Royal Author Claims William's Two-Word Comment On Meghan Markle Soured His Relationship With Harry

According to the book Finding Freedom, a key point of strain between Prince William and Prince Harry happened when the former tried to give the latter some well-intended brotherly advice. William was allegedly concerned that his brother was letting emotions rather than reason influence his decision to rush into a marriage with Markle.

According to authors Carolyn Durand and Omid Scobie, William said to Harry, “Take as much time as you need to get to know this girl.” Harry reportedly took offense to William's use of the term 'this girl', finding it not only dismissive but also ‘snobbish and condescending,’ as reported by The Mirror. The book also delves into the rumored reaction of the rest of the royal family when Markle entered the picture. As reported by Sky News, Durand and Scobie penned, "Meghan had often been the topic of conversation and gossip among them. When she arrived in the Prince's life, one senior royal referred to the American actress as 'Harry's showgirl.'"

Additionally, the book revealed, "Another told an aide, 'She comes with a lot of baggage.' And a high-ranking courtier was overheard telling a colleague, 'There's just something about her I don't trust.'" The authors added, “William had been wanting to distance himself from his brother ever since Harry’s marriage to Meghan—whom the then Duke of Cambridge took a disliking to from the start.” William allegedly felt that Harry was so captivated by Markle’s allure and vibrant American spirit that he was overlooking the realities and difficulties of navigating a relationship within the Crown’s rigid framework.

It was believed that Harry was hastily jumping into something that could seriously harm the family’s reputation. As reported by ELLE magazine, Scobie and Dunrand added, “William increasingly complained about Meghan to aides and family members. He didn’t like how opinionated she was, how she spoke to his staff, how much of her Markle family dramas were in the press.” Markle and Harry eventually became viewed as forces challenging the royal family’s traditional structure. As tensions between the brothers grew over time, Kate Middleton emerged as a peacemaker. However, after Harry dropped bombshells in his interview with Oprah Winfrey and his memoir Spare, his bond with his sister-in-law now also stands irreparably broken.

In his memoir, Harry claimed that Middleton stereotyped his wife, Markle, creating an emotional divide. He also revealed a heated argument that took place between Markle and Middleton over bridesmaids' dresses during his wedding, which left his wife in tears. A former royal correspondent, Jennie Bond, claimed that Middleton was deeply hurt by the harsh words. Fast forward to the present, it appears both sides have moved on, closing the door on any potential reconciliation.