Prince Harry wanted to marry Meghan Markle "as quickly as possible" so she got police protection security, a new book has claimed.
Romance blossomed for the couple in 2016 and one of their early dates saw Harry whisk Meghan off for a holiday in Botswana.
Soon after Meghan was introduced to members of the Royal Family including Prince Charles and the Queen, as well as Harry's older brother Prince William.
And according to new book The Palace Papers by ex-Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown, William was "nervous" about the speed of his brother's whirlwind romance.
Brown claims a friend of William's told her that the older brother thought Meghan should have "more time to build up a life in the UK and make friends who didn't always have to brought in confidence to the Palace".
The author writes that it had been hard enough for his wife Kate to join the Firm, and claims the pressure on Meghan would have been greater as she was a glamorous actress and the first woman of colour to join the Royal Family.
But when this was suggested to Harry, Brown writes: "To his brother's concerns, Harry riposte can be summarised as, I am told, 'Well, actually the best way that I can protect her is to marry her as quickly as possible, because as soon as I marry her she will then get police protection'."
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Harry and Meghan did wed in May 2018 at St George's Chapel in Windsor and spent less than two years as working royals together before they quit the Firm and moved to California.
And it seems security is still an issue that Prince Harry is still very much concerned about.
Harry is currently locked in a bitter legal battle with the British government over the Home Office decision to take away his taxpayer-funded security.
Through his lawyers at the High Court in the ongoing case, Harry claims his family are “unable to return to his home” because it is too dangerous.
It means it is unclear if Harry, Meghan and their children Archie and Lilibet will return to the UK for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June.
Last week, w hen asked by American journalist Hoda Kotb for the breakfast show Today in the US if he is going to make the Jubilee celebrations, Harry said: “I don’t know yet, there’s lots of things – security issues and everything else.
However, sources close to the Sussexes’ camp have confirmed Harry is “in favour” of returning to the UK to take part in the upcoming Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
The Mirror understands that a resolution on the security issue could be close between Harry and the Met Police, who deliver the protection.
It would see him be offered protection funded by the taxpayer if he was to attend public family events.
The Platinum Jubilee celebrations would potentially come into such an arrangement.
