Queen Elizabeth II is alleged to have said “thank goodness Meghan is not coming” to her husband Prince Philip's funeral, according to unnamed sources cited in a new book.
Biographer Tom Bower’s latest book Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the war between the Windsors threatens to reopen the feud within the British royal family, thanks to a number of explosive claims.
An extract published in The Times suggests the queen was relieved that the Duchess of Sussex, then seven months pregnant, would not be attending her husband Prince Philip’s funeral on April 17 last year.
The book states: “‘Thank goodness Meghan is not coming,’ the monarch said in a clear voice to her trusted aides.”
Buckingham Palace, which does not comment on individual books, declined to comment on the story.
However, sources close to the queen question whether she would have anything other than Philip on her mind on the day of his funeral.
Mr Bower also claims that Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, and Meghan made a “demand to appear with the queen on Buckingham Palace’s balcony” during the monarch's platinum jubilee celebrations last month.
The book alleges that Prince Philip rejected this arrangement.
Clarence House declined to comment.
Mr Bower writes: “Festering was their (Harry’s and Meghan’s) fury that the palace had refused all of their demands for a prominent role at the jubilee.”
He adds: “In Meghan’s view those optics were unsatisfactory, partly because her value to Netflix was to stand near the queen.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Mr Bower’s previous unauthorised biographies have featured Boris Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn, Prince Charles, Tony Blair and Richard Branson, among others.
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Temple numbers
Expected completion: 2022
Height: 24 meters
Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people
Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people
First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time
First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres
Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres
Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor
