A royal biographer has revealed that Prince Philip once issued a blunt warning to Prince Harry before his marriage to Meghan Markle—an old remark now resurfacing amid renewed speculation about the couple’s relationship.

The claim re-emerged as new reports suggested Meghan appeared visibly upset during a recent outing in California, fueling whispers of private strain within the Sussex household, particularly around boundaries involving their children.

“One Steps Out With Actresses…”

According to biographer Andrew Lownie in his book Entitled, Prince Philip tried to caution Harry in 2017 as he prepared to marry the Suits actress. The Duke of Edinburgh reportedly told his grandson: “One steps out with actresses, one doesn’t marry them.”

Lownie’s account closely mirrors that of royal author Ingrid Seward, who wrote in My Mother and I, Philip that Philip was “one of the very few wary” of Meghan when she began dating Harry in 2016. Her concerns reportedly persisted even after the couple married at Windsor Castle in 2018.

Grant Harrold, a former royal butler, went so far as to claim that Philip muttered “Thank f**k that’s over” to Queen Elizabeth II after leaving the chapel that day.

Harry and Meghan’s Exit From Royal Life

Though Harry and Meghan initially served as senior royals, they stepped back in January 2020 and moved to North America. They now share two children: Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4.

While Philip did not intervene in the couple’s decision to leave, he reportedly told the Queen he would “be soon out of it,” though biographer Gyles Brandreth noted Philip ultimately believed “people have to lead their lives as they think best,” even if he disagreed.

Since stepping down, Harry has attended several significant royal events alone. He appeared at King Charles’ coronation in May 2023, visited his father in February 2024 after the King’s cancer diagnosis, attended the Invictus Games’ 10th anniversary service in May, and later participated in a memorial for his uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes. Meghan, however, last joined him in the UK in 2022 for the Platinum Jubilee and the Queen’s funeral.

Rumors of Strain Inside the Sussex Marriage

Prince Philip’s old warning has gained new attention as fresh concerns emerge around Harry and Meghan’s marriage. RadarOnline recently reported that Meghan appeared “fighting back tears” and “overwhelmed” while browsing a bookstore near Montecito. “She’s an actress and can put on a brave face, but the mask was slipping,” one source said.

The tension reportedly centers on disagreements about their children’s privacy. Insiders claimed the couple had been “butting heads” after Meghan posted a Halloween-themed Instagram photo that included partial, obscured images of Archie and Lilibet—something that allegedly upset Harry. “He knows what it’s like to grow up in the spotlight,” one source explained.

Meghan’s Reported “Backup Plan”

At the same time, Meghan has returned to acting, filming a cameo in the comedy Close Personal Friends. Insiders suggested the project may be more than a simple creative return. “Acting could be her attempt to gain independence in case they pull the trigger on their marriage,” one source said. Another added, “It’s her backup plan in case she exits.”

Legal experts have noted that a divorce could be costly. Without a prenup—something “no one knows about,” according to L.A. attorney Louis J. Shapiro—Harry could reportedly lose around $60 million.