Prince Harry's 'disapproval' spotted after Meghan Markle's 'disrespectful' comments about Queen Elizabeth II in TV appearance
Meghan recalled the first moment she met the late queenMeghan Markle once sparked backlash with comments she made about her first meeting with Queen Elizabeth II.
In 2016, Meghan began dating Prince Harry. Their romance blossomed and it wasn’t long before she met his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, who would have turned 100 today (April 21).
In the couple’s 2022 Netflix series, Harry & Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, 44, revealed the moment she met the late monarch and recalled the curtsy she performed.
But it was her comments about the curtsy that left viewers fuming. According to a body language expert, even Prince Harry appeared disapproving…
What did Meghan Markle say about curtsying in front of Queen Elizabeth II?
Recounting her tale in a light-hearted fashion, Meghan revealed she thought Harry was joking when he told her she would be required to bend a knee for the queen.
She also play-acted how she curtsied for the late monarch.
Harry recalled: “[Meghan] had no idea what it all consisted of. So it was a bit of a shock to the system for her.”
Meghan chipped in: “I mean, it is surreal. There wasn’t like some big moment of, ‘Now you’re going to meet my grandmother.'”
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She went on: “I didn’t know I was going to meet her until moments before. We were in the car and we were going to the Royal Lodge for lunch, and [Harry] was like: ‘Oh, my grandmother is here, she’s going to be there after church.’
“I remember we were in the car, driving and [Harry]’s like, ‘You know how to curtsy, right?’ And I just thought it was a joke.”
‘So intense’
Harry continued: “How do you explain that to people? How do you explain that you bow to your grandmother? And that you would need to curtsy, especially to an American. That’s weird.”
Meghan went on to compare the protocols to a themed eatery in the US.
“Now I’m starting to realise this is a big deal,” Meghan continued.
“I mean, Americans will understand this. We have Medieval Times dinner and tournament. It was like that. Like, I curtsied as though I was like [as she dramatically curtsied], ‘Pleasure to meet you Your Majesty.'”
I curtsied as though I was like: ‘Pleasure to meet you Your Majesty.’
Having bowed dramatically in her seat to recreate the moment, Meghan added: “It was so intense.”
She also received feedback from other royals and those connected with them: “And then when she left, [Princess] Eugenie and Jack [Brooksbank] and Fergie said: ‘You did great!’. Thanks. I didn’t know what I was doing.”
How royal fans have reacted
As Meghan acted out the exchange, Harry, sitting next to her, seemed mildly bemused.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, body language expert Judi James claimed that Harry tried “subtly” to express his “disapproval” with silent signals such as a “prolonged eye-to-eye stare”.
Now I’m starting to realise this is a big deal.
Viewers watching at home also expressed their disapproval.
Sharing a clip, one X user claimed: “She is mocking our late HMTQ who give them the title. How ridiculous is that.”
Another person fumed: “So why the mock exaggerated curtsy? What an insult to the privilege of meeting HMTQ!
This is the moment that Meghan describes meeting the late Queen Elizabeth for the first time and how she did not understand why she needed to curtsy to Harry‘s grandmother…
He looks a little uncomfortable about the whole thing#HarryandMeghan pic.twitter.com/H9qr7DqwHq— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) December 8, 2022
“She’s literally laughing at, ridiculing, the queen,” claimed someone else.
And a fourth person tweeted: “Can’t put into words how angry I am as they disrespect the late queen.”
However, others took the moment light-heartedly as one said: “I loved this story. It’s so real! That moment, bowing to a Queen and going full on all out.”
Another wrote: “Meghan’s story of meeting the Queen is hilarious.”
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