Prince William Reportedly Never Trusted Meghan Markle — Royal Expert Reveals Why originally appeared on Parade.
A royal expert claims Prince William reportedly never trusted Meghan Markle. Allegedly, he was skeptical of her relationship with his brother, Prince Harry, from the very beginning, and his opinion never changed. William’s concerns appeared to be validated when the couple separated themselves from the royal family, stepped down from their duties, and moved to the United States in 2020.
Royal expert Phil Dampier, who has reported on the royals for over 25 years, weighed in on William’s initial reservations about Meghan joining the royal family. Per Dampier’s interview with The Sun, he claims the former Suits star saw her relationship with Harry as a way to elevate her public profile.
Dampier claimed, “I think, unfortunately, that confirms what I’ve been saying or thought for the last few years that, sadly, Meghan never really had any intention of staying in the royal family. staying in the Royal Family.
“She saw [it] as a stepping stone getting married to Harry, to new fame and fortune. And I think that’s what initially Prince William was concerned about,” he alleged.
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“And that’s why they fell out. And now we are where we are,” he concluded.
Harry addressed his conflict with William about Meghan in his autobiography Spare. The Duke of Sussex was reportedly told by his older brother to “slow down” the speed of the relationship when he first revealed they were dating.
“She’s an American actress after all, Harold,” he reportedly said, per the book. “Anything might happen.”
Harry and Meghan first met on a blind date in July 2016. They became engaged in November 2017 and wed in May 2018.
Dampier’s comments came on the heels of remarks reported on by longtime royal reporter Sally Bedell Smith in her Substack, Royal Extra. She shared excerpts from a discussion she once had with the late Lady Elizabeth Anson, Queen Elizabeth’s first cousin.
According to Sally Bedell Smith, just days before Harry and Meghan’s wedding, Anson reportedly relayed concerns about the union on the queen’s behalf. While Anson didn’t mention the monarch by name, she used the word “we,” strongly implying the message came from the top.
“The Number One Lady—I call her Jemima—says the jury is out on whether she likes Meghan,” Anson reportedly told Smith. “My Jemima is very worried. She alleged, “Harry is besotted and weak about women. We hope, but don’t quite think she is in love. We think she [Meghan] engineered it all.”
Buckingham Palace has not commented on these claims. Prince William and Prince Harry have been estranged since 2020.
Prince William Reportedly Never Trusted Meghan Markle — Royal Expert Reveals Why first appeared on Parade on Jul 14, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.