The Archbishop of Canterbury has cast fresh doubt on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's claims of a secret ceremony before their official Royal wedding.
During the highly publicised interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Duchess of Sussex made a shock revelation that she wed her beloved Prince earlier than everyone thought.
She told the veteran TV host: "You know, three days before our wedding, we got married. No one knows that. But we called the Archbishop and we just said 'look, this thing, this spectacle, is for the world, but we want our union between us'.
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"The vows that we have framed in our room are just the two of us in our back yard with the Archbishop of Canterbury... just the three of us."
However, the highest cleric of the Church of England has hit back against that allegation.
Justin Welby admitted to meeting the couple several times before the were married in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in 2018.
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While he wouldn't explain what was said or done during those meetings, he confirmed that the official wedding and proceedings related to the marriage definitely occurred at St George's.
Speaking to Italy's La Repubblica newspaper, the Archbishop said: "The legal wedding was on the Saturday.
"I signed the wedding certificate which is a legal document...and I would have committed a serious criminal offence if I signed it knowing it was false."
"I had a number of private and pastoral meetings with the Duke and Duchess before the wedding.
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"The legal wedding was on the Saturday. But I won't say what happened at any other meetings."
This is the second time Meghan Markle's claims of a secret ceremony have been criticised, with the first being from the person who issued their wedding licence.
Stephen Borton, who has previously served as chief clerk at the Faculty Office, said Meghan is 'misinformed' about the alleged 'secret ceremony'.
"They did not marry three days earlier in front of the Archbishop of Canterbury," he told The Sun.
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"The Special Licence I helped draw up enabled them to marry at St George's Chapel in Windsor and what happened there on 19 May 2018 and was seen by millions around the world was the official wedding as recognised by the Church of England and the law."
It is also worth noting that Meghan and Harry's 'backyard wedding' could not have been a legal ceremony as it lacked witnesses and a registered venue.
Stephen continued it was likely a simple exchange of vows or a practise run for the official ceremony.
"What I suspect they did was exchange some simple vows they had perhaps written themselves, and which is fashionable, and said that in front of the Archbishop or, and more likely, it was a simple rehearsal," he said.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: News, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle