Meghan Markle and Amal Clooney are officially 2018’s premier platonic power couple. After a previous high-profile rendezvous at the royal wedding, it’s now been reported that the Sussexes have flown out to the Clooneys’ fabled Lake Como villa, where they enjoyed the sort of upscale Italian mini-break that brings new meaning to the phrase ‘friends in high places.' But from whence did this A-list friendship spring? And how long have Amal and Meghan been sharing notes on humanitarian causes and blow dries with just the right amount of volume? We've done some digging to unveil the back story behind the pair's mysterious friendship: just knock back some of George's own-brand tequila (more on that later) and enjoy...
The hairdresser recommendation
As speculation surrounding all things royal wedding switches up a gear, one report suggests that royal bride-to-be Meghan has been introduced to a potential wedding hairdresser, Miguel Perez, by none other than international human rights lawyer, Amal Clooney. Cue a major spike in Google searches for ‘are Meghan Markle and Amal Clooney friends?’ Though the pair certainly, to paraphrase Love Island, made sense ‘on paper,’ given their mutual dedication to charitable causes and glossy blow dries, we have zero inkling that they’d even moved in the same circles, let alone enjoyed the sort of friendship that involves swapping haircare recommendations. Helpfully, the report in the Sun credited a mysterious ‘mutual friend’ with bringing them together...
The rumour debunking
Oh. After that initial flurry of speculation, Perez took it upon himself to sound the fake news klaxon and debunk this particular rumour on his Instagram account, confirming that he 'did not even meet Megan [sic]' and that the stories were 'all fake.' We couldn't help but wonder: did this mean that Meghan and Amal's friendship was fake news too?
The royal wedding
It did not. Fast forward to 19th May, and the Clooneys reigned supreme in the best dressed guest stakes at Harry and Meghan's wedding, with Amal opting for a bespoke creation by Stella McCartney in a sunny shade of yellow. Not only did the pair attend the Windsor ceremony, they also made the cut for the exclusive after party at Frogmore House, where George reportedly danced with two Duchesses (of Sussex and of Cambridge) but was brutally knocked back by another (Sarah, Duchess of York). Apparently bouncing back from this snub pretty quickly, George is also said to have to leapt behind the bar to dole out shots of his own-brand Casamigos tequila (which just happened to be stocked in ye olde Frogmore bar)...
The tequila connection
Though George and Amal certainly added to the star power of the occasion (see also: Oprah, Idris Elba, Tom Hardy), we still had some niggling doubts. Why, for one, did the Clooneys receive an invitation to a gathering so select that some of the groom’s family (and certainly none of the bride’s) didn’t even make the cut? Could it possibly have something to do with the fact that Princess Eugenie’s fiancé Jack Brooksbank, a friend of Harry from their time on London’s #partylad circuit, is currently a brand ambassador for… Casamigos tequila? And could this future sort-of-royal be the mysterious 'mutual friend' who brokered Meghan and Amal's power friendship? We'll probably never know the answer, but we certainly have our suspicions...
The 'very natural friendship'
Our next snippet of insight into Meghan and Amal's famous friendship came courtesy of a sourced report in People magazine, which landed just a few weeks after the royal wedding. ‘Meghan and Amal have known each other for a while and share many interests,' a source told the magazine, adding that 'Amal has been helping Meghan settle into London life. It was a very natural friendship from day one.'
The second royal wedding
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Are Amal and George the most in-demand royal mates of 2018? Judging from a new crop of reports, the answer is yes: the couple are now rumoured to be attending Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s wedding in October, giving us a potential opening for a Clooney-Sussex photo opp. The tequila connection always wins out, it seems... although isn't this actually just the glamorous royal equivalent of inviting the CEO of your company along for your big day?
The Lake Como trip
And this is when we knew that things were getting serious. Yesterday, Italian magazine Chi reported that Harry and Meghan enjoyed a four-day jaunt to the Clooneys’ villa on Lake Como, where they had the privilege of meeting the elusive mini Clooneys, twins Ella and Alexander. Harry and George are thought to have spent their time shooting hoops on the basketball pitch, and one night the villa played host to a gala dinner, with a guest list of 15. Sadly, our invites were lost in transit, but cheers to friendship!
Look back at the best dressed royal wedding guests in the gallery below...
All The Guests At Meghan & Harry's Wedding
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Earl Spencer and Lady Karen Spencer
Prince Harry's uncle - and Princess Diana's younger brother, with his wife, Lady Karen Spencer.
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James Blunt and Sofia Wellesley
The "Beautiful" singer and his wife Sofia arrive at the royal wedding
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Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre
Luther star Idris Elba and his then-fiancee Sabrina Dhowre were surprise guests at the wedding
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Oprah Winfrey
Oprah arrived at the wedding dressed in Stella McCartney
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Carole Middleton
Pippa and Kate Middleton's mother arrived at the royal wedding in an ice-blue skirt suit and matching fascinator
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Amal and George Clooney
Amal and George Clooney both looked incredible - Amal is 100% topping the best-dressed list in her mustard yellow Stella McCartney ensemble
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Cressida Bonas
Harry's ex Cressida was spotted in London-based brand Eponine
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Victoria and David Beckham
Victoria and David Beckham made their entrance at the royal wedding - she's wearing a navy dress that's not a million miles away from the dress she wore to Kate and WIlliam's wedding in 2011.
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Pippa Middleton and James Matthews
Pippa Middleton was spotted wearing a £495 dress by brand The Fold - just one day before her own wedding anniversary
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Chloe Madeley and James Haskell
Chloe Madeley arrived with her fiancee - England international rugby player James Haskell
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Kitty Spencer
Lady Kitty Spencer, Prince Harry's cousin, arrived wearing a forest green floral dress by Dolce and Gabbana
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Fergie, Duchess of York
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, Prince Andrew's ex wife and the mother of princesses Beatrice and Eugenie arrives at St George's chapel
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Julia Carey and James Cordon
The actor and talk show host arrived with his wife, Julia
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Joss Stone
The musician, a close friend of Prince Harry, arrived at St George's chapel with a friend.
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Carey Mulligan and Marcus Mumford
The Great Gatsby actress arrives wearing William &Son with her husband, musician Marcus Mumford.
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Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian
Tennis star - and friend of Meghan's - arrived wearing Versace with her husband Alexis Ohanian
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Princess Anne
Prince Harry's aunt arrives at the chapel in a red and black ensemble
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Princess Beatrice
Prince Harry's first cousin wore a dark blue dress by Gainsbourg paired with a matching Fiona Graham headband. She wore shoes by Valentino.
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Zara Tindall and Mike Tindall
The Olympic equestrian (nee Phillips) and one of Prince Harry's first cousins, arrived with her husband.
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Princess Eugenie
Princess Eugenie, one of Prince Harry's first cousins, arrived in a powder-blue Jackie-Kennedy-inspired outfit. The dress is by Roksanda Viola and the pill-box hat is by Stephen Jones.
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Sophie, Countess of Wessex
The countess (married to Prince Harry's uncle Edward) arrived wearing a bespoke bodice top and midi skirt by British couture and ready-to-wear designer Suzannah.
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Queen Elizabeth II
Her Majesty the Queen arrives shortly before the bride wearing a flared silk dress in lime, lemon, purple and grey. Her coat is lime silk tweed. Both are by Stuart Parvin. The Queen's hat is also lime silk tweed by Angela Kelly and is adorned with handmade crystals and pearls by Lucy Price.
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Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall
The duchess of Cornwall arrives with Prince Charles. She is wearing a pink silk coat dress by Anna Valentine and her hat is by royal favorite Phillip Treacy.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
Prince Harry's sister-in-law sits in the chapel between Prince Andrew and the Duchess of Cornwall. She wears a yellow silk coat by Alexander McQueen -- who also famously designed her wedding gown when he married Prince William in 2011 -- paired with a Phillip Treacy hat and Jimmy Choos.
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Doria Ragland
Mother-of-the-bride Doria Ragland, who rode partway to Windsor with Meghan, arrives at St George's Chapel in a mint green ensemble by Oscar De la Renta. Her hat is by Stephen Jones.
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Chelsy Davy
Prince Harry's former girlfriend arrives dressed in navy.
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Gina Torres
The American actress was one of Meghan's Suits co-stars, many of whome who were invited to the ceremony.
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Princess Charlotte
Prince Harry's niece was one of the flower girls. She looked adorable in her Givenchy dress and flower crown.
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Sarah Rafferty
Actress Sarah Rafferty - who co-starred with Meghan in Suits -arrives in a navy blue ensemble
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Patrick J Adams
The actor who played Meghan's on-screen love interest in Suits looked dapper as he arrives for the ceremony with his wife Troian Bellisario, who wore a cream bell-sleeved dress with embellished shoulders.
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Abigail Spencer and Priyanka Chopra
The actors - both friends of Meghan - looked happy and relaxed as they arrived at the chapel together.