Just weeks before her death, Queen Elizabeth reportedly shared her true feelings on Harry and Meghan

Queen Elizabeth II allegedly confided in close friends that Prince Harry’s relationship with Meghan Markle was a “complete catastrophe” in the weeks before her death—an extraordinary claim that casts new light on the monarch’s true feelings about the Sussexes.

The shocking revelation comes from royal historian Sally Bedell Smith, who published new details from her interviews with the late Queen’s inner circle, including Lady Elizabeth Anson—a lifelong confidante born at Windsor Castle and the Queen Mother’s great-niece.

According to Smith, who shared the account on her Royal Extras Substack, the Queen—known for her restraint—spoke candidly at a drinks gathering at Balmoral Castle during the final months of her life. “It was out of character for the Queen,” one source told The Mail, “but she saw straight through Meghan.”

In that intimate setting, the monarch is said to have described her grandson’s marriage as a “complete catastrophe”—a rare moment of open dismay reportedly driven by years of scandal, tension, and public bombshells launched by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

While Harry and Meghan repeatedly insisted that their bond with the Queen remained strong despite their explosive exit from the Royal Family in 2020, these claims suggest a deepening private frustration on the part of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.

The Queen’s disappointment reportedly began well before the infamous Oprah interview or the Netflix documentary. According to Lady Elizabeth, Meghan’s behaviour began to alarm the Queen as early as the wedding planning phase in 2018. The American actress was initially seen as “natural, intelligent and thoughtful,” but later came across as “bossy” and dismissive of protocol.

Sources close to the late Queen said she was especially troubled when Meghan allegedly withheld details about her wedding dress, which the monarch found “saddening”. “The Queen knew trouble when she saw it,” one insider said. “She feared this would all end in division.”

Lady Elizabeth, who died in 2020, confided many of these concerns to Bedell Smith, warning at the time that Meghan would become ‘nothing but trouble.’

The couple’s eventual departure from royal duties, followed by a flurry of interviews, books and public criticism of the monarchy, reportedly reinforced the Queen’s fears. Though she never voiced her private concerns publicly, the account at Balmoral paints a picture of a monarch who felt betrayed by her grandson’s choices.

Despite the tensions, the Queen maintained a diplomatic front. She publicly wished the Sussexes well and extended invitations to family gatherings even after the break. But in private, say those closest to her, regret and sadness lingered.

The revelations arrive as fresh scrutiny falls on the Duke and Duchess. From estranged ties with Prince William to strained relations with King Charles, their royal connections appear more fractured than ever.

Meanwhile, royal observers say the Queen’s unfiltered remark marks a rare glimpse behind the palace curtain. “She never acted out of malice,” said Bedell Smith. “But she had a sense for character. And by the end, she feared Harry had lost his way.”

As the monarchy evolves under King Charles III, questions remain about the long-term future of the Sussexes—and whether a path to reconciliation remains open.