Book Claims Security Row Fuelled William-Harry Rift
A new extract from an upcoming royal biography claims a disagreement over security arrangements for Meghan Markle during her early relationship with Prince Harry helped deepen tensions between the Duke of Sussex and Prince William. The claims appear in reporting published on February 15, ahead of the book’s scheduled release later this month.
In an extract from “William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story”, The Mirror reported that Prince Harry “demanded that action be taken” after Meghan became a target on social media, and that he pushed for protection funded by the Home Office before the couple were married.
According to the extract, royal aides told Prince Harry that any such protection would not be provided until after marriage, prompting him to appeal to his father and brother to intervene. The book alleges that then-Prince Charles refused to get involved in a government decision involving taxpayer funding and that Prince William’s reluctance to assist “sparked a row that ignited a long-running and ugly feud.”
The passage also claims Prince Harry felt there was a disparity because Catherine, Princess of Wales, received palace guidance while dating Prince William and qualified for round-the-clock protection once they were engaged, feeding a sense of “one rule for him and another for me.” Against that backdrop, Prince William reportedly distanced himself from Prince Harry as the relationship between the brothers became harder to manage in public and private.
The extract further says the situation worsened when Prince Harry issued a statement condemning coverage of Meghan without first consulting his father or brother, which the book suggests led to tense conversations within the family. “William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story” is due to be published on February 26 by Ebury, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
