Turns out Meghan Markle has really helped Prince Harry and Prince Charles' relationship

Who'd have thought it?

(Image credit: Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock)

Who'd have thought it?

We think it's fair to say that we were all a little surprised when it was announced that Prince Charles would be walking Meghan Markle down the aisle.

Meghan's father, Thomas Markle, had to miss his daughter's wedding after having heart surgery days before the ceremony, so the groom's father stepped in instead.

But apparently the pair get on extremely well; according to the Daily Mail, Meghan consulted the Prince of Wales on several planning aspects of her big day, while Charles has advised her on her new life as a royal.

'She is so intelligent and so nice. She makes Harry happy. We could not like her more,' Charles has reportedly told friends.

Perhaps more important, though, is the impact the new Duchess of Sussex has had on her husband's relationship with his father.

(Image credit: Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock)

The paper writes that both William and Harry 'blame [Charles] for being absent during much of their childhood', after the death of their mother when they were teenagers. But Meghan's arrival into the royal family has significantly changed that.

'Meghan met Charles and was bowled over by his charm,' a family source told the paper. ‘She told Harry he was wonderful: welcoming, warm, hard-working kind and stable. She made it clear that he should appreciate him and bond more.'

And her message seems to have sunk in as, according to the Mail, there has been a 'remarkable thawing' between Charles and Harry over the past few months.

(Image credit: REX/Shutterstock)

After walking his bride part way down the aisle on their wedding day, there was touching moment between the father and son as Harry said, 'thanks, Pa' – one we think is all the more important now.

The Duke of Sussex also gave a speech at his father's 70th birthday party, admiring his father's 'selfless drive to affect change' and 50 years of charitable work.

'You have inspired William and I, and looking out here today, it is clear to see that we are not alone,' Harry added. 'You have created an incredible body of work that has, and will continue to make such a huge difference to so many people's lives both here and around the world.'

Whatever the finer details may be, it's lovely to think that the whole family are getting on even better following Meghan's arrival.

Lucy Abbersteen
Beauty Contributor

Lucy is a freelance beauty editor and contributor at Marie Claire, and has written for titles including Glamour, Refinery29, Popsugar, woman&home and more. She was previously Marie Claire’s junior beauty editor. During her career, she’s covered everything from backstage beauty at fashion week to interviews with famous faces like Drag Race royalty and Little Mix. As for her beauty ethos, she’s a big advocate for not having to spend a fortune on beauty products to get good results, and when she’s not got beauty on the brain you’ll find her reading or hanging out with dogs.