Prince Philip's unconventional wedding advice to Prince Harry revealed
Reports suggest that Prince Philip offered rather unconventional advice to Prince Harry in the wake of his engagement to Meghan Markle.
“One may associate with actresses, but one does not marry them,” the venerable Philip purportedly remarked to his grandson, as documented in royal historian Andrew Lownie’s book, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, published recently.
The cautionary statement attributed to Philip regarding Harry, 41, has circulated for some time, yet the Palace has refrained from public comment. (Us Weekly previously sought a statement from Buckingham Palace.)
Harry and Meghan, 44, began their swift courtship in 2016. Their engagement was formally announced the subsequent year, culminating in their royal nuptials in 2018.
An Overview of Harry and Meghan's Relationships Within the Royal Family
Another publication, released recently by former royal butler Grant Harrold, brought to light a further candid remark from Philip after Harry and Meghan’s wedding ceremony.
“Once all the formalities were over, we watched as the happy couple, and then the other members of the Royal Family, filed out of the chapel,” Harrold recounted in The Royal Butler, which saw its release in August. “When Prince Philip came out, he turned to the Queen and said, ‘Thank f that’s over.’”
Royal biographer Ingrid Seward previously conveyed exclusively to Us Weekly that cordial relations existed between Philip and Meghan. Indeed, Seward asserted that Philip was “very welcoming” to the former Suits actress.
“She represented a new face — and a distinctly different one,” Seward revealed in 2021. “During Meghan and Harry’s courtship, he was less present due to his retirement. Consequently, he had limited interactions with Meghan and little opportunity to cultivate a bond with her.”
The wedding of Harry and Meghan occurred merely six weeks after Philip underwent hip surgery, yet he nonetheless graced the ceremony with his presence.
“[It] stands as a clear illustration of his unwavering resolve that, come what may, he would process down the aisle at the wedding and occupy his designated place,” Seward clarified.
An Overview of Harry and Meghan's Relationships Within the Royal Family
Philip passed away at the age of 99 in 2021, following Harry and Meghan’s decision to step back from their roles as senior working royals and move to the United States.
Harry recounted his return to the U.K. for his grandfather’s commemorative service in his 2023 memoir, Spare. The Duke of Sussex described a “private discussion” with his father, King Charles III, and his brother Prince William after Philip’s funeral, focusing on Harry’s choice to disengage from the family’s duties.
“I attempted to articulate my perspective. I was not at my most composed. For one, I remained apprehensive, endeavoring to manage my emotions, concurrently aiming for brevity and clarity,” Harry penned in the book, noting the meeting’s location at Frogmore Gardens. “Furthermore, I had pledged to prevent this gathering from escalating into another dispute. Yet, I soon realized that control was not entirely within my grasp.”
Harry and William reportedly began to “grow animated” during their discussion, prompting Charles to purportedly implore his sons not to “make my final years a misery.”
In the period following the memoir’s publication, Harry has seemingly begun a rapprochement with his family. During a visit to the U.K. in September, Harry had an poignant meeting with Charles — their initial encounter in almost two years.
“They exchanged personal updates concerning the children and Charles’s ongoing health,” a source exclusively informed Us at the time. “The reunion was marked by embraces and emotional moments.”
