Meghan Markle may have been in love with Prince Harry now, but it wasn't her first serious relationship. The Duchess was married to Trevor Engelson from 2011 to 2013, but the two no longer seem to keep in touch. Now that Meghan leads a completely different life, does she regret marrying Engelson in the first place?
Duchess Meghan started dating Engelson in 2004
Engelson is a film producer and talent manager from Los Angeles, where Meghan was born and raised. Since Meghan is a former actress, it's no surprise that the two paths crossed. They started dating back in 2004 and were together for much of Meghan's acting career. They got married in a simple, quiet ceremony in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The two kept a low profile, and although Meghan had budding careers as an actress, neither of them were A-list celebrities, so they were able to remain fairly quiet about their relationship. But as quickly as the two fell in love, things fell apart.
Meghan reportedly returns Engelson's rings without much explanation
The two separated in August 2013, but they haven't explained why. They cited irreconcilable differences in their divorce, which also doesn't give us much information. But Andrew Morton, a royal biographer who has written a book about the Duchess, says the couple's decision to divorce was entirely up to her. Morton reported that Meghan divorced Engelson "totally out of the blue", and even mailed the wedding and engagement rings back to him without explaining why. Morton suggested that two separate sources told him Meghan was the one who decided she no longer wanted to be with Engelson.
Meghan's divorce has led some to cast her in a bad light
Those who marry into the royal family are often level-headed, polite, and come from perfectly clean backgrounds. Some might suggest that Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, is the perfect example of a royal. However, Meghan had a few marks from her past. Her divorce, in particular, has led some to cast her in a negative light — especially when it was reported that she divorced her husband out of nowhere. However, after everything that happened with Princes Charles and Duchess Camilla, the Queen probably thought better than to stop Prince Harry from marrying the woman he wanted. Meghan has taken on her role in the royal family well and she seems to get along with all of Prince Harry's parents.
The Duchess probably doesn't regret the wedding - she probably learned from it
While no one wants a divorce, Meghan probably doesn't fully regret her marriage to Engelson. Would she do something different if she went back in time? Maybe. But she probably learned a thing or two from marrying the wrong person. It may have clarified for her what she really wanted, which helped her see that earlier in Prince Harry. Either way, Meghan most certainly got the happy ending she was hoping for. And Engelson too - he married longtime girlfriend Tracey Kurland last May.
