Royal commentator Rebecca English discussed the subject on the Palace Confidential podcast, according to the account supplied for this story.
She described William as having reservations about the speed of the relationship and recalled the advice he reportedly gave Harry:
"Maybe you just need to take a little bit of time to get to know this woman and plan your future more."
The wording is important.
It does not suggest that William necessarily believed Meghan was unsuitable for Harry. Instead, it points toward a concern that the relationship had developed so quickly that Harry might benefit from allowing more time before making such a consequential commitment.
Royal biographer Katie Nicholl has also described William's concern as being about timing rather than a straightforward rejection of Meghan.
Speaking to Fox News in an earlier interview, Nicholl said she had been told privately that William was concerned about how quickly the relationship had moved.
She also offered an important qualification: William could see how happy Meghan made Harry.
These two points can exist together.
A family member can be pleased that someone has found happiness while still wondering whether a major decision is being made too quickly.
That is what makes the reported advice more complicated than the simple headline might suggest.
William was not necessarily asking Harry to choose between his brother and his girlfriend. The concern, as described by the commentators, was about allowing enough time for a relationship to develop before entering a marriage under extraordinary public expectations.
It is also important to recognize that the exact private conversation has not been independently documented in a publicly available recording. The words should therefore be understood as a reported account, not as a complete transcript verified by both brothers.
Why the brothers may have seen the situation differently
Harry and William had grown up in the same family, but their experiences of royal life were not identical.
William was the elder son and direct heir to the throne. From an early age, he was expected to prepare for a future role that would involve significant constitutional and public responsibilities.
Harry occupied a different position.
Although he was born into the same institution, he was not expected to become monarch under the normal order of succession. He had greater scope to develop his own public projects, serve in the military, and explore a life that was not entirely defined by preparation for the throne.
That distinction may help explain why the brothers approached major personal decisions differently.
William had a strong reason to think carefully about the long-term implications of marriage within the monarchy.
Harry, meanwhile, may have placed greater importance on the personal connection he felt with Meghan and the possibility of building a different kind of family life.
Neither perspective automatically makes one brother right and the other wrong.
William's advice reflected caution. Harry's response reflected confidence.
The disagreement, as described in the accounts, was about how much time was necessary before making a life-changing decision.
Harry had reasons of his own for feeling certain
Harry's public life had been shaped by experiences that were very different from those of an ordinary young man.
He had grown up surrounded by formal expectations, public ceremonies, security arrangements, and constant media interest.
His mother's death had also affected him profoundly.
Over the years, Harry spoke about the emotional difficulties associated with that loss and the challenges of managing his feelings while living in the public eye.
When Meghan entered his life, he appeared to find a partner with whom he could imagine a future beyond the traditional royal expectations.
The relationship also gave him an opportunity to explore questions about privacy, public responsibility, and what kind of family environment he wanted to create.
In the couple's engagement interview in November 2017, Harry spoke warmly about their connection and described how quickly he had become convinced that Meghan was the right person for him.
He also discussed the role of his family in welcoming her.
His confidence was visible.
For Harry, waiting longer may not have seemed necessary to confirm something he already believed.
That does not mean he could predict every challenge that would follow. No couple can know exactly how marriage, parenthood, public attention, or family disagreements will shape their future.
But he appeared ready to take that step.
And in November 2017, the engagement was officially announced.
The engagement announcement changed everything
On November 27, 2017, Clarence House announced that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were engaged.
The announcement confirmed that the couple would marry in the spring of the following year.
The news immediately became an international story.
For royal watchers, the engagement represented the arrival of a new member of the family. For Meghan's supporters, it marked a remarkable development in the life of an American actress who had built her own career before entering the royal world.
The couple appeared together for an official photocall at Kensington Palace.
They smiled, held hands, and answered questions about their relationship.
Their engagement ring also attracted considerable attention because Harry had designed it with personal meaning. The central diamond came from Botswana, a country that had become important to their relationship, while the two smaller stones were from a collection associated with his mother, Diana.
That detail reflected how Harry connected his new future with his family history.
The engagement interview also provided a glimpse into the couple's feelings.
Harry spoke about the moment he proposed, describing an intimate occasion at Nottingham Cottage rather than a grand public spectacle.
Their story appeared to have reached the point where the initial excitement of dating had become a serious commitment.
The wedding date was later confirmed as May 19, 2018.
By then, the reported advice from William had become part of the wider narrative surrounding the couple.
But Harry had made his decision.
And the next chapter would unfold in front of millions of people.
Part Three: The Wedding That Turned Their Romance Into a Global Event
May 19, 2018: A day watched around the world
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on May 19, 2018.
It was an extraordinary occasion that brought together royal tradition, celebrity guests, family members, public celebrations, and international media attention.
The chapel was filled with invited guests, while thousands of people gathered around Windsor to witness the celebrations.
The ceremony was also broadcast internationally.
Harry arrived in military uniform, accompanied by his brother William, who served as his best man.
Meghan arrived wearing a white wedding dress designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy.
Her mother, Doria Ragland, was among the most prominent family members present, and the ceremony included several elements that reflected the couple's desire to make the day personal.
One particularly notable detail was Meghan's decision to walk part of the aisle independently before being accompanied by Prince Charles for the final section.
The service included traditional Christian elements as well as contributions that attracted attention for their cultural character.
The address by Bishop Michael Curry, the head of the Episcopal Church in the United States, was especially memorable for many viewers.
His passionate message about love gave the ceremony a distinctive atmosphere.
After exchanging vows, Harry and Meghan emerged from the chapel as husband and wife.
They shared a kiss outside the building before beginning their carriage procession through Windsor.
The day had the appearance of a fairytale.
But behind the celebration was a much more personal reality: two people who had decided to build a life together despite the enormous attention surrounding them.
William stood beside his brother
One detail is particularly relevant when considering the reported advice.
Despite the questions surrounding William's concerns, he served as Harry's best man.
That fact provides an important counterbalance to any suggestion that the brothers were simply opponents during the engagement period.