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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Jennifer Newton

'Wild lad' Prince Harry 'died' the day he met wife Meghan Markle, claims book

Prince Harry used to be "quite a wild lad" but all that changed when he met Meghan Markle, a bombshell new book has claimed.

Before meeting Meghan, Harry spent 10 years in the military and had somewhat of a reputation for being a party prince. He was often snapped visiting nightclubs and in 2012, he had an infamous holiday to Las Vegas. But now, he appears to have left that life firmly behind him and now lives in California with Meghan and their two young children Archie and Lilibet. And in a new book called Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown, it details how before Harry and older brother Prince William became full-time working royals, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton was appointed their private secretary on a part-time basis.

Prince Harry with wife Meghan Markle during their time as working royals (Getty Images)

Author Valentine Low says when it came to William, Lowther-Pinkerton had the task of helping him "steer a course through life" - but when it came to Harry, it was "more complex".

Low writes: "The younger prince was a dashing figure, flying an Apache helicopter, and was heavily committed in the area of children’s health, with charities like Well Child. But he also used to be quite a wild lad.

"When Harry was young, it was easy to forgive him, his transgressions. But at what point does a wild lad become a seedy old roué? At the time, it was nothing to worry about: just something to keep an eye on.

Prince Harry during his time in the Army in 2008 (AFP/Getty Images)

"Eventually, of course, the problem would resolve itself, but not in a way that Lowther-Pinkerton or anyone else imagined. The wild lad died the day Harry met Meghan Markle."

The new book, published today, comes as a royal expert has said Harry and Meghan need to decide if they want "all or nothing" when it comes to their place in the Royal Family.

Harry and Meghan with Prince William and Kate - days after the Queen's death (PA)

The pair, who quit as working royals in 2020 and moved to California, were reunited with their royal relatives recently following the sad death of the Queen.

They even joined William and wife Kate for a walkabout in Windsor in the days after the Queen's death to view floral tributes and meet wellwishers.

However, now they've returned to California, attentions have turned to what might be included in Harry's upcoming memoir and his and Meghan's reported new Netflix documentary show.

And now royal expert Duncan Larcombe has said it's now the time for Harry and Meghan to decide whether they want to be in or out.

"In my opinion, it's only Meghan and Harry who can decide what they want.

"Do they want to forgive and forget, creating unity with the royal family? Or do they want a wholly separated life in California? They cannot have both."

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