Meghan and Harry's love story that started with a blind date
The couple's relationship, whose finishing touch will take place on May 19, could well have been part of a script worthy of Hollywood
The love story of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could be part of the script of any romantic film: film actress she meets, on a blind date, the grandson of the Queen of England. Both fall in love and only a year and a half later they proclaim their love to the world by making their commitment official. But between those two events, that of their first meeting and that of the announcement of their wedding, they have lived significant and momentous moments, which have been collected both in headlines around the world and in the documentary When Harry Met Meghan, broadcast on Channel 4.
Blind date in summer
During the interview they gave after the official announcement of their engagement, they revealed what their first date was like. They met thanks to a mutual friend. It was the first contact that would later bear fruit in successive encounters, as Prince Harry himself explained. "Then we saw each other once, and then twice when she returned to London," he revealed while confirming that it all began in July 2016. Meghan, for her part, wanted to clarify that at that time she did not know much about Harry. “The only thing she had asked my friend when she told me that he wanted to introduce us was 'Is he nice?' Because if not, nothing would happen. So we went and met for a drink and right away we asked ourselves' what are you going to do tomorrow? We should go out again. ' Everything was very fast ”, added the exactriz.
During those first dates, they discovered that they had a lot in common, in addition to a shared dream that united them from the beginning: the desire to change the world. The more than 5,700 kilometers that separated them mattered little to them. The trips between Toronto - where Meghan lived - and London - where Harry lived - were more and more frequent. “I think we really had a lot of time to connect and we never went more than two weeks without seeing each other, although we were obviously having a long distance relationship. This is how we made it work, ”explained Isabel II's grandson during the interview. Certainly and as he himself pointed out, the stars seemed “aligned. Everything was just perfect ”.
The unforgettable trip to Botswana
Three or four weeks after those first encounters, already at the end of July, Meghan and Harry shared their first romantic getaway together. The destination was very special for the son of Diana of Wales, who months later would choose in this place the central diamond of the engagement ring that he gave to Meghan. “I was able to convince her to come with me and we met in Botswana. We camped under the stars ... she was with me for five days. It was totally fantastic, ”Harry recalled during his first interview. That unforgettable trip also helped them get to know each other a little better and discover that they were made for each other.
Long distance relationship and first rumors
Throughout the summer and the months after, Harry and Meghan continued their long-distance relationship. The incessant trips between Toronto and London followed one another and both became accustomed to the lightning escapades. Sometimes it was the actress who took a flight to the British capital and other times it was the Prince who packed his bags to fly to the place of residence of his girlfriend. Thus, they continued to see each other discreetly until the first rumors of the relationship between the two began to emerge in October. The British and American media began to echo a possible idyll supported by the odd little clue, such as the bracelet that both wore on their wrists.
The statement that confirmed the relationship
The speculations were short-lived. In November, Kensington Palace released an official statement referring to the former actress as the Prince's "girlfriend" and asking for respect for her. “His girlfriend, Meghan Markle, has been the target of a wave of abuse and harassment. Some of them public, "said the aforementioned message, which stated that Harry was" concerned for the safety of Miss Markle and deeply disappointed that he had not been able to protect her. It is not right that in the few months of relationship with her, Miss Markle should be the subject of this media storm ". Harry's words, channeled through Kensington's communications department, officially acknowledged a relationship that had been talked about for weeks.
One step closer to Kensington
At that time, Meghan Markle was ready to change her life for love. One of her most visible steps was to end her lifestyle blog, The Tig, which allowed us to get to know her better and in which she addressed travel, fashion, beauty and gastronomy issues. A most significant gesture that was another step on her path to becoming a member of the Windsor family.
The official presentation of Harry's fiancee came at the polo, anteroom of the Palace and an event that all the royal brides of the United Kingdom have traditionally attended before becoming part of the Royal Family. It was precisely during a polo match at the Audi Polo Challenge in which Harry was playing when they gave us some photographs in which they showed her first kiss. Pictures that were worth a thousand words. Meghan had traveled to London to attend the wedding of Pippa Middleton - sister of the Duchess of Cambridge - with James Matthews, in which there was no graphic testimony of the couple. Meghan Markle was undoubtedly one of the great protagonists of the link, although she did not attend the religious ceremony. She did attend the after-party at the Middleton home, where she arrived with Harry, who personally picked her up.
Already in summer, the couple enjoyed an unforgettable and meaningful vacation, again in Africa, one of the favorite continents of the son of Diana of Wales. The spectacular landscapes of Zambia and Zimbabwe, including Victoria Falls, witnessed her love story, which by then was already more than consolidated.
The interview that changed everything
Meghan kept taking steps and she did so by showing her unique and differentiated personality. She then dared to grant an interview in which she proclaimed her love to the four winds, something that until now no one had done. But she does. It was the month of September when Harry's fiancĂ©e broke her silence at Vanity Fair to speak openly about her love. “We are happy and we are in love. We were discreetly dating for six months before making the news and I was working all the time, the only thing that has changed is the perception of the people. Nothing has changed in me. I am the same person, my relationship does not define me ”, she affirmed then her in unprecedented statements in which she gave some clues of the next movements that they were going to take. “I'm sure there will come a time when we have to step up and introduce ourselves, have stories to tell, but I hope that people understand that this is our moment. It is ours. It is part of what makes it special, it is only ours. But we are happy. Personally, I love a good love story. "
Her first official event with photos included
No sooner said than done. A few days later, the first official event of her arrived. It happened in Toronto, Meghan's hometown. The Invictus Games, created by Prince Harry, served as the stage for their joint presentation, something that the press from all over the world picked up. Although at first they sat separately, later the expected image arrived: Harry and Meghan, hand in hand and most smiling, heading towards one of the stands. Laughter, confidences and glances full of complicity became the main protagonists of the sporting event.
Prince Harry's trip to Canada also gave him the opportunity to meet his future mother-in-law, Doria Radlan, Meghan Markle's mother. The three coincided during the celebrations of the Invictus Games, a few days that revealed one of the most spontaneous kisses of the couple: the one that the son of the Prince of Wales gave his fiancee on the cheek.
He makes an appointment with the Queen… and the engagement is announced!
From that moment on, the events that pointed to an imminent engagement happened quickly. In mid-October, Meghan met the Queen of England. It was during a meeting at Buckingham Palace that she and Harry came in a vehicle with tinted windows. They had met at five in the afternoon, tea time, and the couple went very punctually to the place of the appointment. Elizabeth II had enabled one of the rooms on the first floor and there the three shared tea and confidences for an hour and in an informal atmosphere.
The next clue came in mid-November. A partner of Meghan in the series Suits publicly said goodbye to her, which made one think that Harry's girlfriend was ready to change her life. “It has been an absolute pleasure and honor to represent you for the last two seasons, Meghan Markle. Although I have been in Suits for six years, the last two have been memorable. I wish you all the happiness in the world, Bella ”, revealed Nicky Bursic, actress in charge of voicing Meghan in some scenes. .
The long-awaited announcement finally came at the end of November. Prince Charles of England made public the official engagement of his son with Meghan Markle. “His Royal Highness His Prince of Wales is delighted to announce Prince Harry's engagement to Miss Meghan Markle. The wedding will take place in spring 2018. More details on the wedding day will be announced in due course. His Royal Highness and Miss Markle got engaged in London earlier this month. Prince Harry has informed the Majesty of him, the Queen, and the other close members of his family. Prince Harry has also received the consent of Miss Markle's parents. The couple will live in Nottingham Cottage, in Kensington Palace ”, read the official statement. Thus, the actress had not only left her job, but she had also moved to Prince Harry's residence, in which they have lived ever since.
Christmas with the Royal Family
After starring in her first official act as a future member of the British Royal Family in Nottingham, where she was acclaimed by the citizens gathered there, Meghan prepared to spend her first Christmas with the Windsors. Never before has Queen Elizabeth II invited a royal bride to Sandringham. Those who had done so were already married. Hence this gesture of the Queen had so much meaning. Meghan had fallen in love with Harry, but she had also managed to gain a place in the heart of Elizabeth II. This she, on her part, she had not only fulfilled her grandson's wish by accepting the relationship, but she had taken a further step that had not occurred with other Windsor women. The former actress thus attended the religious service held at the church of St. Mary's Magdalene. Afterward, she shared a traditional Christmas lunch with the Windsors.
Meghan and Harry took advantage of these endearing dates to take official photos of their engagement. They chose the photographer Alexi Lubomirski, who took the snapshots at Frogmore House, a 17th century country house located within the grounds of Windsor Castle that will host, on the day of the link, a reception for about 200 guests organized by the Prince from Wales, who will act as the perfect host. Ten years ago, Frogmore House served as the setting for the wedding reception for Peter and Autumn Philips, who said 'I do' in St. George's Chapel, as will Meghan and Harry.
First official acts as promised
The couple entered the year of their life shortly after, that of their royal marriage. In addition to focusing on her wedding preparations, the Prince's fiancee began a tour of the Kingdom. She had to know the country of her fiancé and so she did, accompanied by Harry. London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast ... there have been many places where both have starred in official events. In all of them, Meghan has been able to meet British citizens, but they have also met her and received her with open arms. Everyone wanted to see her, hug her and even be photographed with her. In each of the places that she has visited, she has taken a mass bath and has seen the love with which the British people have welcomed her. Thanks to her journey through the corners of the Kingdom, Meghan has shown that her presence adds to her in the British Monarchy, that she has never been so popular and loved. In parallel with his trips to the United Kingdom, Harry's fiancee has successfully passed another litmus test, that of starring in official events with other members of the Royal Family, such as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, with the Prince of Wales and even with the Queen of England. She now only has to wait for May 19, the date on which she will put the finishing touch on an authentic fairy tale.
