New insights reveal that Prince Harry’s pursuit of Meghan Markle in 2016 was far from the traditional love story often depicted. Instead of a chance encounter, it began with a social media moment that transformed into what friends describe as a ‘full-blown digital pursuit’.
Digital Beginnings and a Captivating Video
According to Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, his fascination with Markle arose not from her role on the television series Suits, but from an Instagram video shared by his childhood friend, Violet von Westenholz. The clip featured Markle playfully using a filter that added dog ears and noses to her face. Harry recounted, ‘Despite the canine cartoon overlay, I sat up straighter… my God.’ He admitted to watching the video multiple times, declaring, ‘I’d never seen anyone so beautiful.’
This initial spark ignited a deep interest that quickly escalated. Sources close to the Duke of Sussex indicated that Harry’s online curiosity transitioned into something more intense. One insider noted, ‘He wasn’t casually browsing. He was checking her profile repeatedly, asking friends about her, looking for any new posts.’ Such behaviour raised concerns about the boundaries of his fascination, with another source stating it ‘definitely crossed into online stalking territory.’
Texting Like a Teenager
With his interest piqued, Harry contacted von Westenholz to facilitate an introduction to Markle. Despite learning that ‘six other guys’ were also interested in her, Violet agreed to connect them via Instagram. This led to a message from Markle, complimenting Harry on the ‘beautiful photographs’ he had posted from his travels.
The digital courtship was captivating for Harry, who described locking himself in a guestroom to continue their conversations. He noted, ‘I sat on my bed texting like a teenager until it was time to have dinner.’ Friends described him as ‘obsessed – in a romantic way, but obsessed all the same,’ reflecting the depth of his feelings.
Eventually, this exchange led to a date, although Harry was late due to traffic. He arrived flustered but immediately captivated by Markle, whom he described as ‘heart-attack beautiful.’ Their chemistry blossomed, and shortly after, they deepened their connection during a week-long trip to Botswana. Harry shared, ‘She came and joined me for five days out there, which was absolutely fantastic. Then we were really by ourselves.’
It was during this trip that Harry realized Markle was his ‘soulmate’, marking the beginning of a relationship that would ultimately change both their lives and the royal family forever.
