Veteran royal correspondent Simon Vigar's new book, The Four Wives of Windsor, goes behind palace walls to reveal the private tensions, public struggles, and shifting alliances of the women who married into the House of Windsor. From Princess Diana's heartbreak to Meghan Markle's tough streak, the book offers a fascinating look at their astonishing lives.
Charles and Diana's strange proposal
Diana Spencer was just 19 when Prince Charles, then 32, proposed in February 1981. The couple had dated for about six months and met only 13 times before the proposal, which took place over a cold poached salmon dinner in Charles's old nursery at Windsor Castle. Charles asked, "If I were to ask, what do you think you might say?" Diana recalled thinking it was a joke and replied, "Yeah, OK," laughing. The engagement was formally announced on 24 February 1981.
Meghan's 'very cold' move
Before meeting Prince Harry, Meghan was married to film producer Trevor Engleson. They wed in 2011 but divorced in 2013. According to Vigar, Meghan ended the marriage during a weekend visit to Toronto. Her old school friend Ninaki Priddy said, "Once she decides you're not part of her life, she can be very cold. It's this shutdown mechanism she has. There's nothing to negotiate."
Kate and William's life-changing kiss
Prince William's romance with Kate Middleton began after a fashion show at St Andrews. Kate walked the catwalk in a sheer black dress, prompting William to note, "Kate's hot!" Vigar writes that William made his move at a private house party, leaning in for a kiss that surprised Kate. She reportedly pulled away at first but went with it. The kiss proved pivotal, leading to them living together in a flat at 13a Hope Street with two friends.
Meghan's 'tough streak'
Bullying allegations against Meghan surfaced in 2021 when The Times reported she had bullied two staff members out of Kensington Palace. A complaint was lodged in October 2018. Jason Knauf, communications secretary, claimed Meghan "drove two personal assistants out of the household." Meghan and Harry denied the claims. One source close to the chaos told Vigar, "Nothing was good enough. Meghan has a very, very tough streak in her. It was a horrible time for staff."
Kate's cheeky whisper
At Prince William's graduation from Sandhurst in December 2006, Kate attended in a scarlet coat and black Philip Treacy hat. As she spotted William in uniform, she whispered to a friend, according to a lip-reading expert, "I love the uniform. It's so, so sexy." The event turbo-charged engagement rumours.
Harry's wedding gloom
In his book Spare, Harry suggested he wanted to elope to Botswana but settled on St George's Chapel. He concluded, "We were expected to share this moment with other people. It wasn't up to us."
Queen's William intervention
After William and Kate briefly split in April 2007, the late Queen invited William to lunch. According to Vigar, citing Russell Myers' book, Elizabeth II advised William to "try again." The Queen knew a good thing in Catherine Middleton.
Meghan 's***torm'
In their 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview, Meghan claimed Archbishop Justin Welby secretly married them three days before the wedding. Vigar writes that one senior wedding official called this a "real s**torm" because it would mean the archbishop broke ecclesiastical law. Welby clarified the legal wedding was at St George's Chapel. The source said, "I can't see how she could have got confused."
Assassination fears
Queen Camilla was once "the most hated woman in Britain" after Diana's death. Vigar writes that Charles feared assassination and Camilla went to ground. "How you get from being deemed 'the most hated woman in Britain' in 1997 to 'Her Majesty Queen Camilla' in 2023 is one hell of a journey."
'Egos got in the way'
Vigar notes that Meghan's first public outing after the engagement drew a younger, diverse crowd. But barely two years later they left royal life. He says, "Both sides share the blame for this historic missed opportunity. It was all so avoidable but egos got in the way."
Heartbreaking phone call
Before the wedding, Charles took a phone call from Camilla as he left for a tour. Diana was photographed in tears at Heathrow, but the real reason was that call. Diana told friends it "broke my heart." She wanted to call off the engagement, but her father convinced her to continue.
Nightmare wedding clash
Charles and Camilla's civil wedding on 9 April 2005 was delayed by a day because Pope John Paul II's funeral fell on the original date. Camilla became the first royal town-hall bride, signing at Windsor Guildhall before a church blessing.
Backstage tensions
At the 2018 Royal Foundation Forum, backstage was tense. Meghan was unhappy with her place in the running order and didn't understand precedence. Catherine was nervous.
'Princess Harry'
If the Queen hadn't given Harry the Duke of Sussex title, Meghan would have become Princess Harry of Wales.
Princes 'united against Andrew'
According to Vigar, Prince Andrew was unhelpful to new wives. One thing uniting William and Harry is loathing for their uncle, over his association with Jeffrey Epstein and treatment of Catherine and Meghan. The princes are said to call him a "tosser."
Diana baby scan secret
Prince Charles wanted a girl with Harry, but Diana knew it was a boy because she had seen the scan evidence that Charles missed.
The Four Wives of Windsor: The Inside Story of the Power Behind the Crown by Simon Vigar was released on 30 July 2026.
