Meghan Markle is a very different kettle of fish. When we drank in my pub, I found her to be a very smart, focused, thoughtful, feisty and confident woman. Ambitious about her career as an actress, yes. But there’s nothing wrong with that, and she’s genui

involving a chase with paparazzi.

He’s also been through girlfriends like a scythe through a barley field.

Most of them the typical kind of posh, polo-loving, and dare I say rather dull English roses that are usually carefully hand- picked for preferred royal partner status.

Meghan Markle is a very different kettle of fish.

When we drank in my pub, I found her to be a very smart, focused, thoughtful, feisty and confident woman.

Ambitious about her career as an actress, yes. But there’s nothing wrong with that, and she’s genuinely talented as fans of her TV show Suits will know.

More importantly, she seemed to have a real and touching concern for the future of the planet and its more impoverished and vulnerable members.

We spoke about Rwanda, where she had recently travelled with the UN, about race issues, and about gun vio- lence in America, which distresses her almost as much as it does me.

Meghan was informed and strident in her opinions and determined to use her celebrity status make a real difference.

She was also great fun, ready to laugh at both the absurdity of life and herself. I really, really liked her. So when I later heard she and Harry were dating, my gut reaction was: GREAT!

And my reaction to all the engagement chatter is exactly the same.

There’s never been a better time for a British heir to the throne to choose a traditionally imperfect divorcee to marry.

We’ve come a very long way from the absurdity of Edward VII being forbidden to marry the love of his life.

And a long way, too, from Princess Margaret, the current Queen’s now deceased sister, being forbidden from marrying the love of HER life, the dashingly handsome pilot Group Captain Peter Townsend, because he too was divorced.

‘ Mindful of the Church’s teaching that Christian marriage is indissoluble,’ Margaret said in her statement announcing the end of the relationship, ‘ and conscious of my duty to the Commonwealth, I have resolved to put these considerations before any others.’

Many think she never really recovered from this devastating blow.

What a tragic and ridiculous state of affairs.

Thank God we’ve all moved on to a more tolerant society.

Since news of Harry’s new romance broke, barely anyone has even suggested that Meghan’s divorced status should be a barrier to marriage.

And how could they given that his dad divorced Diana, and, with the Queen’s blessing, remarried Camilla Parker Bowles?

There is now no reason, legal, religious, moral or otherwise, to prevent Harry marrying Meghan Markle.

As for Meghan’s suitability, consider this: she’s lived life a bit, professionally and sexually, and is not a naïve 19-yearold virgin like Diana.

She also knows the media game, being a star already.

And she has a proper job that allows for time out to have royal babies.

Oh, and given the fact she’s from mixed race parents – her mum is African- American – there’s a real chance some of those babies might be black.

Finally, the Royal Family could have non-white members to more accurately reflect the gloriously multi- cultural nation over which they reign. Hurrah! OK, OK, maybe I’m getting ahead of myself a bit here.

But if I were Harry, I’d be popping the question pretty damn sharpish – for four good reasons:

a) He’s unlikely to find a better bride to keep him on his toes and be a whole lot more than just a trophy royal wife.

b) America, having nearly wrecked the British Monarchy with Wallis Simpson, can now atone by providing a potential Queen worthy of global admiration not revulsion.

c) Every single marriage involving a British royal who’s married an American (i.e. one, Edward’s to Wallis) has lasted at least 36 years – they lived very happily together until Edward died in 1972 - which is considerably longer than most modern royal marriages have lasted.

d) We all need cheering up a bit and a royal wedding makes everyone smile.

So, and I say this with great respect, get on with it Harry, it’s your constitutional duty!