her feel special during the event, which saw them open the Mersey Gateway Bridge.
Photos from the time saw the two women seem to enjoy each other’s company, share a joke and laugh.
More than four years later, and after Meghan and Prince Harry’s much-discussed departure from the royal family and the 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, reminisces about her first – and only – joint engagement to the late Queen in June 2018. She told Variety magazine that she had experienced a “fine warmth” from the frost
This week, Meghan Markle appeared on the cover of Variety, where she spoke about her relationship with the late Queen Elizabeth
The Duchess of Sussex also describes what life was like after that explosive interview with Oprah, Harry’s love for In-N-Out Burger, her podcast ‘Archetypes’ and the Netflix documentary they are making as part of their $100 million contract with the streaming giant
In photos from the time when the two women appeared to enjoy each other’s company when 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 speaking about her recent trip to the UK with Harry, where their pseudo-royal tour was interrupted by Her Majesty’s death at the age of 96.
Hinting that her death had been difficult for Harry, who reportedly learned of his grandmother’s passing five minutes before the rest of the world, she said of the days and weeks that followed: “It’s been a complicated time, but my husband, once the optimist, said, “Now she is reunited with her husband”.’
Speaking of her engagement to the Queen four years ago, Meghan told the publication: “I’ve been thinking about that first official engagement I had to her, how special it felt. I feel happy.
“And I’m still 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 the wife of her grandson, 36.
Meghan and the Queen seemed to get along famously, with Meghan whispering in the Queen’s ear as she watched a children’s performance at the opening of the new bridge.
Meghan had worn a cream-colored Givenchy outfit on the occasion of her engagement to the monarch
The newly married Duchess of Sussex and the Queen seemed to enjoy each other’s company during their 2018 engagement
The royal visitors laughed and chatted with each other and with dignitaries as they watched young people dance to a seven-minute medley of music, including Edgar’s March Pomp and Circumstance and The Beatles’ Can’t Buy Me Love.
The visit was seen as an opportunity for the Sovereign to deliver a masterclass on how to handle royal engagements to newcomer Meghan.
Former Suits star Meghan couldn’t resist wearing another creation by her wedding designer Givenchy for the visit, looking elegant in the cream dress with a cape feature on the shoulders, cinched in at the waist with a black belt, with a simple black bag from the same designer.
And as another sign of her growing friendship with the then Queen, Harry’s wife wore a pair of delicate pearl earrings, which the monarch had given her as a present.
Meghan took part in a walk through Chester where she met the locals and got flowers
Still learning the intricacies of royal life, the Duchess of Sussex looked quintessentially stylish for the event
Meanwhile, Her Majesty was vibrant as ever in a lime green Stewart Parvin ensemble and Rachel Trevor Morgan hat.
The former actress enjoyed an inaugural overnight journey with the Queen on the Royal Train, ahead of her first day of engagement to the monarch, arriving at Runcorn Station this morning after traveling from London with the Head of State on the signature burgundy livery locomotive.
Meghan couldn’t quite hide her nerves during the event, which she struggled with as she learned her way around royal protocol.
There was a moment of confusion as the Duchess seemed unsure who should get into the car first. ‘What is your preference?’ she asked the queen.
“You go first,” the queen said. “Oh, okay,” said the Duchess.
Their first stop was the new £1.86 billion Mersey Gateway Bridge, where they met locals and Halton Council officials, architects and engineers and others involved in the 25-year project.
Meghan, who seemed nervous about the event and struggled to get her head around royal protocol, waved gently to the royal fans who came to visit her
The Duchess was absolutely interested in the dance performance and in the history of the various bridges that crossed the river,” said David Parr, director of Halton Council.
Before leaving, the Queen and Meghan accepted packages from two schoolgirls, Savannah Cafferty, 11, and Alarni Wain, who was celebrating her eighth birthday.
Andrew Curphey, whose theater company brought together 80 children aged 5-18 from nine local schools to create their show, said of Meghan: ‘She was very calm as it was her first official engagement to the boss. She’s 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 theater complex in Chester, which has a library and performing arts spaces.
Inside, they watched as a group of children from Ashgrove Farm daycare took part in an enthusiastic rendition of The Wheels On The Bus.
The royal visitors watched a performance by Fallen Angels, a dance theater company for people recovering from addiction.
She and Meghan then moved to the theater to watch a hodgepodge of songs from Storyhouse’s latest production, “A Little Night Music,” as well as a performance by “Swallow and Amazons” actors and kids from schools, including Cherry. Grove, Queen’s School and Saint Clara.
They capped off the engagement with a stroll through Chester, where they were greeted by hundreds of clapping fans.