Meghan Markle gave royal fans a rare look behind palace doors this week after sharing a collection of previously unseen wedding photos with Prince Harry. The intimate eighth anniversary post on Instagram included personal moments from their 2018 royal wedding celebrations.
While supporters praised the candid images, a former royal butler has claimed the release broke from long-standing royal tradition. According to the ex-palace staffer, the kind of behind-the-scenes access Meghan shared is something the public “never” usually sees from senior royals.
Former royal butler claims Meghan Markle’s wedding photos are ‘unprecedented’
Former royal butler Grant Harrold described Meghan’s anniversary upload as highly unusual by royal standards. The former palace aide claimed the photos offered a level of access that has traditionally been kept private within the monarchy.
Among the images were quiet moments from inside St. George’s Chapel, reception snapshots, and photos from Harry and Meghan’s first dance. Meghan also appeared to include pictures from a private Elton John performance during the wedding celebrations. According to Harrold, sharing such personal scenes publicly is “unprecedented” for a senior royal couple.
“I don’t think we’ve ever seen internal scenes from a senior royal wedding to this degree,” Harrold said, as reported by Showbiz Cheat Sheet. He also alleged that strict “no camera” policies have historically surrounded royal weddings and private family events. According to his claims, palace staff were once expected to tightly control personal photography inside royal residences and gatherings.
The report also pointed out how little the public has historically seen from other royal weddings. For example, photos from Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales’s 2011 wedding reception have never officially surfaced. Harrold suggested Meghan’s decision to share more personal images marked a notable departure from that approach.
Another detail that drew attention was the apparent absence of most senior royals in the photos. While one image appeared to show the back of King Charles, Harrold claimed the selected pictures were carefully chosen to avoid prominently featuring other family members. According to him, the couple may have “intentionally picked images” that were less likely to prompt concerns or removal requests from the palace.
Despite the discussion surrounding royal protocol, Harrold praised the warmth of the photos. He described Harry as playful and relaxed, adding that the images captured the couple appearing “happy and in love.”
