Prince Harry has unveiled his memoir, titled The Substitute.
In these, the Duke of Sussex connects the revelations concerning the royal family.
He notably indicated that he had to ask permission from Elizabeth II before asking Meghan Markle in marriage.
In January 2020, the Sussexes announced their intention to leave the royal family. Since then, it is in California that they are installed and they chain the revelations. They first confided in Oprah Winfrey, before making a documentary unveiled by Netflix last December. Recently, it was Prince Harry who published his memoirs, entitled The Substitute. In it, the Duke of Sussex makes many confidences about his relations with the royal family and he evokes in particular the significant moments of his life. Among them, his marriage proposal to Meghan Markle. His remarks were reported by The Mirror and he explains that he spoke with Queen Elizabeth II before, in order to ask her permission. “For me, it made no sense to ask her,” he said before adding that he was very nervous about doing it. If the sovereign refused, what would have happened? Prince Harry therefore waited until his grandmother was in a good mood to ask her the question. After mentioning his love for Meghan Markle, the Duke of Sussex clarified: “I was informed that I had to ask your permission before making my request”. What Elizabeth II would have answered: “You have to do it?” before adding: “I guess I have to say yes”. A response that was a real relief for Prince Harry.
In his memoirs, Prince Harry remembers this moment in great detail. Before giving him permission, Queen Elizabeth II took a short break, which the Duke of Sussex has never forgotten. “I didn’t understand. Is she sarcastic? Ironic? Deliberately enigmatic? Did she play on words?” he wondered before continuing: “I had never seen my grandmother play puns and it was an extremely weird, not to mention grossly awkward moment for her to start using them.” However, the principal concerned tried to come to his senses, assuring that he was at the origin of this response. “Maybe it’s my use of the word ‘have’ and she couldn’t resist playing it,” he said before saying he thought he looked of a puppet. “I thanked her saying it was fabulous,” concluded Prince Harry. An exchange that marked the brother of Prince William a lot but which allowed him to get engaged with the woman of his life before marrying him in May 2018.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: an unromantic marriage proposal
After getting approval from Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Sussex was eager to make his request. In the documentary broadcast on Netflix, the principal concerned explained: “I opened a bottle of champagne while Meghan was cooking and it betrayed me a little. The reason? “She told me that I never drink of champagne and wondered what the occasion was… I told her that I simply had her by my side”, he had specified. A moment that Prince Harry has never forgotten. even let me finish. “Can I say yes? Can I say yes?” she asked me when I hadn’t given her the ring yet,” he recalled. Since then, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been the proud parents of Archie and Lilibet Diana and it is far from the royal family that they live their story.
Prince Harry © Agency
