When it was confirmed that Prince Harry was dating Suits actress Meghan Markle in late 2016, the world was justifiably intrigued by how the two had met. While reports of a set-up were widespread, no one was certain just who was responsible, with many men and women from Harry and Meghan’s wider circle thought to be the match-maker.
Soho House’s Markus Anderson was widely speculated to have set the couple up, thanks to his access to the private members’ club that they frequented regularly for their dates. Misha Nonoo, a fashion designer and close friend of Meghan’s, who was married to Harry’s friend Alexander Gilkes, was also thought to be the mutual friend who saw their potential as a couple.
But now it has been claimed that the mystery cupid was in fact Violet von Westenholz, the PR director for Ralph Lauren, who has ties to both Harry and Meghan. Violet grew up with Prince Harry thanks to her father Baron Piers von Westenholz’s close friendship with Prince Charles, with E! reporting that she has ‘been in Harry’s trusted inner circle of friends for years’. She also knew Meghan from the London social scene, which the American actress had been a part of for a few years thanks to friendships with the likes of Millie Mackintosh.
Bonus bit of trivia: Violet’s younger sister Victoria was reportedly once considered a possible beau for Harry, too.
According to the same source, ‘When Harry told Violet he was having trouble finding someone, Violet said she might just have the perfect girl for him,’ et voila, a match made in heaven was born.
In November, the couple spoke about their ‘blind’ date in the summer of 2016, when the two didn’t know that much about each other – except what they looked like, of course. As Meghan revealed in their engagement interview: ‘I didn't know much about him, and so the only thing that I had asked her [Violet] when she said she wanted to set us up, I had one question, I said, 'Well, is he nice?'’
Harry was similarly intrigued by Meghan, despite admitting that he had never watched her show, Suits: ‘I had never even heard about her until this friend said, 'Meghan Markle.' I was like, 'Right, okay? Give me a bit of background, what's going on here? I had never watched Suits, I had never heard of Meghan before, and I was beautifully surprised when I walked into that room and saw her and there she was, sitting there.’
And the rest, as they say, is history.
Click through Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's relationship timeline below...
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's relationship timeline
1 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle met in London in July 2016.
2 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
They were introduced by mutual friend Markus Anderson, who is the director of Soho House.
3 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In October 2016, the Express became the first newspaper to publish news that Prince Harry had a new girlfriend.
4 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
On November 8th 2016, Kensington Palace released an unprecedented statement which referring to Markle as Harry's girlfriend for the first time.
5 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In the statement, Prince Harry condemned the 'wave of abuse and harrassment' faced by Markle, saying that he was 'worried about Ms. Markle's safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her.'
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'It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms. Markle should be subjected to such a storm,' the statement continued.
7 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The couple were papped together for the first time in December 2016, shopping for a Christmas tree in London at the Pines and Needles store.
8 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Later that week, they were seen on London's West End, catching a performance of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
9 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In February, Prince Harry wore a his 'n' hers bracelet on the cover of Town & Country magazine, just weeks after Markle was pictured wearing the same one on Instagram.
10 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In March 2017, Meghan joined Prince Harry in the Caribbean for the wedding of his friend's Tom 'Skippy' Inskip and Lara Hughes-Young.
11 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
It was the first time that Markle accompanied Harry to a wedding, marking another milestone occasion for the couple.
12 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The first public event attended by the couple was the polo at Coworth Park in May 2017.
13 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Later in May, Markle attended the party portion of Pippa Middleton's wedding to James Middelton.
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Prince Harry was seen driving her to the event after the church ceremony.
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The couple were photographed together the following day at the wheelchair tennis.
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The couple 'broke with royal protocol' by holding hands and appearing affectionate while at the Invictus Games.
17 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Meghan referred to Harry as her boyfriend numerous times, saying: 'We're a couple. We're in love. I'm sure there will be a time when we will have to come forward and present ourselves and have stories to tell, but I hope what people understand is that this is our time.'
18 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
In early November 2017, it was reported that Meghan Markle was leaving Suits after seven series.
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Much was made of Markle's choice of outfit: ripped jeans and a white blouse called 'The Husband'.
20 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Although Prince Harry was sat next to First Lady Melania Trump at the event, rather than his girlfriend, she was only seated a few rows behind him.
21 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The couple made their first official public appearance in September, when Markle attended the opening of Prince Harry's Invictus Games.
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In mid-November 2017, bookies suspending betting on an impending royal engagement, as speculation grew that an announcement was about to be made.
23 of 32Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
On November 27th 2017, Prince Charles announced the engagement of his younger son Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after 15 months of dating.
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The couple later appeared at a photocall, with Markle wearing a white dress coat by Canadian brand Line The Label. The website has subsequently crashed.
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The engagement ring, by Cleave and Company, was reportedly designed by Prince Harry himself, using two stones that belonged to Princess Diana.
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When asked by waiting photographers if the proposal was romantic, Harry joked 'of course!'
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The couple indulged in some PDA at the closing ceremony.
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Meghan wore a maroon midi dress with a pleated chiffon skirt by one of her favourite Canadian brands Aritzia.
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She teamed it with a matching burgundy biker jacket by Mackage.
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Prince Harry reportedly spent time with Meghan's mother Doria while at the Games too.
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Prince Harry was photographed kissing Meghan.
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In late September 2017, it was reported that Meghan had met the Queen, prompting speculation that the relationship was getting serious.