Prince Philip was known for his honesty, and according to a former royal insider, he delivered one of his most candid reactions yet following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding in 2018.
In his upcoming memoir The Royal Butler: My Remarkable Life of Royal Service, Grant Harrold, who served as a royal butler for several years, recalled a moment from the late Duke of Edinburgh as the royal family filed out of St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
Prince Philip’s ‘comment’ after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding
Grant, who attended the ceremony, said the comment made him laugh, and possibly echoed the sentiments of other royals at the time.
“It was very funny,” he continued. “I think he was speaking for the majority of people, who were wondering what it was all about and when it was going to end. But he was the man who actually said it.”
The wedding took place on May 19, 2018. It deviated from traditional royal protocol in several ways, most notably with a sermon delivered by American Bishop Michael Curry.
“We could see everybody walking in and out and hear the whole service, including the animated and very lengthy sermon by the American bishop Michael Curry,” Harrold noted.
Harrold’s memoir also sheds light on some of the lighter, lesser-known details from the wedding day.
Guests reportedly received royal-themed picnic bags that included shortbread, bottled water, and a chocolate coin stamped with the couple’s image.
Despite Prince Philip’s quip, Grant emphasised the genuine joy on Prince Harry’s face.
“I was delighted to see Prince Harry so happy,” he said. “The crowds turned out in unbelievable numbers. The atmosphere was amazing.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Netflix deal
Since the wedding, Harry and Meghan have stepped back from royal duties and relocated to Montecito, California, where they’re raising their two children, Archie, six, and Lilibet, four.
The couple has faced ongoing scrutiny, particularly over allegations that Meghan “bullied” royal staff, claims she has denied, and over their frequent public comments about their time in the royal family.
Adding to royal worries, Meghan and Harry recently confirmed they’ll continue their Netflix partnership with a new multi-year deal.
A trailer for season two of Meghan’s cooking and lifestyle series With Love, Meghan dropped last week. Meanwhile, a holiday special is also in the works.
An insider told press the duke and duchess are “over the moon” with the renewed deal.
But Grant recently offered a note of caution.
“I do think they will start being more careful not to cause further upset as they move into their future business ventures,” Grant told The Mirror, speaking on behalf of OLBG. “If they cause any more damage with these programmes it will impact any on-going attempts to build bridges.”
While the Sussexes may be celebrating, the royal family may be bracing for what could come next.
Grant concluded: “Their biggest concern will be another tell-all documentary on their fallouts with the family.”
