Meghan Markle
MEGHAN MARKLE A new book by Diana’s biographer sheds light on the former actress’s life before Prince Harry
In a week when she was focused on the finer points of her upcoming wedding to Prince Harry—the bride and groom announced details of the locally sourced flowers (including Princess Diana’s favourite white roses) for the big day—meghan Markle’s life-before-harry was spotlit in the frenzy of publicity surrounding a new book by biographer Andrew Morton. From the abrupt ending of her first marriage to film producer Trevor Engelson—morton claims she posted her wedding and engagement rings back to him after she moved out—to her obsession with Princess Diana, Meghan’s past is dissected in Meghan: A Hollywood Princess. Excerpts published ahead of the biography’s April 12 release (April 19 in Australia) contain interviews with sources including former friends and classmates.
On the subject of her previous marriage to Engelson, Morton wrote that the relationship began to crumble when Meghan, now 36, was living in Toronto to film her hit series Suits, while her husband remained in Los Angeles. “A wealthy entrepreneur friend claimed … Meghan sent her wedding and engagement rings back to Trevor by registered post,” he wrote. “Another confirmed that the decision to end the marriage was made by Meghan and that it had come ‘totally out of the blue.’ ”
While the book quotes former friends describing Meghan as “controlling,” “fastidious” and a “social climber,” A Hollywood Princess also references a smart, compassionate, caring woman, who looks out for others. Former classmate Elizabeth Mccoy said Meghan would comfort her when she was picked on after having epileptic seizures. “According to Morton, Mccoy said Meghan “was cool and had cool things to say. I like being around her.”
In a prescient twist, Morton, who famously penned the 1992 tell-all Diana: Her True Story—in Her Own Words, reveals that Meghan was fascinated by Princess Diana, claiming she was heartbroken when Diana died in a Paris car crash in 1997. “Meghan and her friends watched the funeral of Diana ... tears coursing down their cheeks,” writes Morton of the then 16-year-old, who 20 years later would marry her role model’s youngest son. Continues Morton: “According to family friends, she was intrigued by Diana, not just for her style, but for her independent humanitarian mission ... As friend Ninaki Priddy observed: ‘She was always fascinated by the Royal Family. She wants to be Princess Diana 2.0.’ ” •