Tensions Surround Vegan Menu and Tiara Choice During Sussex Nuptials
In the months leading up to Meghan Markle and Harry’s 2018 wedding, behind-the-scenes tensions reportedly reached the ears of Queen Elizabeth II, resulting in some memorable interventions.
One incident, detailed in Katie Nicholl’s The New Royals, occurred during a menu tasting at Windsor Castle. Meghan allegedly raised concerns that a vegan dish contained egg, insisting it should align with macrobiotic standards. The Queen, overhearing the exchange, stepped in to address the Duchess directly, reportedly stating, "Meghan, in this family, we don’t speak to people like that."
The Queen’s involvement wasn’t limited to menu disputes. The now-infamous “Tiara-gate” drama also played out during the wedding preparations. According to royal biographer Robert Lacey and Harry’s memoir Spare, Meghan’s choice of tiara became a point of contention between Harry, royal staff, and Queen Elizabeth’s trusted dresser, Angela Kelly.
Harry, frustrated by the perceived obstacles, allegedly voiced his displeasure, but reports of him shouting the phrase “What Meghan wants, Meghan gets” were later denied by the Duke himself. Harry clarified in his memoir that the Queen personally invited the couple to Buckingham Palace to select a tiara from the Royal Collection. Despite her involvement, the Queen firmly concluded, “She gets the tiara that she’s given by me.”
These pre-wedding challenges reflect the underlying strain between the couple and the royal institution, setting the tone for their turbulent years ahead.
