It’s getting serious: Meghan’s high-society debut
If proof were ever needed that Prince Harry is serious about Meghan Markle, his American girlfriend, then it came yesterday with her first outing at an official society function. Miss Markle cheered on the Queen’s grandson from the royal box as he played polo.
IT MUST be serious. Meghan Markle, the girlfriend of Prince Harry, enjoyed her first outing at an official society function yesterday, watching the Queen’s grandson play polo.
If ever proof were needed that Miss Markle is here to stay, then her decision to attend the polo, a sport so dear to the heart of Prince Harry, is it.
This was the first time that Prince Harry and Miss Markle have been present at a public event together, the couple having previously been keen to avoid the cameras.
Miss Markle’s appearance in the royal box at Coworth Park, near Ascot in Berkshire, will inevitably prompt further speculation that the couple will one day wed – and possibly soon.
The actress smiled broadly and clapped her prince at the polo event in which the Duke of Cambridge also took part.
Royal sources suggested Miss Markle’s polo visit yesterday was a curtain-raiser for her expected attendance in a fortnight’s time at Prince Harry’s side for the wedding of Pippa Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge’s sister. That event will prompt frenzied coverage. It has not been confirmed whether Miss Markle will attend the service or just the reception if she goes.
“This polo trip might just take a bit of the heat out of Meghan’s appearance at Pippa’s wedding,” said one royal watcher.
Miss Middleton is marrying James Matthews, a hedge fund tycoon, at St Mark’s Church in Englefield in Berkshire, near her parents’ home. At the polo yesterday, spectators were taken aback to see Miss Markle, who made her name as an actress on the hit US television drama series Suits, in public.
It was a star-studded event also attended by the Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne, Darcey Bussell, the former ballerina turned Strictly Come Dancing judge, and Matt Smith, the actor whose roles have, ironically enough, included playing a young Duke of Edinburgh in the drama series The Crown. Carina Kerridge, who described herself on Twitter as an eyelash and nail technician from Tamworth, Staffordshire, tweeted: “At the Polo watching Prince Harry, sat across from Matt Smith, and Meghan Markle! This is the life lol [laugh out loud]!” Miss Markle, 35, was photographed on a balcony overlooking the polo grounds, dressed in a white blazer, which she later removed to reveal an elegant navy dress. Her sunglasses remained in place. Accompanying her was Mark Dyer, a former Welsh Guards officer and one-time equerry to the Prince of Wales, who has been described as “Harry’s second father”. Mr Dyer was instrumental in helping Prince Harry to set up Sentebale, a children’s charity in Lesotho. Yesterday’s Audi Polo Challenge raised funds for Sentebale and another of his charities, WellChild.
‘At the polo watching Prince Harry, sat across from Matt Smith and Meghan Markle. This is the life!’