Prince Philip reportedly offered pointed advice to Prince Harry following his proposal to Meghan Markle. The late Duke of Edinburgh allegedly told his grandson, "You date actresses, you don’t marry them."
This claim comes from royal historian Andrew Lownie’s book, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, which was published earlier this year. Reports of Philip’s warning have circulated for years, though the royal family has never commented publicly on the matter.
Harry, 41, and Meghan, 44, began their romance in 2016. They announced their engagement the following year and married in a royal wedding ceremony in 2018.
Another contentious comment from Philip after the couple’s wedding was revealed in a separate book. Former royal butler Grant Harrold’s The Royal Butler, published in August, detailed an exchange.
Harrold wrote, "Once all the formalities were concluded, we watched the happy couple, and then the other members of the Royal Family, exit the chapel." He continued, "As Prince Philip came out, he turned to the Queen and said, ‘Thank f*** that’s over’."
Despite these accounts, royal biographer Ingrid Seward previously told Us Weekly there was no animosity between Philip and Meghan. Seward asserted that Philip was "very welcoming" to the former Suits star.
Seward explained in 2021 that Philip was largely retired during Harry and Meghan’s courtship. He did not see Meghan often and therefore did not have many opportunities to develop a close relationship with her.
Philip, who was 99, passed away in 2021 after Harry and Meghan had stepped back from their roles as active royals and relocated to the United States.
Harry recalled returning to the United Kingdom for his grandfather’s funeral in his 2023 memoir, Spare. He detailed a "secret meeting" held after the funeral with his father, King Charles III, and brother, Prince William.
This meeting focused on Harry’s decision to distance himself from the family. Harry wrote that he was "nervous, struggling to control my emotions," during the encounter in Frogmore Gardens. He had promised himself not to let it devolve into another argument.
Harry recounted that he soon discovered the outcome was "not up to me." He and William grew heated during the discussion. Charles reportedly pleaded with his sons not to "make my last years a misery."
In the years since Spare‘s publication, Harry has shown signs of reconciliation with his family. During a trip to the UK in September, Harry had an emotional reunion with Charles.
This marked their first meeting in nearly two years. A source told Us at the time that they "were conversing personally about the children and about Charles’s situation and his health." The source added, "There were hugs and tears at the meeting."