```json { "title": "Queen Elizabeth Suspected Meghan Markle Was an 'Opportunist'", "spot": "A new book claims Queen Elizabeth II harbored early concerns about Meghan Markle, viewing her as calculating and skilled at public relations. The late monarch reportedly 'was on to her from the start'.", "body": "

Queen Elizabeth's Early Concerns About Meghan Markle

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Queen Elizabeth II reportedly had reservations about Prince Harry’s future wife, Meghan Markle, from the beginning of their relationship, according to a new book titled The Queen and Her Presidents: The Hidden Hand That Shaped History by veteran political reporter Susan Page.

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Palace Aide's Account

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A palace aide claimed the late monarch grew skeptical of the American actress early on, perceiving her as calculated and adept at managing her public image. “Her Majesty had become wary of Meghan as an opportunist — was ‘on to her from the start,’ the aide said — and one with public relations skills that left the palace’s outdated press operation in the dust,” Page wrote.

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Initial Meeting and Perceptions

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle first met in October 2016 at the Royal Lodge in Windsor, England. Both Harry and Meghan have described the meeting as impromptu, noting Meghan wasn’t initially aware she would need to curtsy to the Queen and practiced beforehand.

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Harry and Meghan on Royal Reactions

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In their 2022 Netflix series, Harry & Meghan, the Duke of Sussex suggested the royal family’s reservations stemmed from Meghan being an American actress. “I remember my family first meeting her and being incredibly impressed,” Harry said. “Some of them didn’t quite know what to do with themselves, because I think they were surprised.”

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Concerns Over Meghan's Background

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Harry continued, “The fact that I was dating an American actress was probably what clouded their judgment more than anything else at the beginning: ‘Oh she’s an American actress; this won’t last.’" Meghan added, “There is a big idea of what that looks like from the U.K. standpoint — Hollywood — and it’s just very easy for them to typecast that.”

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Stepping Down and Public Support

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Harry and Meghan announced their engagement in November 2017 and married in May 2018. They announced their decision to step down as senior royals and move overseas in January 2020. Despite this, Queen Elizabeth remained publicly supportive of the couple.

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Markle's Praise for the Queen

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During a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Markle described the Queen as “wonderful to me.” She added, “She’s always been warm and inviting and really welcoming.”

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Family Dynamics and Rumors

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The book also details tensions within the royal family. A senior royal aide suggested Harry’s resentment towards palace staff and his family stemmed from feeling treated as a “lesser royal” compared to his brother, Prince William.

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Claims About Harry's Parentage

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The Queen and Her Presidents reveals that some palace staff even speculated about Prince Harry’s true parentage, fueled by rumors linking him to Princess Diana’s former lover, James Hewitt. These claims have been repeatedly denied, and the timeline contradicts them.

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Charles's Joke About Paternity

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According to the book, Prince Charles even joked about Harry’s parentage, saying, “Who knows if I’m even your real father,” before laughing. Harry described this as an “unfunny joke” that contributed to his feelings of isolation, especially following his mother’s death in 1997.

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The Queen and Her Presidents: The Hidden Hand That Shaped History is scheduled for release on April 14.

", "meta_title": "Queen Elizabeth & Meghan Markle: New Book Reveals Concerns", "meta_description": "New book claims Queen Elizabeth II viewed Meghan Markle as an 'opportunist' from the start. Discover details of royal tensions & early perceptions.", "meta_keywords": "Queen Elizabeth, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Royal Family, British Royalty, Susan Page, The Queen and Her Presidents, Spare", "ai_summary": "A new book, 'The Queen and Her Presidents,' reveals that Queen Elizabeth II had early concerns about Meghan Markle, viewing her as an 'opportunist.' The book details accounts from palace aides and explores family dynamics surrounding Prince Harry and his wife. The book is set to be released on April 14th." } ```