With Duchess Meghan by his side (the couple clutched each other’s hands tightly throughout the interview with Oprah), Harry took great pains to say his relationship with the Queen remains on solid ground. “I’ve spoken more to my grandmother in the last year than I have for many, many years,” he said. Harry’s revelation about his closeness with the Queen likely came as a surprise to royals fans because of all the drama surrounding the Sussexes’s final exit from royal life last month when Her Majesty made the decision to strip her grandson of his remaining military titles. In a statement, the Palace said: “Following conversations with The Duke, The Queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of The Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service.” Eyebrows were then raised when, in response to that official statement, Harry and Meghan offered what was considered by the British press to be a disrespectful retort. “We can all live a life of service. Service is universal,” they said. But during the Oprah interview, Meghan also spoke warmly about the Queen, saying that Her Majesty gifted her a set of pearl earrings and a matching necklace in honor of their first joint engagement. The duchess wore the earrings while on her official royal visit to Cheshire with her grandmother-in-law. “I just really loved being in her company,” Meghan said. “She’s always been warm and inviting and really welcoming.” Meghan added that during their first outing together, the Queen even shared her coveted blanket with her. “It made me think of my grandma as well,” she recalled. And for more from Meghan from the tell-all, check out Meghan Markle Revealed the Truth About Her “Feud” With Kate Middleton.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb Diane Clehane is a New York-based journalist and author of Imagining Diana and Diana: The Secrets of Her Style.
