The late Queen Elizabeth II was worried about Prince Harry during the early stages of his relationship, a royal author claims.

The late Queen Elizabeth II expressed words of concern during the early stages of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s relationship, a royal author has claimed.

Gyles Brandreth, also a close confidant of the senior royals, has disclosed how the late Queen was genuinely delighted with Prince Harry’s choice of wife, and had high hopes for the contribution the American actress could make to public service.

However, as a number of staff left the Sussexes’ service as claims of bullying came to light, denied by the Duchess’ legal team, the late Queen expressed her worries about the effect on her grandson.

Gyles writes in his book ‘Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait’, that Queen Elizabeth let slip if Harry wasn’t “perhaps a little over-in-love”.

The extract, as reported in the Telegraph, reads: “The only concern the Queen let slip in the early days of the Sussexes’ marriage was to wonder to a friend if Harry wasn’t ‘perhaps a little over-in-love’. This was as far as she came – to my knowledge at least – to ever uttering a word against the new Duchess of Sussex.”

The broadcaster says in his book that the late Queen liked Meghan, and did “everything to make her feel welcome”. Knowing about her previous acting work, she suggested she could “carry on being an actress”. Meghan reportedly said she would step back from her career, however, to fully commit herself to her royal duties.

However, the late Queen shortly became concerned after Meghan allegedly rejected an offer to have Prince Edward’s wife, Sophie, “show her the ropes” in royal life.

However, the Sussexes proceeded to break away from the Firm in a move dubbed “hard Megxit” given the harsh way they left the monarchy and their royal duties for North America.

Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior working royals in 2020 and now live with their two children, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three, in Montecito, California.

A PR expert has since claimed Meghan Markle would struggle to reconcile with the Royal Family even if they agreed to resume relations with Prince Harry.

Over the past four years, Meghan has repeatedly decried the alleged treatment she received while a working member of the family, claiming she had received little guidance and support as she settled into her new role.

Harry has returned on multiple occasions to the UK, including visiting his father shortly after his cancer diagnosis, but the Duchess has not set foot in the country since after the late Queen’s funeral.

PR expert Renae Wąsik told the Daily Express reconciliation would be difficult for the Duke but noted it is entirely “improbable” Meghan could fix her relationship with the royals in the short term.

Renae said: “Even if Harry reconciles from a familial angle, I don’t see it extending to Meghan, as she isn’t considered ‘family’ by the Royal Family and has shown no interest in the working side of her previous role.