Prince Harry's fiancee Meghan Markle had to answer a series of probing questions about her first marriage to Trevor Engelson so that her marriage to British Prince Harry could go ahead. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby spoke with Markle privately to ask about her previous marriage, in accordance with Church of England guidelines.
Welby had a duty to interview Markle exhaustively about her previous marriage despite how uncomfortable it might be since Markle is a divorcee who has willingly agreed to become part of the state church when she accepted Prince Harry's proposal. She also had to be quizzed before her baptism into the Church of England.
Some of the questions that Welby had to ask based on the Church's protocol included: "What have you learned from your previous marriage?" and "Has there been healing of past hurts?"
The archbishop might have also asked Markle what she thinks of her upcoming wedding to Prince Harry.
Welby had to evaluate if Markle was open, frank and honest about her previous marriage and if she's ready to commit her lifetime to the prince and the Church. The archbishop said in past interviews that the Church of England does not see Markle's divorce as a problem.
The Church of England did not previously allow divorcees to marry but this rule changed in 2002. Welby said that Markle went through the process as any other divorcee expressing a desire to marry in the church, which has to ensure that the end of the previous marriage has been absolute.
Markle married producer Engleson in 2011 after years of being together. The couple, however, split just two years later in 2013 and cited irreconcilable differences in their divorce. The actress also dated chef Cory Vitiello in 2014 but their relationship ended a few months before she met Prince Harry on a date set up by a mutual friend.
Prince Harry and Markle announced their engagement in November 2017. They will exchange "I do's" before the archbishop on May 19 at the St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.
