Late Prince Philip immediately noticed disturbing parallels between Meghan Markle and Wallis Simpson when the actress first entered royal circles, according to explosive claims from a prominent royal author.
The DOW Nickname
During the latest episode of The Daily Mail's Reading the Royals podcast, Diary Editor Richard Eden disclosed that Prince Philip privately referred to Meghan Markle as 'DOW' - an abbreviation for 'Duchess of Windsor'. This nickname emerged because the Duke of Edinburgh perceived striking similarities between Harry's future wife and the American socialite who caused King Edward VIII's abdication.
Citing royal biographer Ingrid Seward's book My Mother and I, Mr Eden highlighted how Philip's suspicions contrasted with Queen Elizabeth's initial enthusiasm. While the Queen championed Harry's new girlfriend, her husband remained deeply cautious about the former Suits star.
Ms Seward wrote: 'While the Queen continued to champion Harry's new love, Prince Philip warned his wife to be cautious. He told her he found it uncanny how much Meghan reminded him of the Duchess of Windsor.'
Beyond Superficial Resemblances
The late Duke's observations extended far beyond physical characteristics. Though both women were slim, dark-haired, glamorous American divorcees, Philip detected more profound similarities that concerned him.
Having met Wallis Simpson on several occasions before her death in April 1986, Prince Philip apparently sensed that Meghan possessed similar potential to disrupt the monarchy. His apprehension proved prescient when the Sussexes dramatically quit royal duties in January 2020.
Philip maintained his scepticism from the beginning, remaining immune to Meghan's charms. When Harry announced his plans to marry the actress after their whirlwind 16-month courtship, the Duke delivered a stern warning: 'One steps out with actresses, one doesn't marry them.'
Historical Parallels and Wedding Contrasts
The connections between these two American women who captured royal hearts span eight decades. Wallis Simpson first met Edward in 1931, while Meghan and Harry connected in summer 2016 - both introductions facilitated by mutual friends.
Both women had previous marriages behind them. Meghan had married and divorced film producer Trevor Engleson in Jamaica, while Wallis was twice-divorced when she began her relationship with Edward.
However, their wedding experiences dramatically reflected changing social attitudes. Edward and Wallis married on June 3, 1937 in a low-key French ceremony with no royal family attendance. Wallis wore pale blue rather than white, while Edward opted for a civilian suit instead of military uniform.
In stark contrast, Harry and Meghan's May 2018 wedding at St George's Chapel featured senior royals and celebrity guests including Oprah Winfrey and Elton John. Meghan chose an all-white Givenchy gown - though royal commentator Sally Bedell Smith revealed the Queen considered the £200,000 dress 'too white' for a divorcee.
Despite the different eras, intriguing connections persisted. The Rolls-Royce Phantom IV that transported Meghan to her wedding was the same model that carried Wallis to her husband's funeral at the same venue 46 years earlier.
Perhaps most strikingly, both American brides had only one family member present at their ceremonies - Wallis's Aunt Bessie for the 1937 wedding, and Meghan's mother Doria Ragland in 2018.
As Richard Eden speculated on his podcast: 'Isn't it strange that both Americans had barely any family members present on the biggest day of their lives? I'm not sure what that says about them, but isn't it a bit of a red flag?'
