The Queen gave her official consent for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's marriage yesterday - and Markle fans can now rest assured that Her Majesty was absolutely not undermining Markle by simply using her first name and not 'well-beloved'.

During yesterday's Privy Council meeting at Buckingham Palace, the Monarch's declaration read:

'I declare My Consent to a Contract of Matrimony between My Most Dearly Beloved Grandson Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales and Rachel Meghan Markle, which Consent I am causing to be signified under the Great Seal and to be entered in the Books of the Privy Council.'

Queen Elizabeth | ELLE UKpinterest
Getty Images

This prompted some royal fans to suggest that the declaration lacked the warm tone that was included in the Queen's permission for Prince William and Kate Middleton's marriage - in which the Monarch described Kate as 'our trusty and well-beloved Catherine Elizabeth Middleton'.

Meghan had been referred to by her birth name, 'Rachel Meghan'.

However, Kate was actually described as such in the Instrument of Consent, and not the charter of declaration, which comes even closer to the wedding day.

Royal experts suggest that it is likely the Queen will give the same personal message to Markle in Harry and Markle's Instrument of Consent (via The Express).

xView full post on X

Meanwhile, the Privy Council declaration for Prince William and Kate was almost exactly the same as it was for Harry and the former Suits star.

It read: 'I declare My Consent to a Contract of Matrimony between My Most Dearly Beloved Grandson Prince William Arthur Philip Louis of Wales and Catherine Elizabeth Middleton.'

It's not easy being a royal.

Markle and the Queen's relationship is said to be going swimmingly, as it was recently reported that she and her Majesty had enjoyed an intimate lunch' on Mother's Day.

Meghan Markle, Prince Harrypinterest
Getty Images

Speaking previously about the Queen, Markle effused: 'It's incredible, I think, you know, to be able to meet her through his lens, not just with his honour and respect for her as the monarch, but the love that he has for her as his grandmother, all of those layers have been so important for me so that when I met her I had such a deep understanding and of course incredible respect for being able to have that time with her…

'She's an incredible woman.'

And no doubt similar sentiments are reciprocated by Her Majesty.

Headshot of Naomi Gordon
Naomi Gordon

Naomi Gordon is news writer mainly covering entertainment news with a focus on celebrity interviews and television.