What did Prince William caution Harry about when he started dating Meghan Markle?
And how did Harry take it? Keep watching for just what went down.
The British royal family has always had a volatile relationship with the media.
Of course, the press loves to report on all things royal, and, over the years,
tabloid hacks have caused a number of problems for various members of the firm.
This has affected everyone in different ways, too. Back in February 2021, Prince Harry appeared
on The Late Late Show with James Corden and revealed that the British media is one of the
biggest reasons he and Meghan Markle abdicated their duties as senior members of the monarchy.
"It was a really difficult environment, as I think a lot of people saw.
We all know what the British press can be like."
Since relinquishing their duties, Harry and Meghan have continued to battle the media onslaught.
Of course, both Prince William and Kate Middleton have had to handle the press too,
and a new book has revealed how William felt about Harry's handling of the whole ordeal.
Prince Harry met his wife Meghan Markle on a blind date during the summer of 2016,
and they clearly felt a spark right away. The couple enjoyed a scant few months nurturing
their relationship in private before the press caught wind in October of that year.
The Duke of Sussex confirmed his relationship status via an official statement on the royal
family's website on November 8th, 2016. In his statement, Harry asked the press to respect the
couple's privacy and cited sexist and racist abuse Meghan had faced. The statement read:
"He has asked for this statement to be issued in the hopes that those in the
press who have been driving this story can pause and reflect before any further damage is done."
While his move was deemed "unusual" at the time,
it seemed necessary after the vitriol that had come from the press attention on Meghan.
Prince William seemingly had feelings about this "unusual" request, too.
Christopher Andersen's book, Brothers and Wives: Inside the Private Lives of William,
Kate, Harry, and Meghan, reveals that William was initially concerned by Harry's request. Andersen
claims that William nevertheless "reluctantly" supported his younger brother's endeavor.
In the midst of Harry's whirlwind romance,
Prince William reportedly had some advice for his brother. Andersen claimed:
"William, who has always been cautious, was the one who said,
'Wait a minute, take it easy. Don't rush things.' There's a scene in the
book where Harry says, 'Who the hell do you think you are?' He was furious."
The brothers also reportedly feuded after William attempted to get their uncle, Prince Edward,
to talk to Harry. Andersen claimed this made their situation "far worse" and added that
Harry was furious that his brother was attempting to have others interfere in his personal affairs.
Some of the tension apparently stemmed from the speed at which the Duke and Duchess were moving in
their relationship. William released a statement of his own supporting his brother back in 2016,
but Andersen has alleged that he privately expressed surprise over his brother's decisions.
"Surprised" may also be a good word to describe how Prince Harry felt about Kate
Middleton's initial relationship with Meghan Markle. Christopher Andersen alleged that the
younger brother expected his sister-in-law to find a close bond with his partner.
That was not initially the case, however. Andersen told Fox News:
"She has a very tight circle of friends. She doesn't let a lot of people in. By all accounts,
she's charming and very intelligent. But she's also suspicious of outsiders.
She delayed even meeting Meghan. And I think that confused Meghan in the beginning.
Frankly, it must have insulted her. But they did get along."
Of course, rumors have been swirling about the nature of the two women's friendship for
years now. Prince William and Prince Harry's relationship has been called into question in
recent months too, especially after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex sat down for their bombshell
interview with Oprah Winfrey. Although they were briefly seen speaking at the funeral of
Prince Philip, there has been little indication that things are getting better between them.
Still, while the brothers may be struggling with their relationship,
according to Us Weekly, their wives are "closer than ever."
Maybe the rest of the family should be taking notes.
Check out one of our newest videos right here! Plus, even more List videos about the royal family
are coming soon. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the bell so you don't miss a single one.