She had met the parents and had face-time with her prince's older brother, but there was still one important introduction yet to be had for Meghan Markle.
A friend of the Suits actress admitted that she was "a little nervous" at the thought of meeting her boyfriend, Prince Harry's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Although it took Duchess Kate Middleton five years to score some one-on-one time with the Queen of England, Markle knew that she would be meeting her before the year's end.
"He's keen to make an introduction," a friend of Harry's revealed. "It will happen when it's the right time."
Kate Middleton was first introduced to Prince William's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth at a 2008 royal family wedding, 3 years before their marriage.
Harry and Meghan first met in July 2016 and now divide their time between Toronto, Markle's adopted home, and London.
After a three-week vacation in Botswana and Zambia, the royal took 35-year-old Markle an a 500-plus mile road trip with his dad, Prince Charles, and his stepmother, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. They headed up to the family's 5300-acre estate in Scotland, for some quality face time.
"Harry decided to take Meghan to visit as he hadn't been up yet all summer," a source tells Us Weekly.
It wasn't just her not visiting this summer that motivated the trip.
"He wanted to introduce Meghan to the queen," the source said.
The couple arrived at Balmoral Castle, the Queen's summer resident, for the first introductions.
"It went well," says the source. "It'll no doubt be the first of many encounters."
Now that she has officially met the head of the monarchy, rumors are flying about a pending engagement.
According to legislation, the Queen must give her blessing to the marriage of the first six people in the line of succession. This means that Prince Harry will have to ask the permission of his grandmother to marry the American actress.
Rumors were floating around that Harry has created a ring using diamonds from a brooch that once belonged to his mother, Princess Diana, and that he had intended to propose during their African holiday.
In spite of all his secrecy, the palace aids are still making preparations for the engagement announcement of the 33-year-old Prince.
"These things are planned well in advance; it's not easy to roll out that kind of news," explains the source. "Everyone knows how happy Harry is and is excited for the day it's announced."
For now, the couple are just enjoying the success of the last weekend.
"The entire weekend was a success," states the source. For Harry, notes the source, "he was able to introduce someone he loves to someone he cares for deeply."
The L.A. born-actress gets along well with the Royal family, with an insider saying, "she fits perfectly into the family." She also has a good relationship with her future in-laws Charles and Camilla. She apparently "gets on fabulously with Charles," says the source, "as do she and Camilla."
But her love affair with Harry takes the cake. The actress shared with Vanity Fair, "We're two people who are really happy and in love."
Since their romantic holiday, it has only gotten better.
"Meghan and Harry are in such a good place "” Africa took their relationship to a whole other level," says the source. "They're just crazy about each other."
Congratulations, you two! We hope that we are hearing wedding bells soon.
Source: Us Magazine /