Home / Latest News / Prince William

'Meghan Didn't Start This': Prince Harry Desired a 'Normal Life' Long Before Meeting the Ex-Actress

Harry, Duke of Sussex, reportedly desired a 'normal life' long before he first met Meghan Markle in 2016.

meghan markle
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pictured at the September 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Source: MEGA

Prince Harry was not feeling the monarchy long before he first laid eyes on Meghan Markle during the summer of 2016.

"I spent many years kicking my heels and I didn't want to grow up," the fifth in line to the throne told an outlet in 2017. "I felt I wanted out, but then decided to stay in and work out a role for myself."

Princes William and Harry 'chiding' one another at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire, June 2009. Source: ITN/YOUTUBE

"I am determined to have a relatively normal life, and if I am lucky enough to have children, they can have one too," he added.

This follows long-running royal reports that suggest Harry and Prince William's once beloved dynamic with one another started to fade in the mid-to-late 2000s. Both princes were serving in the British Armed Forces at the time, with the future king allegedly finding Harry's attitude and demeanor then to be "tiresome," according to a former palace aide. The duo gave a memorable interview in 2009 in which royal analysts claimed the "banter" in the clip was actually "frustration" between the pair.

William is also said to have found the early-to-mid 2000s, when Harry was frequently in trouble with substance abuse and "acting out," to be "embarrassing" both to their grandmother's Crown and their mother's memory.

prince harry

This also follows reports from the late summer of 2023 in which the Prince of Wales was alleged to have "erased" his brother from his mind.

"Because of these entrenched positions and the fact Harry has visited the U.K. without either of them, as far as we know, lifting a finger to phone or text or meet up, I really can’t see them mending the rift any time soon," royal reporter Jennie Bond told an outlet at the time.

"William is hurt so deeply that I think he probably just blanks Harry out of his mind most of the time. He has moved on with his life, and I guess so has Harry," she continued.

prince harry

As The Royal Observer previously reported, the rift that has developed between the once close royal siblings has been there for a few years now but went "nuclear" once Harry attacked William in his memoir, Spare.

In the autobiography, the Duke of Sussex accused the then-Duke of Cambridge of throwing him to the floor during a 2019 argument that revolved around Meghan Markle. He also spilled how it was William and Kate Middleton who convinced him to wear a Nazi uniform to a party in 2005 — both allegedly laughed at the then 20-year-old prince once the image of him donning the outfit was splashed across newspaper front pages.

The Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex have reportedly not spoken to one another since Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in September 2022.

prince harry

Powered by RedCircle

Daily Express reported on Harry's interview.

GET BREAKING ROYAL NEWS
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

More Stories

A UK barrister has a warning for the royals suggesting that the bedrock of British culture is under a strain that it may never truly recover. 
By Sakshi Singh · FEB 19, 2026
A new account suggests the two sisters-in-law competed fiercely for press attention and public approval.
By Abha Anindita · FEB 7, 2026
The Grammy-nominated artist discussed Harry and Meghan on a podcast, and shared what she thought about the estrangement.
By Abha Anindita · FEB 5, 2026
Meghan has already started to tease what appears to be a carefully thought-out Valentine's Day rollout tied to love, gifting, and slow mornings at home.
By Madhurima · JAN 28, 2026
Although Prince Harry's private security team identified her immediately, they found themselves in a legal stalemate.
By Sakshi Singh · JAN 26, 2026
Harry named 10 associates he was in regular contact with during the relevant period, including his brother, sister-in-law, and ex, Chelsy Davy.
By Medha Sengupta · JAN 22, 2026
The Duke of Sussex entered the Gothic Victorian court building around 10 AM.
By Abha Anindita · JAN 19, 2026
This time around, the palace appears unwilling to loosen its purse strings beyond what is necessary.
By Medha Sengupta · JAN 17, 2026
Insiders say the couple took on total risk with no investors involved.
By Abha Anindita · JAN 16, 2026
Sources say the silence was deliberate — but the Princess of Wales is choosing calm
By Abha Anindita · JAN 13, 2026