Prince Harry's relationship with Meghan Markle became a source of tension within the British Royal Family as relatives urged the Duke of Sussex to slow the pace of their romance, according to royal correspondent Simon Vigar, whose forthcoming book revisits the experiences of women who married into the monarchy. Speaking ahead of the July 30 publication of The Four Wives of Windsor, Vigar said Harry viewed the advice as unfair, believing his circumstances differed sharply from those of his older brother, Prince William.
The claims, made during an interview with GB News, offer Vigar's account of conversations and observations accumulated during nearly three decades covering the Royal Family. Neither Buckingham Palace nor representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have commented publicly on the assertions, which have not been independently verified.
According to Vigar, Harry and Meghan initially enjoyed a relatively private relationship, spending time together in London, Toronto and Africa before widespread media attention transformed their courtship. That brief period of normalcy, he argued, disappeared quickly as public scrutiny intensified, leaving the couple with little opportunity to develop their relationship outside the spotlight.
Vigar said the Duke became particularly frustrated when family members encouraged him not to rush into marriage, believing those comparisons overlooked the advantages Prince William had enjoyed while dating Catherine Middleton. William and Catherine met at the University of St Andrews in 2001 and spent years building their relationship before it became the focus of sustained public attention.
"'That's obviously part of Harry's resentment, is that William had that vaguely normal relationship with university, which Harry never had, and he just prickled and bristled when people in his own family were telling him not to rush it,'" Vigar told GB News.
Vigar added that Harry viewed William's position as fundamentally different because the Prince of Wales had already established a family of his own. "'I completely get that, 'It's all right for you to say that, you've got a wife and three kids!'" Vigar said, describing what he believed was Harry's response to such advice.
Beyond the pace of his relationship with Meghan, Vigar said Harry had previously questioned whether anyone would willingly accept the demands that came with marrying into the Royal Family. According to the royal correspondent, the Duke worried that the institution itself presented obstacles to forming a lasting relationship because of the constant public attention attached to his role.
"'He told me that the Royal Family genuinely worried 10 years ago or so, 'Would he ever find someone who really wanted to marry him with all the baggage that goes with him?'" Vigar said. "'And then he found Meghan, and everything went into warp speed.'"
Those recollections come as The Four Wives of Windsor prepares for publication. The book examines the experiences of Diana, Princess of Wales, Queen Camilla, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, drawing on Vigar's decades covering royal tours, engagements and major state occasions.
Publisher information notes that Vigar has reported on the monarchy since 1997, interviewed Prince Harry during his career and was among the journalists selected to cover Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral. His latest work explores how the four women navigated public expectations, media attention and the unique demands of marrying into Britain's Royal Family.
Harry has previously addressed many of the themes raised by Vigar in his memoir Spare, where he described the pressures of growing up as the younger son of the future king, the impact of relentless media coverage and the deterioration of his relationships with senior members of the Royal Family.
