Meghan and Harry
The star opens up about her fairytale romance
MORE THAN 12 MONTHS AFTER THEY first met, Meghan Markle has opened up about her love for Prince Harry, revealing that she and the prince had managed to fly under the radar for months before their romance became public. “We’re two people who are really happy and in love,” she told Vanity Fair’s October issue. “We were quietly dating for about six months before it became news.” Insisting that her relationship with Harry, 32, has not changed her (“I’m still the same person that I am”), the 36-year-old California-raised Suits star says, “I’ve never defined myself by my relationship.”
But she concedes the intense scrutiny she faced has impacted her life. “It has its challenges, and comes in waves—some days it can feel more challenging than others,” she told VF. “And right out of the gate it was surprising the way things changed. But I still have this support system all around me, and, of course, my boyfriend’s support.” That she has. The prince promptly reacted to negative attention directed at Meghan, with an aide releasing an official statement in November expressing concerns for his girlfriend. “Prince Harry is worried about Ms Markle’s safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her,” the statement read. Ten months later, Meghan has taken some control via her own account of her royal romance, prompting speculation the interview is the first step in paving the way for an engagement. Whether or not such a move is in the near future, Meghan and her prince are making the most of their fairytale romance right now. “We’re in love … I hope what people will understand is that this is our time. This is for us. It’s part of what makes it so special, that it’s just ours,” she said. “Personally, I love a great love story.”