Queen's Unsmiling Face: Harry's Wedding

Queen Elizabeth's expression at her grandson Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle sparked a lot of speculation. Photos and videos of the late monarch at the 2018 ceremony show her looking less than pleased, with some observers noting that she appeared uncomfortable and did not smile. While the bride and groom were beaming, the Queen's apparent lack of enthusiasm fuelled rumours that she disapproved of the match. However, there were several other possible reasons for her sombre demeanour, including concerns about her husband Prince Philip's health, her dislike of long sermons, and her views on the bride's dress.

Queen Elizabeth's discomfort with Meghan Markle's wedding dress

Queen Elizabeth II was reportedly unhappy with Meghan Markle's wedding dress, which was designed by Givenchy. The Queen is said to have found the gown flamboyant and inappropriate for a divorcee.

Meghan's elegant, off-the-shoulder dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The pure white colour was chosen by Meghan and Keller to "bring a fresh modernity to the dress". However, the Queen reportedly believed the dress was too white for a divorcee, as Meghan had been married once before.

Lady Elizabeth Anson, the Queen's cousin and confidante, revealed that the Queen had described the dress as "too white". She said:

> "In the monarch's view, it was not appropriate for a divorcee getting remarried in church to look quite so flamboyantly virginal."

The Queen's discomfort with Meghan's dress may have been due to the traditional implications of a white wedding dress, which is often seen as a symbol of purity and virginity. As Meghan had been married previously, the Queen felt that a white dress was not appropriate.

In addition to her discomfort with the dress, the Queen is also said to have been unhappy with Prince Charles walking Meghan down the aisle. She reportedly felt that it was "completely unnecessary and wrong" for the then-Prince to take on this role.

Prince Charles walking Meghan down the aisle

It is unclear why Queen Elizabeth did not smile at Prince Harry's wedding, but there are speculations that she was unhappy with the wedding in general. Some sources claim that the Queen was “uncomfortable” and took issue with several things about the big day. For example, she was reportedly “desperate” for Archbishop Michael Curry's 14-minute sermon to finish, as she disliked long sermons.

Now, onto the topic of Prince Charles walking Meghan Markle down the aisle. Meghan's father, Thomas Markle, was originally supposed to walk her down the aisle. However, he was unable to attend due to medical reasons. Thomas Markle underwent heart surgery just days before the wedding and could not travel from the US to London. In a tell-all interview after the wedding, Thomas expressed his desire to walk his daughter down the aisle and his honour that Prince Charles took his place.

In the lead-up to the wedding, there was some question as to whether Meghan would walk herself down the aisle or be escorted by her mother, Doria Ragland. However, it was ultimately decided that she would be accompanied by her soon-to-be father-in-law, Prince Charles. Prince Harry asked his father to step in and fill the role, to which Charles immediately agreed.

On the wedding day, Prince Harry expressed his gratitude to his father as he and Meghan approached the altar. Harry was seen whispering, "Thank you, Pa" to Charles. In the documentary "Prince, Son and Heir: Charles at 70", Harry elaborated on this moment, saying:

> "You've gotta say thank you. Just because he's my father that doesn't mean I can just sort of go, 'Okay, that's all, I'll take it from here.' Err, no, that is what I wanted to say but erm... and I was very grateful for him to be able to do that."

This moment was also noticed and appreciated by Camilla, who commented on the sweet interaction between father and son.

Concern for Prince Philip's health

Queen Elizabeth's lack of smile at Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle may have been due to her concern for her husband, Prince Philip's health. Just five weeks before the wedding, Prince Philip had undergone a hip replacement operation. The Queen was worried about how he would manage to walk down the aisle.

Prince Philip's attendance at the wedding was uncertain. Royal expert Katie Nicholl commented:

> "In fact, one of the reasons that Prince Harry has wanted this wedding to happen quite quickly—this is really whirlwind by royal standards—is because his 96-year-old grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, is retired now and Prince Harry really wants him to be at his wedding."

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding date was chosen with Prince Philip's health in mind. However, even with this forethought, there was still worry that he might not be able to attend. A spokesperson for the royal family said, "We very much hope so."

Fortunately, Prince Philip seemed to be in good form on the day of the wedding.

Long sermon by Archbishop Michael Curry

Queen Elizabeth II was believed to have felt "uncomfortable" at various points during her grandson Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle. One of the main reasons for her discomfort was the 14-minute sermon delivered by Archbishop Michael Curry.

Archbishop Michael Curry is the 27th and current Presiding Bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church. He is the first African American to be elected to this role. Curry's sermon emphasised the redemptive potential of love, using fire as a metaphor for its power and significance. His enthusiastic style reportedly won smiles from some guests, but also caused quizzical glances and stifled laughter from others. The Queen and her husband, Prince Philip, were known to dislike long sermons and were said to be "desperate" for Curry to finish.

Curry's address quoted a range of sources, including Martin Luther King Jr., the traditional African-American spiritual "There Is a Balm in Gilead", New Testament epistles, and the French Jesuit priest and scientist Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. His passionate delivery and wide-ranging references may have been unexpected in the context of a royal wedding, particularly for more traditional members of the congregation like the Queen.

Curry's sermon received international attention, and he has since published a book and become a sought-after interviewee for American media outlets. Despite the mixed reactions to his sermon at the time, Curry's message of love and unity resonated with many people, especially during a time of deep division.

Queen's preference for bright colours

Queen Elizabeth was known for her vibrant fashion choices, often opting for bright colours during her public appearances. This distinctive style served a practical purpose, as the Queen was quite small in stature and could easily be missed in a crowd. By wearing electric shades, she ensured that she stood out and could be easily spotted by those eager to catch a glimpse of her.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex, explained in the documentary "The Queen at 90" that her mother-in-law's penchant for rainbow shades was strategic: "She needs to stand out for people to be able to say 'I saw the Queen.' Don't forget that when she turns up somewhere, the crowds are two, three, four, ten, 15 deep, and someone wants to be able to say they saw a bit of the Queen's hat as she went past."

The Queen's senior dresser, Angela Kelly, confirmed this intention in her 2019 book, "The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe." She wrote, "Colour is key... Vibrant colours work well in the daytime: they allow her to stand out from the crowd and be visible to the well-wishers who have come to see her."

Queen Elizabeth's bright wardrobe choices also reflected her famous motto: "You have to be seen to be believed." This philosophy underscored her commitment to being present and visible to her subjects, both literally and metaphorically.

The Queen's preference for bright colours extended beyond her clothing choices. She also had a collection of clear umbrellas with various colour trims to match her outfits, ensuring that even rainy weather didn't diminish her visibility. Her choice of hat would also be carefully considered, with more playful and colourful hats selected for visits to schools or children's centres, while structured hats in strong, well-defined colours were preferred for nursing or residential homes to aid those with visual impairments.

The Queen's vibrant style has left an enduring mark, with her granddaughter-in-law, Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, adopting a similar approach during her royal tour of Canada in 2016.

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