For Harry and Meghan, it was love at first ‘hello’: A look back at their royal love story

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s love story is one of the most talked-about in modern royal history—a relationship that not only captured headlines but also led to one of the most dramatic departures from royal tradition.As the couple marks their seventh wedding anniversary on May 19, their journey from a blind date in London to building a new life together is the topic of intrigue and interest for allBefore she ever met Harry, Meghan didn’t seem too interested in royal romance. According to Andrew Morton's biography, 'Meghan: A Hollywood Princess' , she once appeared “nonplussed” when asked to pick between Prince William and Prince Harry in a TV quiz. But all of that changed in July 2016, when Meghan, then starring in Suits, was visiting London to promote the show. She was set up on a blind date with the prince through a mutual friend, Markus Anderson, at Soho House.Harry had just returned from commemorating the Battle of the Somme in France and was in a solemn mood. Meghan, meanwhile, asked friends one simple question about the prince: “Is he kind?” The answer, it seems, was in his eyes. As Morton put it, “They had each other at ‘hello’.”Their connection was instant. Despite Harry showing up late (as per Megan's own admission), the two were quickly “mesmerised by each other.” Harry was taken by Meghan’s confidence, intelligence, and beauty, while Meghan saw Harry for who he was rather than just his Royal title. By their second date, they could feel the chemistry.The third date sealed it. Just weeks later, Harry invited Meghan to join him in Botswana for five days of camping under the stars. It was a bold move, but one that paid off. “It was just us,” Harry said later. “And it was crucial to make sure we had a chance to get to know each other.”By November 2016, rumors were swirling, and Kensington Palace issued an official statement confirming the relationship. In a rare step, Harry also released a personal plea condemning the media’s “wave of abuse and harassment” toward Meghan, citing “sexism and racism.”The pair continued to grow closer, returning to Botswana in August 2017 for Meghan’s 36th birthday. The romantic getaway featured more stargazing and time at Meno a Kwena camp, a setting that had already become deeply meaningful to them.By fall, Meghan spoke openly to Vanity Fair, saying, “We’re two people who are really happy and in love.” That same month, they made their first official appearance as a couple at the Invictus Games in Toronto. Shortly after, Meghan had tea with the Queen, and just a year after their first date, Harry proposed over a quiet dinner of roast chicken at home.The engagement ring said as much as Harry’s words. At its center was a diamond from Botswana, where their love story had deepened, flanked by two smaller diamonds from Princess Diana’s collection.On May 19, 2018, Harry and Meghan wed in a globally watched ceremony. But their love story didn’t end at the altar—it evolved. In the years since, the couple has stepped back from royal duties, relocated to the U.S., and spoken candidly about the pressures they faced. Through it all, their bond has remained a constant.