Prince Harry Was 'Quite Fun' Before Meeting His Wife Meghan Markle, Pal Says
One of Prince Harry's pals shared one of the changes he observed in the Duke of Sussex after he met Meghan Markle.
James Haskell, former England rugby star, who was present at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's 2018 royal wedding, spoke about his friendship with Prince Harry at Bath Forum in Somerset for the "World Cup Afterparty: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" -- a live version of his popular rugby podcast with Mike Tindall.
Haskell pointed out one change he noticed after Prince William's brother met his wife, Markle, while recounting their first meeting at his friend and fellow former England rugby star Tindall's wedding to Zara Tindall.
"Who should be there, wandering around having a good time, but Prince Harry," he said, per Daily Mail. "He hadn't met her [Meghan] yet, so he was still quite fun."
The outlet noted that the remark was met with cheers and applause from the audience. Haskell was among the few friends who stood by Prince Harry after his and Markle's interview with Oprah Winfrey was met with criticisms. He also defended him for publishing his controversial memoir, "Spare."
"When someone feels like they and their partner have been oppressed, lied about, contradicted and put into a corner, I think it's very important [to speak out," he said in defense of the Sussexes.
Many noticed that Prince Harry changed after meeting the "Suits" alum. British journalist Piers Morgan once asked the netizens this question on X (formerly Twitter) in 2019: "Do you think Harry wishes he was back playing naked billiards in Vegas?"
"Weirdly, I had so much more respect for Harry when he was naked and drunk then [sic] right now, which is a very strange to say but very true," one commented at the time.
As for Prince Harry not being fun, former BBC journalist and investigative reporter Tom Bower shared an incident between the royal couple and his friends in 2016, shortly after their royal romance went public, in his book "Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War between the Windsors."
Prince Harry reportedly invited 16 pals, most from Eton, to join him for dinner on Friday, shooting on Saturday and lunch on Sunday. All guests were working for international banks, auction houses, estate owners and racehorse trainers. They had "common assumptions, principles and loyalties," per Bower for The Times.
Prince William's brother was reportedly "looking forward" to "endless banter," but Markle was allegedly not impressed and "challenged every guest" who "contravened her woke values." The former actress "lacked any sense of humor and was allegedly a "dampener on the party." Markle allegedly "reprimanded guests" if they made the "slightest inappropriate comment" and "nobody was exempt."
After the event, Prince Harry's guests allegedly shared among themselves texts voicing their disapproval of Markle for the royal prince. One allegedly claimed Prince Harry was "f---ing nuts" for dating someone like Markle.
"Driving home after Sunday lunch, the texts pinged between the cars: 'OMG, what about HER?' said one. 'Harry must be f***ing nuts,'" Bower wrote.
