Princess Diana Would Have Opposed Prince Harry’s Marriage to Meghan Markle, Claims Former Press Secretary
In a recent interview, Dickie Arbiter, former press secretary for Queen Elizabeth, shared his opinion that Princess Diana would have never approved of Prince Harry’s marriage to Meghan Markle. Arbiter, who served the royal family from 1988 to 2000, discussed his time with the royals during which he observed Princess Diana’s close relationship with her sons.
Speaking to Times Radio, Arbiter expressed his belief that if Princess Diana were alive, Prince Harry might not have married Meghan. He emphasized Diana’s protective nature over her sons, stating, “If Diana had been alive, I’m gonna stick my neck out here. I doubt Harry would have married Meghan. Diana was very careful about her boys. She protected them. She would have protected them against anybody she felt wasn’t the right person.”
Arbiter suggested that Princess Diana would have had reservations about the whirlwind pace of Harry and Meghan’s relationship, which moved from meeting in July 2016 to engagement in November 2017, and marriage in May 2018. He remarked, “Diana was very careful about her boys. She protected them. She would have protected them against anybody she felt wasn’t the right person.”
Reflecting on Prince Harry’s personal struggles, Arbiter commented on the long-lasting impact of Princess Diana’s death on her son, stating, “A lot of Harry’s problems, he’s admitted it, come from the fact that he’s not over that his mother was killed.” He also noted Harry’s military service as another layer of complexity in his ability to move forward, saying, “There comes a time when you have to ‘let go’ and get on with your life.”
Arbiter expressed hope that Prince Harry has found some peace in his new life in California, where he resides with Meghan and their two children, Archie and Lilibet. “Maybe he’s found peace in California. I hope so,” he concluded.
The interview also touched on Harry’s past relationships with serious girlfriends who chose to step away from the intense scrutiny of royal life. Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas, both former girlfriends of Prince Harry, were mentioned as examples of partners who preferred their independence over the royal lifestyle.
As for Prince Harry’s decision to marry Meghan, Arbiter speculated that seeing his brother Prince William settled with a family might have influenced his rush into marriage. “Harry saw his brother happy with children, and he wanted the same,” he said. “My own personal opinion is that he rushed into marriage [with Meghan Markle].”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will celebrate their sixth wedding anniversary this May, marking another milestone in their life together away from the royal frontline.