Prince Harry's memoir Spare recounts the moment he told Prince William about his relationship with Meghan Markle in October 2016, and the two-word reply he received. According to the autobiography, William responded with an explicit phrase after learning the news.
Harry wrote: "Their mouths fell open. They turned to each other. Then Willy turned to me and said: 'F–k off?' I was baffled until Willy and Kate explained that they were regular - nay, religious - viewers of Suits. 'Great,' I thought, laughing. I've been worrying about the wrong thing. All this time I'd thought Willy and Kate might not welcome Meg into the family, but now I had to worry about them hounding her for an autograph."
Brothers remain estranged
The revelation comes as the royal siblings are understood to remain estranged despite the Duke of Sussex's return to British shores. The brothers, who previously appeared virtually inseparable, are thought not to have communicated since Harry's departure from Britain and his position as a senior working royal in 2020.
The duke relocated, alongside wife Meghan Markle, to Montecito in California, embarking on a fresh chapter where the pair pledged to achieve financial independence. Throughout the past six years, the duo have participated in various prominent interviews, including with Oprah Winfrey, and featured in their own Netflix documentary series, Finding Freedom.
Family's UK return
In August, Meghan and Harry confirmed their UK return alongside their two young children, Archie and Lilibet. The youngsters have since been registered at two educational establishments following their arrival, after the duke and duchess' security personnel expressed apprehension regarding transportation to and from their initial preference.
Meghan has additionally posted a touching social media update, chronicling the family's opening weeks back on British soil. The content features woodland strolls, Harry angling at a pond with both children, and Lilibet cycling while Archie sprints alongside her. Harry has also made his first public appearance at the WellChild Awards, delivering a heartfelt address from the stage, while Meghan has been spotted meeting fellow American Ellen DeGeneres at a local pub.
Contrasting accounts of first meeting
Nevertheless, the royal pair are not thought to have mended relations with Prince William and Catherine, as the Prince and Princess of Wales are reportedly determined to steer clear of any "drama" associated with Harry and Meghan's visit. It marks a stark contrast to the period when the two couples were christened the Fab Four ahead of Meghan and Harry's spectacular 2018 Windsor wedding.
Friction is understood to have emerged between the siblings well before Harry's shocking choice to step back from royal duties. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have offered differing accounts of how the two couples first came together.
During Harry and Meghan's engagement interview, the prince said: "William was longing to meet her, and so was Catherine. So, you know, being our neighbours, we managed to get that in a couple of - well, quite a few times now, and Catherine has been absolutely..." "She's been wonderful," Meghan interjected.
Yet in their tell-all Netflix series, Meghan described their first meeting as "jarring". She said: "When Will and Kate came over, and I met her for the first time, they came over for dinner, I remember I was in ripped jeans and I was barefoot. I was a hugger. I've always been a hugger, I didn't realise that that is really jarring for a lot of Brits."
"I guess I started to understand very quickly that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside. There is a forward-facing way of being, and then you close the door and go 'You can relax now', but that formality carries over on both sides. And that was surprising to me."
Harry also recounted that inaugural dinner in his memoir, noting that Meghan had cooked and conversation had flowed pleasantly, touching on Wimbledon and the legal drama Suits. He said: "The only possibly discordant note I could think of was the marked difference in how the two women dressed, which both of them seemed to notice. Meg: ripped jeans, barefoot. Kate: done up to the nines. No big deal, I thought."
