Prince William ‘drafted’ in Earl Spencer to ‘slow down’ Harry and Meghan’s relationship
Prince William asked his uncle, Earl Spencer, to deter Harry from proposing to Meghan, a new book has claimed


Prince William recruited Earl Spencer to meddle in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's relationship, a new royal book has claimed.
- Prince William asked Earl Spencer to speak to Prince Harry about his relationship with Meghan Markle in 2017, a new royal book has claimed.
- The Duke of Cambridge hoped his maternal uncle could convince Harry to 'slow down' with his rush to get married after knowing Meghan for just over a year.
- In other royal news, Prince William’s adorable promise to Kate Middleton after welcoming Prince Louis is finally fulfilled.
Prince William asked his uncle, Earl Spencer, to speak to Prince Harry about his blossoming relationship with Meghan Markle—and it didn't exactly go down well, a new book has claimed.
In Brothers and Wives: Inside the Private Lives of William, Kate, Harry, and Meghan, author Christopher Andersen details an "alleged outburst" from the Duke of Sussex over an unwanted family intervention in his personal life.
The incident reportedly took place in September 2017, two months before he announced his engagement to Suits star Meghan Markle.
According to the book, Harry was left "incensed" when his brother, Prince William, voiced concerns over the speed of his transatlantic partnership. It's understood that the Duke of Cambridge, a.k.a. the future King, responded to his younger sibling's hopes to propose with, "What's the rush?"
Having only dated Meghan for a little over a year, Harry's desire to get married was met with skepticism from his fellow royals. Their whirlwind romance stood in stark contrast to the relationship timeline of Prince William and Kate Middleton, which dates all the way back to their Freshman year of university in 2001.
Worried by his brother's haste, Prince William allegedly tried to enlist Charles, Earl Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana, to dissuade Harry from popping the question. According to Page Six, the Duke 'drafted' his maternal uncle to 'underscore his opinion that the lovebirds should slow down' and practice a bit more patience before tying the knot.
Sign up for the woman&home newsletter
Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news, interesting opinion, expert advice on styling and beauty trends, and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered.
Earl Spencer was asked to speak to Prince Harry about his relationship with Meghan Markle, a new book has revealed
The unsolicited advice wasn't exactly received well by Harry, who was reportedly “furious that his brother was actively seeking to have others interfere in his personal affairs."
This story, which has not been corroborated by the Royal Family, comes amid a torrent of headlines about the royal siblings' so-called 'feud'.
Harry and William have been at loggerheads with each other for over a year now, with most of the conflict tracing back to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's emigration to the US in early 2020. The couple's withdrawal has senior royals has caused quite the stir in the British monarchy, leaving many of the responsibilities in serving the Crown on Prince William and Kate Middleton. It's now understood that Prince William and Prince Harry ‘avoid’ each other when forced to work together, and have not yet managed to reconcile.

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.
Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.
-
Tight hips? These 4 stretches can help improve your mobility and feel amazing
Stretches for tight hips mean better hip mobility and flexibility. It might not sound like a lot, but these two small adjustments help make daily life easier
By Grace Walsh
-
The most decade defining royal moments of the 80s - from Princess Diana fever, royal births and Queen Elizabeth II's historic firsts
A lot happened in the 80s, and we don't just mean leg warmers and the rise of Madonna
By Jack Slater
-
I’ve been writing about the royals for years - here’s what I predict Kate Middleton will wear at Easter (and what I wish she’d wear instead)
All eyes will be on the Princess of Wales if she attends the Royal Family's Easter Sunday church service for the first time since 2023
By Emma Shacklock
-
Remember when Prince William and Kate Middleton broke royal protocol at Easter? Here's why it's unlikely to happen again
The Royal Family might be taking a more modern approach these days, but there are some traditions and protocols that they still uphold.
By Emma Shacklock
-
Kate Middleton's go-to bag for special occasions is a wedding season essential you'll reach for time and time again
The Princess of Wales always reaches for the same elegant style of bag for formal events and it works beautifully for weddings.
By Emma Shacklock
-
Kate Middleton declares baker boy hats back for 2025 in new Love Actually-esque outfit
The Princess of Wales's signature style is all about timelessness but that doesn’t mean that she never gets on board with trends.
By Emma Shacklock
-
Prince George will start a new school this year and 'smart money' is on Kate and William choosing this one, says royal expert
Prince George only has just over a year left at Lambrook School and Emily Andrews believes there's a top contender for his next one.
By Emma Shacklock
-
Queen Camilla takes note of Kate Middleton's love of polka dots with charming collared number in Rome
If we had to pick the Princess of Wales’s favourite print it would be polka dots and Queen Camilla just emulated her style in Rome.
By Emma Shacklock
-
James Middleton says he 'had three mothers growing up' as he opens up on close-knit family bond
The Princess of Wales’s brother had several 'mothering figures' during his childhood and was 'fortunate' to have this tightknit support system.
By Emma Shacklock
-
What earrings does Kate Middleton wear? The affordable brands she loves and where to buy her pieces
The Princess of Wales gravitates towards certain brands for her everyday earrings and many of them are still available right now.
By Emma Shacklock