1 week Ago
twitter Although Queen Elizabeth II was known for strictly following royal traditions , especially during the holidays, she once made a surprising exception that showed her warm feelings toward Meghan Markle . According to royal expert Richard Eden, the Queen broke protocol in 2017 by inviting Meghan to spend Christmas at Sandringham—before she had officially married Prince Harry. Typically, this special holiday invitation is only extended to people who are already married into the royal family .
Even Kate Middleton and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, did not receive the same offer before their weddings. Eden wrote in the Daily Mail that this unusual gesture was a sign that Queen Elizabeth had a genuine fondness for Meghan and believed she would bring great value to the royal family. That year, during her annual Christmas broadcast, the Queen also mentioned "new members" of the family.
Experts at the time believed this was another way the Queen was welcoming Meghan into the royal fold, along with celebrating the upcoming birth of Prince William and Princess Catherine’s third child, Prince Louis. Royal commentator Richard Kay noted on Channel 5 that Meghan’s Christmas invitation was a big deal. He explained that Kate had never been asked to join the royals at Sandringham while she was dating Prince William, but Meghan was already included even before her wedding.
According to Hello! magazine, a source shared that Meghan and Harry attended a royal Christmas party in 2017 and were very friendly with everyone there. The source described Meghan as sweet and beautiful, adding that she made an effort to talk to many guests. What made the Queen’s kindness even more special was that she also invited Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland , to the royal Christmas dinner in 2018.
As reported by the Daily Express, this was a rare honor. Doria’s invitation stood out because even Kate Middleton’s parents had never been asked to attend a Sandringham Christmas, even after her marriage. Royal author Ingrid Seward told Grazia that it was uncommon for non-royals to be invited, but the royal family was slowly becoming more open, and they wanted to make Doria feel welcome.
Meghan reportedly showed her appreciation for the Queen’s generosity by giving her a playful gift during that first Christmas together. Royal correspondent Simon Vigor shared on Channel 5 that Meghan gave Queen Elizabeth a toy singing hamster, which delighted the Queen—and her beloved corgis. Prince Harry joined in on the lighthearted spirit by gifting his grandmother a pair of rubber gloves.
These thoughtful and humorous presents showed the younger couple’s effort to bond with the Queen. The late Queen Elizabeth truly went out of her way to welcome Meghan into the royal family, making her feel special in ways that had rarely been done before..
