A royal expert has claimed that the rift between Prince William and Prince Harry may have begun much earlier than previously thought, dating back to when Meghan Markle first joined the royal family.

According to royal commentator Phil Dampier, the once-close brothers reportedly ‘fell out’ due to Prince William’s concerns over Meghan’s intentions, suggesting she may have viewed her relationship with Prince Harry as a “stepping stone” to global recognition.

These assertions come after the release of a previously unpublished interview with the late Lady Elizabeth Anson, cousin to Queen Elizabeth II, in which she revealed the monarch was ‘very worried’ about Meghan marrying into the royal family.

“She [Meghan] saw marrying Harry as a route to fame and fortune,” Dampier told media outlets. “That’s what William was concerned about from the beginning — and it seems those fears may have been valid, as confirmed by someone close to the late Queen.”

In the same interview, Lady Anson disclosed that Prince Harry had written to her ahead of his 2018 wedding, stating that the Queen supported his and Meghan’s decision to “do things differently.” 

However, Anson said the Queen privately confided she was “not at all content” and feared Meghan “could turn into trouble.”

“She sees things differently,” the Queen is quoted as saying.

Lady Anson also mentioned the Queen had been upset about certain royal protocol decisions made by Harry, including arrangements for their wedding ceremony that bypassed the usual channels.

“She said she was really upset. I was shocked when the Queen told me how saddened she was,” Anson added.

The interview also paints a less-than-flattering picture of Prince Harry, describing him as ‘besotted’ and ‘not strong,’ while characterising Meghan as a strong and ambitious personality. Anson suggested this dynamic may have contributed to the wider family tensions that eventually led to the couple’s departure from royal duties in 2020.

Neither Prince Harry nor Meghan Markle responded to these claims. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex currently reside in California with their two children and remain estranged from several senior royal family members.