The Scottish Mail on Sunday

A to Z of her royally loved-up new life in Britain

The beauty guru she shares with Gwynnie. The heiress who’ll be her new bezzie... they’re all on speed-dial as Meghan prepares to be a princess

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Ais for Albert’s. What’s first on the to-do list of a newly engaged couple? Why, throw a party, of course. And where better to do it than Albert’s in South Kensington? Already a big draw for the uber-posh, the private members’ club is named after Queen Victoria’s consort – Harry’s great-greatgreat-great-grandfathe­r. More to the point, it is run by Harry’s pals Piers Adam, Jake Parkinson-Smith, Carlo Carello and Fraser Carruthers. Harry and co have tired of falling out of better-known nightclubs such as Boujis and Mahiki and want more exclusive venues, away from prying eyes.

Bis for Barbour and the Brown Cow. Barbour jacket? Check. Hunter wellies? Check. Ever since she struck up with the Prince, Meghan has been acquiring the country-set wardrobe. It’s just the sort of look that goes down well at the Brown Cow – the Fulham Road gastropub which is a favourite of Harry and where he celebrated Prince George’s birth.

Cis for Chiltern Firehouse. If Meghan yearns for a swift Negroni or a glass of her favourite Tignanello vino, she will pop into celebrity haunt Chiltern Firehouse, owned by American multi-millionair­e André Balazs. His daughter, Alessandra, is dating one of Prince Harry’s oldest friends, posh bad boy Arthur Landon, one of Britain’s richest young men, who was with the Prince when he found himself photograph­ed naked in Vegas.

Dis for Dogs (but not for Corgis). She may have given up her acting career for Prince Harry, but Meghan will never give up her two dogs, Bogart and Guy (above), who have arrived in the country on doggie passports. The labrador/German shepherd and beagle, both adopted from an animal shelter, are close companions. D is also for Copper Dog, a brand of whisky recently launched by Harry’s friend Piers Adam.

Eis for the Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal Football Club. It is no secret that her boyfriend is a Gunners fan – as, reportedly, is the Queen – so Meghan is going to need a crash course in the offside rule before Harry takes her to their North London stadium.

Fis for Flowers. As Meghan never tires of saying on her blog, she just loves flowers, peonies in particular. Now she’s in London, she buys them at Kensington Flower Corner, a pop-up stall next to St Mary Abbots Church just yards from Kensington Palace.

Gis for Glasses – and Golf. Meghan does not go far without her Finlay & Co sunglasses, which are monogramme­d with her initials. She wore the £120 Percy light tortoisesh­ell frames to the Invictus Games, sparking a rush of orders for the British brand. Expect to see her on the guest list for the opening of their first store in Soho – along with fellow fan Pippa Middleton. Perhaps she’ll arrive in her discreet chauffeur-driven VW Golf hatchback, similar to one used by Kate.

His for the Harbour Club. This exclusive sports club, with its state-of-the-art gym, tennis courts and swimming pools, has been a Royal favourite since the days when Princess Diana was a member (and is where, infamously, she was snapped in her gym kit). So, it would be the perfect place for Meghan to challenge Kate to a game of tennis. William and Harry have been regulars since they were children.

Iis for interior decoration. Where does a future princess shop for the cashmere throws, silver diffusers and gilt mirrors that a bachelor pad is truly crying out for? She could do worse than start a wedding list at luxury homeware store India Jane, a stone’s-throw from Kensington Palace. Or she could turn influentia­l interior designer Annabel Eliot, who just happens to be sister to the Duchess of Cornwall, potentiall­y her mother-law.

Jis for Jo Malone. Meghan says she cannot leave the house without dabbing on perfume. Luckily her favourite aroma merchant is British icon Jo Malone, who also makes a range of scented joss sticks – perfect for the daughter of a California­n yoga teacher.

Kis for Kensington Palace. In the short term, Meghan may join Harry at Nottingham Cottage, his twobedroom pad at ‘KP’ as it is known – home, of course, to brother William and family, plus assorted other Royals, including the Kents. Meghan and Prince Harry are expected to move into a larger apartment if they marry.

Lis for Ladies Who Lunch. Meghan has no shortage of upmarket pals, but Made In Chelsea star and confection­ery heiress Millie Mackintosh (pictured left) – her family made its money from Quality Street – is one of the first on the speed dial. After they had lunch at Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshir­e earlier this year, Meghan set out her thoughts on Instagram. ‘The best afternoon with Millie Mackintosh,’ she gushed. ‘So proud of you darling.’ The Hon Lara Hughes-Young is another posh luncheon date. The flame-haired literary agent invited Meghan and Harry to her wedding when she married Harry’s ‘wingman’ Tom ‘Skippy’ Inskip in Jamaica this year.

Mis for mentor. Former Welsh Guard Mark Dyer, described as Harry’s ‘second father’, has been a key figure in the Prince’s life since he was at Eton and that means he will be a big part of Meghan’s, too. Harry is a big fan of Dyer’s chain of London gastropubs and he treated Meghan to lunch at one of them, the Sands End in Fulham. So great is the trust between them that Dyer even escorted Meghan to watch Harry play polo in the summer.

Nis for Nichola Joss. Meghan is a fan of A-list facialist Nichola Joss. She visits her salon in Covent Garden whenever she is in London and pays £250 for the privilege of having her massage her face ‘inside and out’. Other fans of the 60-minute Bespoke Sculpting Inner Facial include actresses Scarlett Johansson and Gwyneth Paltrow. ‘Nichola massages your face from the inside out (yes, really),’ says Meghan, ‘sculpting your cheekbones and reshaping your face with targeted movements to lift and brighten.’

Ois for Occupation. Meghan is not the kind of princess to lounge around a palace all day, so Meghan is said to be planning a charitable role for herself – just like Harry and William and Kate. Meghan already represents World Vision Canada, which helps povertystr­icken communitie­s in the developing world, and has worked with the United Nations to promote the lot of young women. Time will be tight, of course: she has a lot of outfits to buy and some say that planning a wedding is a full-time job.

Pis for Portobello Road. The Queen doesn’t carry cash, but Meghan does and she loves the bohemian vibe at Portobello Road market, famous for its antiques and collectabl­es. Her favourite haunt in Toronto was the aptly named Kensington Market with its exotic mix of street food, shabby chic and blaring music. Sandringha­m could seem rather quiet.

Qis for the Queen. Tongues have been wagging about a Royal wedding from the moment Prince Harry introduced his American girlfriend to his grandmothe­r. The Queen invited Meghan and Harry to join her for afternoon tea at Buckingham Palace and spent an hour with them, sipping her own blend of Darjeeling and Assam, known as the Queen Mary blend. Q is also for Quintessen­tially. The ‘concierge’ group, founded by Camilla’s nephew Ben Eliot, will be on hand to arrange any pesky restaurant bookings.

Ris for Richard Ward. If Meghan takes her sister-in-law’s advice, she will have her hair cut at the Middleton family’s favourite hairdresse­r Richard Ward. Kate gets her hair cut and coloured every eight weeks (with organic vegetable dye and subtle low lights) at the salon, just off Sloane Square.

Sis for Soho House. Meghan already knows the trendy British members’ club from its branches in Toronto, where she lived while filming American drama Suits, as well as other branches around the world. Indeed, she is said to have conducted her discreet romance with Harry at a series of internatio­nal Soho Houses after her close friend Markus Anderson – a consultant to the chain, and known as The King of Soho House – introduced Meghan to her prince charming.

Tis for Twickers. As patron of the Rugby Football Union, Harry likes nothing better than a trip to Twickenham, home to the resurgent England side, and it’s a sure-fire bet that Meghan will soon be by his side discussing the merits of respective flankers, fly halves and hookers, of course.

Uis for the US Wives Club. Meghan will quickly feel at home because American wives and girlfriend­s are already a hit with Harry’s crowd. Best friend Guy Pelly has married Lizzy Wilson, for example, an heiress to the Holiday Inn hotel empire. Film producer Alexandria Jackson is dating Thomas van Straubenze­e, another Harry chum and Alessandra Balazs – daughter of Chiltern Firehouse owner André – is the American girlfriend of multimilli­onaire film-maker Arthur Landon.

Vis for Van Han. The couple may soon need a country pile of their own, and they can check what’s on offer through the poshest of posh estate agencies Van Han, which is owned by Princess Charlotte’s godfather Thomas van Straubenze­e and his pal Rory Penn. Old Harrovian Thomas, known as Vans, has known William and Harry since Ludgrove prep school. The couple were recently spotted househunti­ng in the Cotswolds. On the other hand, the Queen might just give them one.

Wis for Whole Foods. Meghan has been seen shopping at the upmarket store, a favourite among well-heeled Kensington residents and which is just across the road from Kensington Palace. The American supermarke­t makes her feel at home and supplies her with her favourite organic vegetables. In true California­n style, Meghan is a devotee of Hollywood’s latest foodie fad, flexitaria­nism, which means deciding to be vegetarian when it suits.

Xis for Harry’s exes. It’s a hazard of moving in such exclusive circles – there’s no escaping them. So brunette Meghan can expect to find herself bumping into Harry’s blonde former girlfriend­s such as Chelsy Davy, Cressida Bonas and Florence Brudenell-Bruce, all regulars on the London circuit. X is also for Xmas. Last year Meghan and Harry were spotted in Battersea Park buying a Christmas tree. At what point will she be invited to join The Firm on Boxing Day? And what will this animal-lover make of a favourite seasonal pastime – blasting wildlife with a shotgun?

Yis for Yoga. As the daughter of a yoga instructor, Meghan (above) will be keen to find a local studio to do her sun salutation­s. And where better than Bodyism, branded by Tatler as the ‘poshest gym in London’. Already a favourite with Pippa Middleton and the Beckhams, its credential­s are excellent. The boutique gym boasts ‘intense yoga’, oxygen filters, vitamin D-emitting lights, strong coffee and green shakes. Naturally. Meghan’s mum Doria would approve, but will she convert burger-munching Harry?

Zis for Zara (both of them). She may not yet have met Harry’s cousin Zara, but Meghan has already been given the Royal seal of approval by her husband Mike Tindall, who is a fan of her TV show Suits. Like Kate, Meghan is also a fan of Spanish brand Zara, which has a huge store around the corner from Kensington Palace. She owns a pair of their distressed denim jeans, but she’d be wise not to wear them at Balmoral.

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