THE late Queen was “upset”‘ at Meghan Markle’s plans for her and Harry’s wedding at Windsor Castle, a close friend of her cousin has claimed. Queen Elizabeth II is said to have been unhappy with the couple’s guest list for the event and the pair inviting “random” celebrities instead of family members.

Sally Bedell Smith, a royal biographer, said the queen was left exasperated by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s plans.

The late Queen reportedly said: “But it’s my house – and I’m paying for it” when confronted with the plans for the Windsor Castle event.

She was also said to have been “annoyed” when the pair went directly to the Archbishop of Canterbury to ask him to marry them in St George’s Chapel in May 2018. Harry’s grandmother was more excited about Princess Eugenie’s wedding in October that year, according to the Daily Mail.

Bedall Smith claimed in a new podcast that the late queen was upset about her lack of involvement in the Sussex’s wedding planning.

Lady Anson made an attempt to console her by telling her she could look forward to the Royal Ascot and Princess Eugenie’s wedding. Despite her first cousin’s best efforts her majesty remained upset.

The Royal Family paid for the Sussex’s wedding, covering the cost of the service, music, flowers and reception. There were 600 guests invited to a lunchtime reception at St George’s Hall which was hosted by the Queen. The reception was then followed by an evening bash for 200 VIPs at Frogmore House, hosted by Harry’s father.

Claims were made today however that Harry and Meghan had invited people who barely knew the Royal Family.

Sally Bedell Smith told American royal commentator Kinsey Schofield: “Harry and Meghan just disinvited or didn’t invite a whole group of family and cousins. The children of the Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and of the Gloucesters. She [Meghan] and Harry just ‘exed’ them out of the guest list and they added all these other random people who barely even knew the Royal Family. That was just yet another irritation for the Queen.”

Ms Bedell Smith revealed earlier this year what the late Queen’s real thoughts on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their behaviour were. She said that as the wedding approached the queen began to feel “very worried” privately. According to Bedell Smith concerns were raised that Harry was “Besotted and weak about women.”

Lady Anson reportedly told Bedell Smith about Meghan: “We hope but don’t quite think she is in love. We think she engineered it all.”

The Sussex’s married in May 2018 and Meghan threw herself into royal duties before falling pregnant.

Sally Bedell Smith wrote on her Substack:  “By late February 2019 when Lady Anson and I spoke on the phone, she said ‘I don’t trust Meghan an inch. To begin with, she was not bad—a straightforward starlet, used to public speaking and charity work. The wedge between the brothers is really too bad.'”

Lady Anson, who worked as a party planner for elites celebrities and royals, tragically passed away in 2020.

The queen made her a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order for her outstanding personal service to a British monarch. The Sun has contacted the Sussexes for comment.