Prince William's Blunt Reaction to Harry's Meghan Revelation
A newly published biography has unveiled a startling moment in royal history, detailing Prince William's explosive two-word response when his younger brother Harry first informed him about dating American actress Meghan Markle. The future king's reaction, described as "shocking" and "non-regal," offers a glimpse into the early dynamics that would later lead to the Sussexes' estrangement from the monarchy.
The Initial Disclosure and William's Surprising Words
According to royal editor Russell Myers in his book William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, Harry mustered the courage to share his secret romance with William and Kate Middleton before it became public knowledge. Myers reports that William's immediate reply was a blunt "F*** off!" This reaction is corroborated by Harry's own account in his memoir Spare, where he recalls William saying "F–k off?" with both William and Kate's mouths falling open in surprise.
Harry explained in his book that the shock stemmed not from disapproval of Meghan herself, but from William and Kate's familiarity with her television work. The couple were apparently regular, even "religious," viewers of the legal drama Suits, in which Meghan starred. Harry noted this shifted his concerns from family acceptance to worries they might "hound her for an autograph."
Contradictory Accounts of Early Encounters
The biography and Harry's memoir reveal inconsistencies in how Meghan's initial interactions with William and Kate have been portrayed over time. In their 2017 engagement interview, Harry described William as "longing to meet her" and Kate as "wonderful." However, in the couple's Netflix documentary, Meghan recalled their first dinner meeting as "jarring," citing cultural differences in formality and her casual attire of ripped jeans and bare feet compared to Kate's more formal appearance.
Harry's Spare elaborates on this dinner, noting that while conversation flowed about topics like Wimbledon and Suits, the clothing contrast between the women was noticeable. He speculated that Kate might have been "on edge" knowing she would "be compared to, and forced to compete with, Meg."
Mounting Tensions and Eventual Estrangement
The biography details how cracks began appearing early in the relationship between Meghan and Kate. Harry recounts several incidents, including a disagreement over bridesmaid dresses before his wedding that left Meghan in tears, and Kate "grimacing" when Meghan borrowed her lipgloss. These seemingly minor conflicts hinted at deeper incompatibilities.
In a January 2023 interview with ITV's Tom Bradby, Harry acknowledged that William and Kate "didn't get on with Meghan from the get-go." When pressed for reasons, Harry pointed to "stereotyping" based on Meghan being an "American actress, divorced, biracial." He suggested these preconceptions created barriers to her full acceptance within the family circle.
The relationship between the brothers, once close, has deteriorated significantly since Harry and Meghan's decision to step back from royal duties in 2020. Their subsequent public criticisms of the monarchy have widened the rift, making William's initial two-word reaction seem prophetic of the conflicts to come.
Myers' biography, drawing from extensive research and insider accounts, provides new context to these well-documented royal tensions. It suggests that from the very beginning, Meghan's entry into the royal family challenged established norms and expectations, setting the stage for the dramatic upheavals that would follow in subsequent years.
