Meghan Markle‘s four-word response to Charles’ kind gesture; coronation plans revealed

A new book reveals how Meghan Markle surprised her father-in-law with four words, amid new details on plans for the King’s coronation.

Meghan Markle surprised King Charles with an unusual four-word response to his sweet wedding day gesture, a new book claims.

The Duchess of Sussex tied the knot with Prince Harry in 2018 during a fairytale wedding at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.

But less than a week before the big day, the Suits actor’s dad Thomas Markle announced he would not be attending.

In stepped her future father-in-law Charles offering to escort Markle to the altar.

King Charles stepped in to walk Meghan Markle down the aisle. Picture: BBC

According to Robert Hardman’s new book, Queen of Our Times, Markle’s reply was somewhat unexpected.

“The reply, according to one friend, was not quite what he was expecting: ‘Can we meet halfway?’,” Mr Hardman wrote.

“Here was an indicator that this was no blushing bride, but a confident, independent woman determined to make a grand entrance on her own.”

Charles was surprised by Meghan Markle’s response to his kind wedding day gesture. Picture: Getty Images

KINGS’ CORONATION PLANS REVEALED

King Charles’ “cost-of-living” coronation will apparently last just over an hour.

His Majesty’s crowning service is likely to be cut to around a third of the length of Queen Elizabeth’s, which lasted more than three hours in 1953.

The King is understood to want a scaled back ceremony to recognise the current cost-of-living crisis in Britain and to establish a modern, slimmed-down monarchy.

Blueprints for the plans suggest the guest list will be slashed from 8000 to 2000 and there is likely to be a more relaxed dress code, according to The Sun.

Reports suggest the King will have a “cutback” coronation to acknowledge the cost of living crisis. Picture: Getty Images

Hundreds of nobles and MPs are expected to be told they cannot be guaranteed a place in Westminster Abbey.

Discussions are also being held about allowing peers to wear lounge suits rather than ceremonial robes.

And ancient rituals like presenting the monarch with gold bars are set to be scrapped, the Mail on Sunday reported.

Prince William is also expected to have an important planning role.

His Majesty’s coronation is likely to be more religiously and culturally diverse, feature less outfit changes and have modernised language.

But the monarch will still be anointed, swear to be the “defender of the faith”, and ride in the 1762 Gold State Coach.

The original golden coronation carriage will feature in King Charles’s coronation despite other cuts, according to reports. Picture: Getty Images

This week it was speculated that King Charles would be crowned on June 3, almost 70 years to the day after his mother’s ceremony.

Elizabeth was crowned on June 2, 1953, 16 months after becoming monarch.

The King will have waited nine months for his ceremony if June 3 goes ahead but no date for the coronation has been officially confirmed and it remains to be decided, according to The Sun.

Charles will be 74 for the slimmed-down ceremony, making him the oldest British monarch to be crowned.

A portrait of Elizabeth for her coronation in 1953. Picture: Getty Images

The Sun’s front page on June 3, 1953.

Planning for the nation’s first coronation in 70 years began just 48 hours after the Queen’s emotional state funeral last month.

Sources told The Sun the service will be shorter, smaller and less expensive than the Queen’s coronation.

Charles became King when his mother died on September 8 and formally acceded to the throne at a ceremony held two days later at St James’s Palace in London.

At 73 years old, he is the oldest King to ascend to the British throne — beating King William IV who was 64 when he took the crown in 1830.

Originally published as Meghan Markle‘s four-word response to Charles’ kind gesture; coronation plans revealed