Prince Harry's rush to marry Meghan Markle met with caution by Diana's brother

A recently uncovered book has disclosed that Prince Harry was cautioned by Princess Diana's brother, Earl Spencer, that Meghan Markle may not be the ideal match for the Royal Family.

Earl Spencer reportedly expressed his reservations about his nephew's then-girlfriend, advising Prince Harry to take things more slowly with their relationship. Renowned Royal biographer Tom Bower reveals in his book "Revenge: Meghan, Harry, and the War Between the Windsors" that the Spencer family were taken aback upon their first encounter with Meghan.

Bower, in his explosive account, suggests that Prince Harry saw parallels between Meghan and his late mother, a sentiment that did not resonate well with his relatives. Earl Spencer is said to have been "disappointed" by the comparison, reports the Mirror.

Commenting on the less-than-favourable impression, Bower remarked: "Harry assumed that Diana's family and friends would see a similarity between Diana and his fiancee. He was disappointed. No one agreed that his vulnerable mother had anything in common with his girlfriend. More discomforting for him, they thought Meghan would not fit in with the Royal Family."

Reflecting on the early days of his romance, the Duke of Sussex fondly recalled his initial outing with Meghan at a quaint eatery, saying: "There was one photo. We just wanted to capture the feeling of just sitting in that little restaurant and going 'Oh my gosh. We were going to give it a go'. That was when it just hit me. I was like, OK, this girl, this woman, is amazing, is everything that I've been looking for. And she's so comfortable and so relaxed in my company."

Harry and Meghan exchanged vows at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle in 2018. Sky News AU reports that author Bower claims Earl Spencer, Diana's brother, expressed concern for his nephew.

"Their unease was voiced by Charles Spencer, Diana's brother," Bower wrote. "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."

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Despite past tensions, Earl Spencer showed support for Harry during the Invictus Games anniversary service, although Meghan was notably absent. The Invictus Games, which is a sporting event for wounded or sick veterans and servicemen and women, marked its 10th anniversary this May.

Reflecting on the milestone at an event in London, Harry shared: "Sometimes you... look back and go 'Look at what we've done'. But also given the state of the world, there is so much more to do and I think a lot of uncertainty but what we've created is a global community."

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