A picture of bliss... but the writing was already on the wall for Harry and Meghan

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made the front pages all around the world with their kiss on the steps of St George's Chapel after being pronounced husband and wife.

- BY MITYA UNDERWOOD

The romantic, picture-perfect moment was seen as the start of another joyous royal union attracting the same levels of public adoration as Prince William and Kate Middleton before them.

But, seven years on, royal biographer Tom Bower says the reality is proving to be very different.

The ex-BBC journalist, who is midway through his second book on the couple, sums up the time since May 19, 2018 as an “unpredictable, tumultuous rollercoaster”.

Tom says: “When the nation, and the world, saw them at St George's Chapel, they thought, ‘This is bliss’.

“It was seen as a most wonderful image, something terrific for the royal family and terrific for Britain.”

He goes on: “Harry has always been besotted by Meghan, and of course they are now both devoted to their children.”

Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, had announced their engagement around six months earlier, after a romantic proposal with a custom three-stone ring made using diamonds owned by the Prince's late mother, Princess Diana.

The wedding came just a few weeks after another joyous royal occasion, the birth of William and Kate's third child, Prince Louis.

Even as the day approached, however, the couple found themselves embroiled in some rather unpleasant family dramas.

Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle Sr, admitted he had lied to his future son-in-law over claims he had staged paparazzi photos in exchange for payment a few weeks before the ceremony.

While there is no doubt the pair were, and still are, very much in love, ex-investigative journalist Tom believes the writing was already on the wall for the direction their marriage would take.

He claims: “The guest list showed where it was all going. It was full of Hollywood stars, and Meghan's family weren't there.