Old Friend of King Charles Critiques Meghan Markle’s Wedding Dress Choice

In a surprising twist, an old acquaintance of King Charles has taken aim at Meghan Markle, criticizing her wedding dress selection.

Nicky Haslam, an interior designer and long-time royal friend, didn't hold back when discussing Meghan's choice of attire for her big day.

He expressed his thoughts on Meghan's family dynamics, calling them “frightfully common,” and suggested it would have been better if her father, Thomas Markle, had stayed away from the ceremony.

Haslam's critique didn't stop there.

He went on to label Meghan's £200,000 Givenchy gown, designed by Clare Waight Keller, as resembling “concrete.” He remarked, “I didn't very much like her dress; it didn't fit among other things.

It should have been made of thinner stuff.” His comments have certainly stirred the pot, highlighting the ongoing scrutiny surrounding the Duchess of Sussex.

Adding fuel to the fire, royal expert Katie Nicholl revealed in her latest book that Queen Elizabeth II had reservations about Meghan's choice of a pure white wedding gown.

According to Nicholl's sources, the Queen was taken aback that Meghan opted for a traditional white dress, especially given her status as a divorcee.

The Queen apparently believed that if a bride had been married before, she should wear off-white, a sentiment echoed by Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.

The tradition of wearing white to symbolize purity and virginity has deep roots in wedding customs.

Meghan's choice, therefore, raised eyebrows within royal circles, suggesting a generational divide in perceptions of appropriate wedding attire.

The Queen, who was keen to embrace Meghan into the family, had hoped to guide her through the complexities of royal life, especially considering the controversies surrounding her estranged father.

The lead-up to the wedding was fraught with tension, particularly regarding Meghan's father.

The Queen took a rare step by addressing the couple directly about the situation.

She was concerned that Harry had never met Thomas Markle and that Meghan had unresolved issues with her father.

Sources indicated that the Queen felt strongly that these matters should have been addressed before the wedding.

Behind the scenes, organizing the wedding proved to be a significant challenge.

Tensions flared when Meghan's hairdresser arrived at Buckingham Palace, leading to a clash over the tiara she wanted to wear.

A top aide reportedly told Meghan, “You can't demand a tiara because your hairdresser is here.” This comment underscored the rigid protocols surrounding royal jewelry.

In February, Meghan attended an appointment to view a selection of tiaras alongside Prince Harry and the Queen's dresser, Angela Kelly.

However, reports suggest that a disagreement arose between Meghan and Kelly regarding the tiara selection, further complicating the wedding preparations.

Prince Harry, feeling protective of Meghan, reportedly became furious over what he perceived as Kelly's obstructiveness.

Valentin Lowe, in his book “Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown,” recounts how Harry used strong language in his confrontation with Kelly, pressing her to accommodate Meghan's requests.

The details surrounding Meghan's request for the tiara are murky, with conflicting accounts about whether her demands were against royal protocol.

Some insiders claim that Meghan simply expected access to the tiara without following the proper channels, while others argue that Kelly was indeed being unyielding.

One insider shared that Meghan insisted on having the tiara immediately upon their arrival at Buckingham Palace, disregarding the established protocols.

Angela Kelly reportedly responded with a firm reminder that the jewels are kept under strict security, emphasizing the importance of following the rules.