Harry and Meghan met on a blind date in July 2016 and quickly became a couple. They announced their engagement in November 2017 and were married the following May in St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.

However according to a new book covering the couple’s break from the wider royal family William wanted to make sure his brother wasn’t being exploited.

The claim was made in ‘Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family’.

Whilst the book won’t be published until August a passage has been serialised in the Sunday Times.

Speaking to the authors a source said William wanted to be sure Meghan had good intensions as “after all, these are two brothers that have spent their whole lives with people trying to take advantage of them”.

They added: “They’ve both developed a radar to detect that type of person, but as William didn’t know a whole lot about Meghan, he wanted to make sure Harry wasn’t blindsided by lust.”

The book also alleges that William advised Harry not to move too quickly with the relationship.

Royal sources report he said: “Don’t feel you need to rush this.

“Take as much time as you need to get to know this girl.”

READ MORE: How Kate Middleton ‘purposefully snubbed’ Meghan Markle in March

Meghan and Harry shocked the world back in January when they announced their intention to stand down as senior members of the royal family.

Instead the couple said they planned to become “financially independent” and split their time between Britain and North America.

Following negotiations with other senior royals they agreed to drop their “Sussex Royal” brand and to repay the taxpayer money spent refurbishing their Frogmore Cottage home.

After an initial spell in Canada Meghan and Harry moved to Los Angeles where they are currently living.

Los Angeles recently re-imposed many of its lockdown restrictions after a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Earlier in the pandemic both Harry and Meghan were seen delivering supplies to vulnerable residents.

According to Mr Scobie and Ms Durand Harry was unconcerned that some of his family and royal courtiers had reservations about Meghan.

They wrote: “Harry didn’t care what his family thought or said.”

Speaking to the authors a source close to the Duke reportedly said: “Nothing was going to get in the way of his happiness.

“He knew Meghan was right for him.

“Their love was real, and their feelings for each other were genuine. Everything else was noise.”