Playful Miss Markle, a royal crowd-pleaser
IT was Meghan Markle’s biggest day – so far.
Thousands of members of the public had turned out to watch her inaugural appearance with the Royal Family.
Christmas Day at Sandringham is one of the big draws of the festive season and some had queued since before dawn to catch a glimpse.
Many royal fans were keen to see the Queen after she missed last year’s service with a heavy cold. But numbers were no doubt swelled by the prospect of seeing Miss Markle, 36, who is due to marry Prince Harry at Windsor on May 19.
Fortunately for her, other young royals were there to whisper some friendly advice. As they left the church, William and Harry could be seen chivalrously guiding Miss Markle through what was to come next.
Harry gesticulated towards the waiting crowds, with whom they would be expected to chat as they walked back up to the main house.
Miss Markle could be clearly seen to nod thoughtfully and mouth ‘yes’ in reply to the prince. She had, unusually for a royal fiancee, been invited by the Queen to join the official festivities. At 91, the monarch is much more relaxed about protocol these days, and genuinely delighted to see her grandson so happy.
While the Queen, eye-catching in orange, travelled to church by car, most royals walked the half mile or so. As is tradition, they did not stop on their way into church – Miss Markle clung to Harry’s arm and smiled broadly at well-wishers.
The service began with the National Anthem and was followed by carols including O Little Town Of Bethlehem, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Angels From The Realms Of Glory and O Come All Ye Faithful. Afterwards the younger royals headed towards the crowds to collect flowers and gifts.
Miss Markle, who wore an eye-popping sheer £56,000 dress for her engagement portraits released last week, was conservatively stylish in a £986 Sentaler cream baby alpaca wool wrap coat, suede boots and a brown hat – the first time she has been seen in formal headwear. Kate, pregnant with her third child, wore a £2,655 Miu Miu velvet-trimmed tartan peacoat and black fur hat.
Harry and Miss Markle stopped to speak with Judith Wallis when the prince recognised her teddy bear, Maureen, as a mascot for Armed Forces charity SSAFA.
Miss Wallis, from Chesterfield, who uses a wheelchair, was with a group from disabled charity Leonard Cheshire.
She said: ‘Harry’s had his photo taken with Maureen before. It just seemed so natural. She [Meghan] was very, very lovely.’ William and Kate stopped to talk to nine-yearold Tallulah Read, who was waiting outside the church with a bunch of flowers.
Tallulah’s mother Jacqueline said: ‘She [Kate] just asked what time Tallulah woke up this morning and if Santa came.
‘ We just asked them if they [Prince George and Princess Charlotte] opened their presents and she said yes, and that they were very excited.’
Prince George was given the police car he had asked Santa for, William revealed.
Among the crowd was an American couple who got engaged while they waited to catch a glimpse of the royals. They received personal congratulations from Harry and Miss Markle.
Michael Metz, 20, from Wisconsin, had proposed to girlfriend Ashley Millican, 20, live on television at about 9am as they queued to get close to the church.
Harry and Miss Markle picked the couple out of the crowd and went to pass on their best wishes to them.
Mr Metz said: ‘They were walking quite fast but they came over and said congratulations.’