Meghan Markle ‘told Prince Harry she would break up with him if he didn’t announce they were dating’

MEGHAN Markle told Prince Harry she would break up with him if he didn’t announce publicly they were dating, a new book has claimed.

In his latest work, Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown, royal correspondent and author Valentine Low says the Duchess of Sussex dished an ultimatum to her now-husband.

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It is claimed Meghan told him that if he didn’t announce how serious they were, she was out[/caption]

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A palace source told Valentine Low that Harry feared Meghan would dump him[/caption]

According to an extract from the book, published on The Times, as Harry was facing “hordes of journalists” keen to dig into his new girlfriend’s life, Harry “became determined to protect” her.

But at the same time, it is claimed Meghan told him that if he didn’t announce how serious they were, she was out.

The book claims: “A source said: ‘She was saying, “If you don’t put out a statement confirming I’m your girlfriend, I’m going to break up with you”. Harry was in a panic’.

“Another source said: ‘He was freaking out, saying, “She’s going to dump me”‘.”

Low states Harry turned to the Kensington Palace communications secretary, Jason Knauf, for help to make it known the pair were an item.

In his writing, Low says: “Harry phoned Knauf, demanding that he put out a statement confirming that Meghan was his girlfriend and condemning the racist and sexist undertones of some of the media coverage.

“Meghan wanted public validation that this was a serious relationship.

“She was convinced that the palace was unwilling to protect her from media intrusion.”

The claim is one of a series of scathing revelations made about Meghan in Low’s story, airing a number of claims from insiders and former aides inside his latest analysis of life behind palace walls.

He wrote that while Meghan worked to be portrayed publicly in a positive light during the couple’s tour of Australia in 2018, behind the scenes “it was a different story“.

The book states: “Although she enjoyed the attention, Meghan failed to understand the point of all those walkabouts, shaking hands with countless strangers.

“According to several members of staff, she was heard to say on at least one occasion, ‘I can’t believe I’m not getting paid for this’.”

In the short snippet shared today, Low’s selection of accounts are critical of Meghan and her actions are painted in a poor light.

Low also stated that ahead of the couple’s engagement, she attempted to make her arrival known among the palace staff.

The book says: “In the spring of 2017, more than six months before the couple were engaged, she told one of Harry’s advisers: ‘I think we both know I’m going to be one of your bosses soon’.”

Explosive bust-ups between the Duchess and her aides during the royal tour of Australia were the focus of the Buckingham Palace bullying probe.

The 16-day trip in 2018 is said to have seen a string of clashes between Meghan and staff.

At one point Meghan is claimed to have lost her temper with an assistant and a hot drink was knocked over.

A source said: “The Australia tour is one of the most important in the royal world but there have long been allegations of rows with staff.

“If these assistants come forward it will form the centre of the Palace’s bullying probe. It was a critical time.”