Prince Harry's Eton friends called Meghan Markle 'total nightmare' and warned him against marrying her

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Shortly after resigning from royal responsibilities in 2020 and relocating to California with Meghan Markle, Prince Harry became more distant from his friends.

Harry's relationships with his old Eton College friends started to deteriorate because of the strain between Markle and his friends, leading to his security guard reportedly becoming his close companion.

Meghan Markle reprimanded Prince Harry's friends at Sandringham shooting party

Shortly after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s relationship became public in 2016, Harry invited 16 friends to a shooting party at Sandringham.

According to Tom Bower’s 2022 book 'Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War Between the Windsors', the prince anticipated a weekend of camaraderie and fun when they descended on Norfolk estate in England. 

Most of the crowd were old Etonians and were all 'bonded by common assumptions, principles and loyalties."

However, Markle’s reaction shocked his friends. “Their jokes, involving sexism, feminism, and transgender people, ricocheted around the living rooms and dining rooms,” Bower wrote, according to Daily Mail.

She “challenged every guest whose conversation contravened her values,” and repeatedly “reprimanded them about the slightest inappropriate nuance.”

Guests left the gathering exchanging shocked texts. “OMG what about HER?” one guest wrote, while another commented, “Harry must be f***ing nuts.”

Many referred to her as “a total nightmare.” Still, Bower described Harry as “besotted” and oblivious to his friends’ reactions.

Meghan Markle's behavior at Tom Inskip’s wedding caused further tension

In March 2017, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended the wedding of his close friend Tom 'Skippy' Inskip in Jamaica.

Around 40 guests, including many old friends, were eager to meet Markle. However, many were disappointed by her behavior, which some described as “princessy" and "woke."

“She wasn’t interested in us,” one mother recalled to Bower. Markle allegedly clashed with the group, criticizing the jokes and attitudes of Harry’s friends.

“Their jokes and their attitude towards the world were unacceptable to her,” Bower noted.

Prince William asked Prince Harry to spend more time with Meghan Markle before marriage

As concerns grew, friends worried Prince Harry was rushing into marriage. Some, including Prince William, warned Harry about moving too quickly. 

William reminded Harry that he had dated Kate Middleton for eight years before proposing.

But the appeal fell on deaf ears. Bower wrote, “Furious about the closing of ranks, Harry told Meghan. Both agreed that they were victims of racism. William, fumed Harry, was a snob.”

Meanwhile, Inskip, who had shared many of Harry’s wildest adventures, including their infamous Las Vegas trip in 2012, expressed doubts about the relationship.

According to the book 'Finding Freedom', as Daily Mail noted, Inskip suggested Harry and Markle live together before making serious commitments.

Although the advice “came from a good place,” Harry “didn’t totally see it that way.”

Inskip and his wife Lara were reportedly “punished” by being excluded from Harry and Markle's wedding party at Frogmore Cottage.

However, the two have since reconciled, especially after Prince Archie’s birth and the passing of Lara’s mother.

As per the report, it remains unclear if Inskip attended Harry’s 40th birthday celebration, a “lads’ holiday” in California, as the guest list was kept private.