Prince Harry was “poised for war” as he protected Meghan Markle from criticism in early days of their relationship

Prince Harry reportedly “cut off” those who thought to warn him against his relationship with Meghan Markle, a new book has claimed.

• New book claims that Prince Harry was determined to "confront" those who questioned his relationship with then-girlfriend Meghan Markle.
• It's also been suggested that Prince William's choice of phrasing was seen as 'condescending' by his brother. 
• In other Royal News (opens in new tab), Prince Louis looked adorable in his brother's jacket for a family festive night out (opens in new tab). 

After Prince Harry was first linked to the American actor, it seemed that those around the prince did not all keep their opinions on his new girlfriend (opens in new tab) to themselves. 

This supposedly included Prince Harry’s older brother, Prince William. In recent months, rumours have circulated, suggesting that there is a rift between the once close royal brothers (opens in new tab). 

Some have claimed that this first began to grow after the Duke of Cambridge also expressed concern over the speed in which Prince Harry and Meghan’s relationship was moving. 

Now royal authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand have suggested in their new book, Finding Freedom, that Prince Harry felt he needed to “confront” those who cast doubt over Meghan.

How did Prince Harry defend Meghan Markle?

In Finding Freedom, the two authors reportedly wrote of how when the two first started dating, ‘Harry, sensitive to even the slightest hint of prejudice, had fallouts within his own circle’.

The book speculates that when some people ‘questioned his new relationship’ and whether Meghan was ‘suitable’, he would wonder, ‘“Is this about race? Is it snobbery?”’. 

According to Scobie and Durand: ‘An old friend of Harry’s spent an afternoon gossiping about Meghan’. The friend supposedly made ‘disparaging remarks about her Hollywood background’.

Following on from this, the authors wrote that when Harry heard word of the incident, he ‘immediately cut him off’ and that whilst Harry was willing to confront those close to him, he was ‘poised for outright war’ when it came to the media.

What did Prince William say about Meghan Markle?

Scobie and Durand have also delved into what they believe to be the reason for the so-called rift between Princes William and Harry. The royal authors suggest that it was the Duke of Cambridge’s reaction to Meghan and his use of the phrase ‘this girl’ in particular that caused upset between the two.

The book claims that Prince William said: ‘Don’t feel you need to rush this’ when discussing his brother’s new romance. 

Finding Freedom then suggests that the Duke of Cambridge added, ‘Take as much time as you need to get to know this girl’.

The authors wrote of their belief that this choice of words was seen as ‘condescending’ by Prince Harry.

The book reportedly added that these words suggested that in these words, he heard a ‘tone of snobbishness that was anathema to his approach to the world’.

Examining Prince William’s reaction, the book reportedly suggests that ‘William may have felt he was acting out of concern’, whilst ‘Harry was offended that his older brother still treated him as if he were immature’.

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Finding Freedom by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex may regularly make headlines, but in this enlightening novel, Scobie and Durand delve into the unknown details of the couple’s life together. 

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Did Prince William and Prince Harry fall out?

Whilst the two brothers have never commented publicly upon the suggestion of a rift between them, the rumour that the two had fallen out has continued to circulate.

This was even more the case after Prince Harry and Meghan (opens in new tab), Duchess of Sussex announced they were stepping down as senior royals (opens in new tab)and moved from Frogmore Cottage (opens in new tab) to North America.

However, reports emerged that suggested following the Duchess of Sussex’s devastating miscarriage earlier this year, it was to Prince William and their father Prince Charles, that Prince Harry may have turned to for support.