Royal Family News
Meghan Markle Receives Warm Welcome from Queen in Christmas Message
The Queen has extended a warm welcome to Prince Harry's fiancée, Meghan Markle, in her Christmas message to the nation.
The monarch expressed her excitement at welcoming new members into the royal family in the coming year, as she displayed a framed photograph of the couple alongside other family pictures.
The photograph, taken during their engagement announcement in November, was placed alongside a portrait of the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall taken earlier this year by Mario Testino.
As the Queen spoke, video footage featuring the couple was aired at the end of the festive broadcast.
She is also expected to have been referring to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's new child, which is due to be born in April 2018.
The Queen's message is another sign of how quickly Ms Markle has been accepted into Britain's most prominent family.
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Ms Markle, who is spending Christmas at Sandringham with Harry and other senior royals, is likely to have watched the Queen's message with members of the monarchy.
The actress appeared in an eye-catching brown beret earlier in the day as she attended a Christmas church service with the royal family.
She wrapped up warm against the chilly winter temperatures in a beige £986 St Taylor coat which she tied up at the front.
The bride-to-be proudly displayed the engagement ring that Prince Harry designed himself before their engagement in November.
She also wore a pair of Stuart Weitzman over-the-knee boots and carried a $1,550 leather handbag by Chloe.
Meghan completed the look with a pair of Burke Snowflakes earrings, which she donned at the Queen's Christmas lunch.
It is understood that Prince Harry and his fiancée will stay with Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge Kate at Anmer Hall, their home in the Sandringham grounds, rather than in the main house.
Ms Markle will have to adjust to the royal family's idiosyncratic ways and customs, ingrained in centuries of tradition.
The Queen's message comes after a busy year for the royal family.
Prince William and Kate welcomed their third child, Prince Louis, in April, while Princess Eugenie married Jack Brooksbank in October.
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