Could fallout from Meghan Markle's bombshell interview with Oprah be the reason why she
didn't see the queen before her death?
The answer may shock you.
Amid the Buckingham Palace announcement that Queen Elizabeth II was placed "under medical
supervision" prior to her death on September 8, 2022, several royal family members traveled
to Scotland's Balmoral Castle to be with her.
Only one or two remained behind, including Meghan Markle.
Why didn't the Duchess of Sussex accompany her husband Prince Harry to his grandmother's
deathbed?
Despite rumors of ongoing tension between the Sussexes — Meghan and Harry — and
the Cambridges — William and Kate — all reports indicate that Meghan and the queen
always had a good relationship.
This supposedly remained true even after the bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Meghan spoke warmly of her grandmother-in-law in the interview, saying,
"The Queen, for example, has always been wonderful to me."
Far from holding a grudge against her grandson and his American wife, Queen Elizabeth was
said to be "overjoyed" to learn of the birth of her namesake, Meghan and Harry's daughter,
Lilibet.
This revelation came amid other reports that Meghan and Harry didn't ask the queen for
approval prior to naming their daughter, according to BBC News.
Piers Morgan slammed Meghan and Harry for naming their child after the queen, telling
Today Australia:
"It's quite ironic, isn't it.
You have this couple who have been trashing the royal family and the monarchy for the
last few weeks and they have named the baby after the Queen, who is, of course, the head
of the royal family and the monarchy."
But if everything was indeed fine and dandy between the queen and the Sussexes, why did
Meghan decide to stay behind?
Before Queen Elizabeth's death, Meghan Markle was already in closer proximity to the royal
family than she'd been in a long time.
After leaving the U.K. and moving to California, Meghan had recently traveled to Germany with
Prince Harry.
The trip was to promote his upcoming Invictus Games, which Germany is set to host in 2023.
Prior to the queen's death, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had settled in their former home,
Frogmore Cottage.
Once news of the queen's health struggles broke, Markle's reps shared that she would
travel to Scotland with Prince Harry.
However, amid reports, it appeared that something changed.
Royal expert Katie Nicholl told Entertainment Tonight that Markle was simply not asked to
be with the rest of the royal family at Balmoral:
"Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, was not, we understand, invited to join the family.
She has said she will go to Balmoral another time.
But I think it is quite significant that Prince Harry traveled to Balmoral on his own without
his wife."
Meanwhile, royal commentator Kinsey Schofield told Fox News that Markle's absence could
be related to Kate Middleton not being there as well:
"It is likely due to the fact that the Duchess of Cambridge stayed behind."
While Markle has not confirmed the rumored reason she did not see the queen before her
death, the New York Post reported that Prince Harry unfortunately didn't make it to Scotland
in time to say his final goodbyes to his grandmother.
"Queen Elizabeth the second was the rock on which modern Britain was built."
Given the drama surrounding Meghan Markle's relationship with the royal family, her not
following Prince Harry to Balmoral has sparked much speculation.
However, the former Suits actor has always spoken highly of the queen, even as she spoke
out against other senior royals, such as Kate Middleton.
Over the years, Markle forged a close bond with the queen.
Even during her explosive 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, she sang Queen Elizabeth's
praises.
The duchess shared the first time she and the queen enjoyed a nice breakfast during
their first "joint engagement."
Meghan recounted her meal with the monarch, who gave her "a beautiful gift."
Markle added,
"I just really loved being in her company.
[...] It made me think of my grandmother, where she's always been warm and inviting
and really welcoming."
As for the queen, she has always publicly supported Markle's relationship with grandson
Prince Harry and even supported them after the Oprah interview.
The queen said in a statement:
"The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few
years have been for Harry and Meghan.
The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning.
While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed
by the family privately."