Meghan Markle practised tea-drinking before meeting the Queen, royal biographer claims

The royal bride-to-be allegedly visited a British teahouse in California prior to meeting the Queen

If there was ever a quintessentially British art worth perfecting, it would be taking afternoon tea.

Hence why royal bride-to-be Meghan Markle might’ve been keen to swot up on her tea-drinking skills prior to meeting the Queen.

According to royal biographer Andrew Morton, whose upcoming book is being serialised by The Sun, ahead of her first meeting with the Queen in autumn last year, the actress-turned-humanitarian visited Rose Tree Cottage in Pasadena, California for a “rehearsal”.

In Meghan: A Hollywood Princess, Morton describes how Markle learned everything there is to know about afternoon tea at the quaint, British-inspired teahouse, from how to greet your fellow tea-drinker to how to hold one’s cup, according to tradition.

The one-hour-long meeting reportedly went very well, with Markle describing the Queen as “an incredible woman” afterwards.

The couple’s engagement was publicly announced shortly after.

Morton’s book also recounts how Markle had been deeply affected by Princess Diana’s death, with sources divulging how she had cried while watching her soon-to-be late mother-in-law’s funeral in September 1997.

Markle might’ve been just 16 years old at the time, but according to Morton she was left heartbroken by the tragedy as she had always looked up to Diana as a role model for her extensive humanitarian work.

“As friend Ninaki Priddy observed: ‘She was always fascinated by the Royal Family. She wants to be Princess Diana 2.0’,” he writes.

In Morton's latest book, which follows his best-selling and controversial title Diana: Her True Story, he also reveals how Markle’s father, Thomas Markle, is “terrified” by the prospect of walking his youngest daughter down the aisle in May.

Speaking to Meghan’s brother, Thomas Markle Jr, the royal biographer reveals how his father feels he won’t simply be representing his family on the day of the wedding, but the whole of America.

While there have been speculations as to whether Markle’s father would even attend the wedding, his son said that the 73-year-old “worships the ground Meghan walks on” and will be very proud to walk her down the aisle.

The couple’s highly-anticipated nuptials will take place on May 19 at Windsor Castle.