In the new book ‘Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Family’ by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durrand, it is claimed Harry interpreted William’s concern as snobbery. According to the book, William was initially pleased that his brother seemed to be “happy and content” with Meghan, but he worried about the pace at which the relationship was developing. So he is said to have taken Harry aside to give him some brotherly advice: “Don’t feel you need to rush this. Take as much time as you need to get to know this girl.”
Of course, William had known Kate for 10 years before he proposed to her, which gave them the time to really get to know each other, and gave Kate the time to come to terms with what being a royal would really mean.
However, Harry was offended by the comment, interpreting the words “this girl” as being snobbish and condescending.
The Duke of Sussex also felt other members of the Royal Family, as well as courtiers and those in their social circle were being snobbish about Meghan.
One senior royal apparently called her “Harry’s showgirl” and another member of the family complained about her “baggage”.
READ MORE: William’s concern ‘snobbish’ while Meghan’s friends ‘given free pass’
Kate Middleton was compared to Jackie Kennedy (Image: GETTY)
Harry was offended by William’s advice about Meghan (Image: GETTY)
Meanwhile, a high-ranking courtier reportedly said they didn’t “trust” Meghan and Harry generally thought the old guard “simply didn’t like Meghan and would stop at nothing to make her life difficult”.
Harry reportedly also cut off an old friend for gossiping about Meghan.
However, Meghan is not the first royal bride to face snobbish comments from the royals’ inner circle.
In fact, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, was met with similar remarks, due to the fact she was a commoner.
William and Kate in 2008 (Image: GETTY)
One of these was a disparaging comparison to Jackie Kennedy and her sister Pippa, who was famously Maid of Honour at Kate’s 2011 royal wedding, was compared to Jackie’s sister Lee.
Author and broadcaster Vicky Ward wrote in Vanity fair in 2008 how Kate was the victim of “vicious sniping”, including this comparison to the Bouvier sisters, with the implication of social climbing.
Jacqueline Bouvier later became known as Jackie O after her marriage to John F Kennedy and Aristotle Onassis.
Her sister Lee, meanwhile, became a princess when she married Prince Stanislaw Radziwill of Poland.
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The Bouvier sisters (Image: GETTY)
Ms Ward wrote: “There are plenty of snobbish insults from people who, despite Middleton’s obvious attributes, believe the monarchy needs to stop marrying ‘out’ of its class.
“One likened her and her young sister Pippa to the Bouvier sisters, with their obvious desire to ‘marry well’.”
Unfortunately for Kate, the cutting remarks from London’s aristocratic set did not stop there.
Ms Ward added: “One member of the young polo-playing set in the county of Gloucestershire ‒ known in the British media as the ‘Glossy Posse’ ‒ noted, ‘Her parents have a Tarmac drive, for God’s sake.’”
Some believe Tarmac is quite a “new money” option for paving, as opposed to gravel or country track.
Ms Ward continued: “An acquaintance felt that Kate was extremely controlled and controlling.
“Some have commented on the small number of close friends she and Prince William have – between a dozen and 20 – and note that they are nearly all his, from either Eton or college, or family friends from his teenage years, such as popular London club promoter Guy Pelly, 26, Thomas van Straubenzee, 26, and Hugh Van Cutsem, 34.”
Meanwhile, society pages in London called Kate and Pippa the “wisteria sisters ‒ highly decorative, terribly fragrant and with a ferocious ability to climb”.
Biographer Andrew Morton also wrote how William’s circle treated Kate “abominably” in the early days of their romance.
In his 2011 book ‘William and Catherine’, Mr Morton wrote: “Kate would have sensed reservations about her in certain quarters.
“While she was seen as a ‘pretty and sensible’ girl, there were those in royal and aristocratic circles who believed that the Middletons were too middle-of-the-road for the House of Windsor.”
A Scottish nobleman told Mr Morton: “It was felt that she wasn’t from the right stock.
“William was expected to find a suitable bride among the aristocracy or European royalty ‒ one of his own kind.”
In this way, Meghan is by no means the first royal bride to experience snobbery from the Royal Family’s inner circle.
