A royal historian has reflected on Prince William’s reported warning to Prince Harry about Meghan Markle, saying the Prince of Wales was right to advise his brother not to rush into marriage.
Harry proposed to Meghan in 2017, less than two years after the couple began dating. At the time, William reportedly encouraged his younger brother to take more time before making such a major commitment.
Speaking to the Mirror, royal expert Marlene Koenig said William’s advice was sensible, particularly given the royal family’s experience with previous failed marriages.
“William was right to advise Harry to take his time and not rush into marriage,” Koenig said.
“The family learned valuable lessons from the marital failures of Charles and Diana, and Andrew and Sarah. Neither couple had the opportunity to get to know each other properly before marriage. There were no real courtships.”
Koenig pointed to Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, as well as William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, as examples of royal couples who spent more time together before marrying.
“Edward and Sophie, and William and Catherine, lived together before their marriages,” she said. “That time allowed the women to understand what life as a member of the royal family would be like.”
According to Koenig, Meghan may have benefited from a similar period of adjustment before marrying Harry.
“Meghan was not afforded that time, and perhaps if they had lived together for a few years, she would have had more opportunity to observe and understand royal life,” she added.
Meghan and Harry married in May 2018. In 2020, they stepped down as senior working members of the royal family and later moved to the United States with their son, Prince Archie.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex now live in Montecito, California, with Archie and their daughter, Princess Lilibet.
