Prince Harry appeared to showcase his first sign of media "paranoia" after his first-ever appearance with Meghan Markle, according to one royal expert. The couple, who announced their engagement just weeks later, were pictured together for the first time at the Invictus Games in Canada in September 2017.

Shortly after their appearance, Harry, 41, released a statement that left royal expert Phil Dampier "utterly shocked". The couple stepped out hand-in-hand at the annual event, although they had already been dating since the previous year.

Just weeks after the Games, Harry's press secretary accused the media of introducing "racial overtones" into comment pieces on his relationship with Meghan and claimed that she had been subjected to a "wave of abuse and harassment".

The statement added: "Prince Harry is worried about Ms Markle's safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her."

Discussing Harry's statement, Mr Dampier told The Sun's Royal Exclusive Show: "We were completely and utterly shocked by that. I just couldn't believe it when he did that."

He continued: "Looking back I think there were one or two remarks in a couple of columns that made some rather unpleasant remarks about her background. But generally speaking, 99 percent of the coverage was overwhelmingly positive and welcoming."

The expert then described the ordeal as a "very bad beginning" that "showed Harry's paranoia".

He added: "[Meghan] seemed like a breath of fresh air.

"I just couldn't believe it when he started complaining to the press that she was being mistreated because, generally speaking, I don't think she was."

The couple wed the following year, in Windsor on May 19, 2018. They later welcomed their son Prince Archie in 2019, and, following their move to the US, Meghan gave birth to their daughter Princess Lilibet in 2021.