When Meghan Markle married Prince Harry in a globally watched ceremony in 2018, the moment seemed to be straight out of a modern-day fairy tale—a glamorous American actress uniting with a British royal, capturing the imagination of millions. However, recent reports have surfaced, revealing shocking details from Meghan’s past that threaten to disrupt the carefully curated image of the Duchess of Sussex. According to a royal insider who spoke to the media outlet Political Light, Meghan allegedly had a secret first husband long before her known marriage to Hollywood producer Trevor Engelson.

This previously unknown marriage, reportedly to a man named Joe Goldman Giuliano, is said to have occurred while Meghan was still a student at Northwestern University. The revelation, if true, would suggest that Meghan withheld significant details of her past from Prince Harry prior to their high-profile wedding, leaving the prince feeling blindsided. Initially, these claims were dismissed as internet rumors and quickly taken down, but the source maintains that the information is genuine and was deliberately buried to preserve Meghan’s image.

Meghan’s only publicly acknowledged marriage prior to Prince Harry was to Engelson, whom she married in 2011 after several years of dating. Their marriage ended in divorce just two years later in 2013. Afterward, she was introduced to Prince Harry through mutual friends in 2016, beginning a whirlwind romance that culminated in their royal wedding in May 2018. But now, this alleged earlier marriage casts a shadow over the narrative of her romantic history.

Joe Goldman Giuliano, the man at the center of this revelation, is described as someone Meghan reportedly married during her college years, though details about the marriage’s duration or the circumstances of its annulment remain scarce. The insider claims that records of the union were scrubbed from public databases, suggesting a deliberate effort to keep this part of her history concealed not only from the general public but from her royal suitor as well.

Further adding to the intrigue, Meghan’s estranged father, Thomas Markle, is reportedly preparing to release even more revelations about his daughter’s private life. According to the same insider, Thomas Markle is said to be involved in the production of a new documentary that will expose private details and previously unseen photographs of Meghan. Thomas, who has long been critical of his daughter’s relationship with the British royal family, has made several public threats over the years to share intimate secrets. Now, it appears he is ready to follow through on those warnings. The potential release of this tell-all documentary has the potential to further strain the already tense relationship between Meghan and her family, as well as between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal institution.

Since stepping back from their roles as senior royals in 2020, Meghan and Harry have embarked on a new life in California, where they have signed major entertainment deals with streaming platforms such as Netflix and Spotify, contracts rumored to be worth well over £142 million. While this transition marked a significant shift in their public identity, many critics have labeled it a betrayal of royal tradition, accusing the couple of monetizing their titles and status for personal gain.

Duncan Larcombe, a former royal correspondent for The Sun, has been particularly vocal in his disapproval, describing the couple’s actions as the “biggest royal sellout in history.” He pointed out the contradiction in Harry and Meghan’s initial plea for privacy and their subsequent media ventures. According to Larcombe, their behavior over the past year has done considerable damage to the public perception of the monarchy. Moreover, he speculates that their relationship may also be under strain.

Larcombe and other royal observers have noted several signs suggesting potential marital issues. For instance, Prince Harry’s attendance at a Texas rodeo—a cultural event seemingly at odds with Meghan’s well-known animal rights beliefs—raised eyebrows. Meghan’s absence from major public appearances, including the Super Bowl, only fueled further speculation. Larcombe also pointed out that Harry has become increasingly distanced from his UK-based family and longtime friends.

Sources suggest that he has cut ties with many individuals who were once close to him, including family members and schoolmates. Larcombe remarked that a common sign of a relationship in trouble is when one partner becomes isolated from loved ones, and he believes this is exactly what has happened to Harry since his involvement with Meghan.

These new claims about Meghan’s alleged first marriage, along with the looming threat of a potentially explosive documentary from her father, could cause even more upheaval in the lives of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Their relationship with the royal family is already fragile, and these developments might only deepen the existing rift. As the British royal institution continues to grapple with the aftershocks of Meghan and Harry’s departure and the media firestorm that followed, this new controversy threatens to further unravel the image of the Sussexes as a unified, glamorous couple charting their own course.

Whether the allegations prove true or not, the fairytale narrative surrounding Meghan and Harry is showing signs of unraveling, revealing beneath the surface a far more complex and possibly troubling story. Only time will tell how the couple responds to these challenges, but for now, the world watches closely as more secrets and revelations begin to emerge.