Meghan Markle and Wallis Simpson's 'Weak' Men: Ex-Actress Is Just as 'Controlling and Narcissistic' Over Harry as Duchess of Windsor Was to Edward VIII

Meghan Markle has been compared to Wallis Simpson in how she is just as "controlling and narcissistic" over Prince Harry as Wallis was with Prince Edward, Duke of Winsor.

Author Sally Bedell Smith draws parallels between the two royal rebel couples and told an outlet that in both situations, "an American woman came into the picture and changed the dynamic of the whole thing."

"It is different," she pointed out. "Harry was never going to be King. But I think there are similar feelings of betrayal that have resulted in William in particular being furious with his brother — with good reason. In some respects, Meghan and the Duchess of Windsor have similar qualities: very narcissistic, very controlling, very dominating."

She continued: "And if you read [the Duke of Windsor's] letters, you can see how weak he was and how much he needed a domineering woman, and it feels as if Harry is somewhat the same way."

This insight comes amid reports that suggest Prince Philip didn't agree with Queen Elizabeth II when it came to first impressions of Meghan Markle in 2017. The late consort was said to have been skeptical of the actress from the very start, and even nicknamed her "DoW" — the initials for the Duchess of Windsor.

Wallis Simpson is credited in history as the twice-divorced American socialite who allegedly caused the King of Great Britain to renounce his throne simply to be with her. The former King Edward VIII, styled as the Duke of Windsor in 1937 after his abdication, lived with Wallis, Duchess of Windsor, in Paris, France, in "exile" after the colossal scandal of his resignation.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle married in 2018 before renouncing their royal duties and moving to California ("Megxit") in early 2020.

Philip's apprehensions about his soon-to-be granddaughter-in-law are recounted in royal expert Ingrid Seward's new book, My Mother and I. "One of the few wary of succumbing to her charm offensive, however, was Prince Philip," Seward wrote. "While the Queen continued to champion Harry’s new love, he warned his wife to be cautious. It was uncanny, he told her, how much Meghan reminded him of the Duchess of Windsor."

She continued: "He wasn’t simply referring to the fact that both were pencil-slim, dark-haired and glamorous American divorcees. There was a wealth of subtext in his barbed remark."

Seward further observed how the late Duke of Edinburgh "detected her apparent similarity to Wallis, he referred to her as DoW (short for Duchess of Windsor)."

Edward VIII's abdication, which was the only voluntary resignation of the throne in 1,200 years of monarchy, brought Elizabeth II's father and Edward's younger brother, to the throne as King George VI.

Daily Mail reported on Smith's comments.