He’s Paying the price: Prince Harry ‘ignored Prince William’s strong advice’ over Meghan Markle

During her time as a working senior royal, Meghan Markle worked with a number of charities and launched some important projects. Her interests included mental health, women’s rights, animal welfare and bringing communities together.

Given The Duchess of Sussex’s interest in the importance of charity work, many experts were surprised she didn’t stay in the royal fold for longer than she did – with it being often claimed that her departure was partly down to the lack of understanding she had surrounding her royal role.

There were many – including the Prince of Wales – who reportedly tried to offer the couple advice, both together and on how to approach their separate roles. However, the fact that they did not heed suggestions on how to balance their private and public life was the beginning of the end, a leading expert says.

I’m not convinced that Meghan imagined she could shake up the Royal Family, I just think she had no idea about how it worked and what life married to Harry would be like,” former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond exclusively told OK!

“And that’s why I think William was entirely correct to advise his brother to take things a bit more slowly, and give Meghan the chance to make a judgement on whether this was the life she wanted. Rightly or wrongly, the Royal Family is a hierarchy and Meghan was never going to be either the chief executive or even the managing director of the firm.”

On how going from freedom to a restrained lifestyle would have impacted Meghan, Jennie adds: “I completely understand that it must have been anathema to a strong minded, independent and successful woman to be told what to do, how to do it – and what not to do or say.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being a strong minded, independent and free thinking woman: but life is all too often about making compromises and I’m not sure that Meghan had contemplated that.

I think she probably has a very clear idea about her public image now and she has set up her website and her interests to reflect that. I hope she’s happy in her Californian life and that she makes Harry and their children equally happy.

Having watched him grow up and reported on him through so many of his most difficult years. I really have only wish one wish for the Prince: that he should be happy in love and enjoy the family life he has always wanted. And if that means remaining estranged from his family in the UK, then it’s very sad, but so be it.”

Prince William’s alleged hesitancy at the speed in which Prince Harry flew into a serious relationship with Meghan were later one of the topics in Tom Bower’s book Revenge: Meghan, Harry, and the War Between the Windsors.

Following Harry’s decision to introduce Meghan to his uncle, two aunts and his late mum’s best friend, Julia Samuel, Tom claimed that the group thought Meghan would not fit in with the Royal Family.

“Their unease was voiced by Charles Spencer,” Tom writes. “At William’s request, Spencer weighed in. Three times married, Spencer cautioned his nephew to reconsider his haste towards marriage. His advice provoked a bitter reaction. ‘This was going to be really hard,’ Harry would later reflect on establishing Meghan’s place in the family.”

Tom went on: “One of his recurring concerns was insufficient money if they married. Although Harry annually received about £1.5 million from Charles, Meghan had been advised to continue acting to supplement their income.”