Meghan Markle was the first royal fiancee to be invited to spend Christmas at Sandringham, the late Queen’s Norfolk estate, and it’s all down to the monarch’s real feelings for her.

A Royal expert has made a striking claim about the late Queen Elizabeth’s true sentiments towards Meghan Markle, revealed through an extraordinary gesture.

Before Meghan’s nuptials with Prince Harry, she received an invitation to join the senior royals for Christmas at Sandringham—a privilege typically reserved for official family members. Royal commentator Richard Eden, writing for the Daily Mail, suggested that this early invite, before Meghan formally became part of the Royal Family, was a clear sign of the high regard in which the late monarch held her, viewing Meghan as a potential “great asset” to the House of Windsor.

This special honor was not afforded to Princess Kate or Duchess Sophie of Edinburgh prior to their marriages; they were only welcomed to the Royal Christmas festivities post-wedding, despite their close bonds with the late Queen.

Meghan herself reflected positively on the experience in the Netflix documentary series she and Harry produced, where they openly discussed their romance and Royal departure.

Meghan Markle is the wife of late Queen Elizabeth’s grandson Harry

“I remember so vividly the first Christmas at Sandringham, calling my mom, and she’s like, ‘How’s it going? ‘ and I said, ‘Oh, my gosh, it’s amazing.’ It’s just like a big family like I always wanted. And there was just this constant movement and energy and fun,” Meghan recounted in the series.

Royal expert Eden recently brought to light how “warmly welcomed” Meghan Markle felt by the Royal Family, evidenced by a “highly personal gesture” initiated by the late Queen herself. After conversing with the former monarch’s courtiers, Eden pointed out that the Queen’s Christmas broadcast also hinted at new additions, believed to be nods to both Meghan and Prince Louis’ awaited arrival.

Meghan has consistently expressed profound respect for the late Queen, and reflecting on her passing in 2022, shared with Variety her admiration, saying, “What’s so beautiful is to look at the legacy that his grandmother was able to leave on so many fronts. Certainly, in terms of female leadership, she is the most shining example of what that looks like. I feel deep gratitude to have been able to spend time with her and get to know her.”