Queen's speech features Meghan Markle portrait

Queen's speech features Meghan Markle portrait

The Queen went out of her way to welcome Meghan Markle to the Royal Family in her Christmas message as she said she looked forward to welcoming 'new members' into the family in the New Year.

A framed photograph of the bride-to-be with her beau Prince Harry was displayed with other family pictures as the monarch spoke, and the couple also featured in video footage aired at the end of the festive broadcast. 

She will also have been talking about the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's new child which is due to be born in April 2018.

The Queen did not, however, mention the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge by name. 

The monarch gave the speech in the 1844 room alongside portraits of her and Prince Philip and her great-grandchildren, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

Also visible on another table were the official engagement portrait of Prince Harry and his fiancée Meghan Markle as well as Prince Charles and his wife Camilla the Duchess of Cornwall taken earlier this year by Mario Testino.

The Queen and her husband featured in a black and white image from their 1947 wedding, and in a colour photo released to mark their 70th wedding anniversary celebrated in November.

Taken by photographer Chris Jackson, the portrait of Prince George was issued by Kensington Palace on July 22nd to mark the youngster's fourth birthday.

The photo of Charlotte was taken by her mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, to mark her second birthday on May 2nd. 

The portrait of Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall was taken earlier this year as a 70th birthday present from Camilla to Charles. 

Prince Harry and Ms Markle were photographed outside Kensington Palace to mark their engagement announcement in late November.  

Ms Markle, 36, who is spending Christmas at Sandringham with Harry and other senior royals, is likely to have watched the Queen's message with members of the monarchy.

Her appearance in the Queen's end of year address to the nation is another sign of how quickly she has been accepted into Britain's most prominent family. 

Earlier today, Meghan stunned the crowds as she attended a Christmas church service with the Royal Family. 

The actress stepped out in an eye-catching brown beret and wrapped up warm against the chilly winter temperatures in a beige £986 Sentaler coat which she tied up at the front. 

Meghan clutched on to her Royal beau Prince Harry, 33, and proudly displayed the engagement ring that he himself designed before their engagement in November.  

As well as her beret and beige combination, Meghan wore a pair of Stuart Weitzman over-the-knee boots and carried a $1,550 leather handbag by Chloe.

She is also wearing a pair of Birks snowflakes earrings - which she donned at the Queen's Christmas lunch. 

This year, it is understood that Prince Harry and his fiancee will stay with Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge Kate at Anmer Hall, their home in the Sandringham grounds, rather than in the main house.

Markle will have to adjust to the royal family's idiosyncratic ways and customs, ingrained in centuries of tradition. 

The Queen's speech in full 

Sixty years ago today, a young woman spoke about the speed of technological change as she presented the first television broadcast of its kind. She described the moment as a landmark.

Six decades on, the presenter has 'evolved' somewhat, as has the technology she described. Back then, who could have imagined that people would one day be watching this on laptops and mobile phones – as some of you are today. But I'm also struck by something that hasn't changed. That, whatever the technology, many of you will be watching this at home.

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