Before Prince Harry and Meghan Markle decided to leave their roles as senior royals, the pair seemed to get on well with Prince William and the Duchess of Sussex. They worked together with a joint charity, and were often seen smiling together at events including Wimbledon. But with an ocean now between them, and rumours of fractious familial relationships thanks to the high profile departure, things are a little more complicated. But how did it all start? How did Meghan and Kate meet in the first place?
In May of 2017, Prince Harry introduced his then-girlfriend Meghan Markle to his sister-in-law Kate Middleton, and Princess Charlotte came along, too.
According to a report in The Sun, Harry and Meghan returned to London together after their New Year trip to see the Northern Lights in Norway.
The new couple were then joined by the Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte, who made a special trip to the capital from Anmer Hall, their home in Norfolk (Prince George was at nursery school at the time, while Prince Louis wasn't born).
'Kate was really looking forward to meeting Meghan and she knew how important it was to Harry,' a source told The Sun. 'They are very close and he really values her opinion on girlfriends.'
'Obviously Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, died when he was very young so Kate really fulfils that older sister/maternal role. It went really well and Meghan was very excited about meeting her.'
'Harry and Meghan went over to Kate’s apartment in Kensington Palace. William was also there and she got to play with Charlotte who she just adored.'
The Duchess had turned 35 earlier in the week, and Meghan didn't let the occasion go unmarked: she is thought to have bought 'a very smart leather-bound "dream diary" for her thoughts and ideas which Kate loved.' Intriguing, no? It is thought to have come from Smythson.
The reports naturally enhanced talk of an impending engagement, which came true later in the year.
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