Happy Anniversary — Prince Harry And Meghan Markle's Love Story

May 19, 2019 by apost team

As the new parents celebrate their first wedding anniversary together, we take a look back at the Duke and Duchess’ fairytale love story.

Prince Harry, who is sixth in line to the British throne met US-born actress Meghan Markle in the Summer of 2016 through mutual friends. In a cover story for Vanity Fair back in September 2017, she said: “We’re in love”.

Less than 10 months later the couple got married in a ceremony watched by millions across the globe. Earlier this month, on May 6th, the couple welcomed their first child, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.

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The Duke and Duchess’ wedding was in the media spotlight for months ahead of the event, which took place on May 19th, 2018. The royal ceremony differed from others in the past, featuring elements of Markle's African American roots such as a gospel choir. The ceremony was attended by many high-profile Hollywood personalities such as George and Amal Clooney.

The couple was first photographed together holding hands at the Invictus Games in 2017. The Invictus Games is an annual multi-sport event created by Prince Harry in 2014 for wounded and disabled veterans.

Prince Henry of Wales - commonly known as Prince Harry - is the youngest son of the late Princess Diana and Prince Charles. His parents’ very public divorce, as well as the tragic, sudden death of his mother, dominated little Harry’s childhood.

Diana Spencer, formally the princess of Wales died in a car accident in Paris on August 31st, 1997. Prince Harry was 12 years old at the time, and his brother William was 15. Unsurprisingly, the death of his mother forever took a toll on young Harry.

The Duke of Sussex has been very open about his struggles with his mental health throughout his life.

“I have probably been very close to a complete breakdown on numerous occasions when all sorts of grief and sort of lies and misconceptions and everything are coming to you from every angle,” he told the Daily Telegraph in 2017.

"Shutting down all of my emotions for the last 20 years has had a quite serious effect on not only my personal life, but also my work as well."

The prince seems to have his mothers charm when it comes to connecting with people, as well as her mischievous spirit. The media had labeled him as a playboy due to photographs of himself with various attractive women being published often in the tabloids. Never a fan of the excessive attention, he once admitted to the Daily Mail that he “wanted out” of the Royal Family.

Although loved by the public, Prince Harry has often been at the center of controversy. In 2005, photographs of the Duke at a costume party wearing a swastika surfaced and fueled public outrage. Later that year, he joined the army, just as many royals before him, and served the British forces for a decade.

“Being in the army was the best escape I've ever had,” he told Newsweek,
“I felt as though I was really achieving something.”.

Following two tours in Afghanistan when serving the military, Harry has proven to be one of the most loved Royals of the United Kingdom. Just as his mother did, the prince uses his popularity to raise public awareness for different causes he believes in. Most recently, he joined forces with his brother, wife, and sister-in-law to create Heads Together, a mental health initiative.

When Megan Markle’s name first appeared in newspapers when the couple first started dating, not many British people knew she was. The former actress was born in Los Angeles in 1981 and is best known for her portrayal of Rachel Zane on the television show Suits.

Not all media coverage of Prince Harry’s then-girlfriend was positive, however. In fact, in October 2016 the royal palace released a statement on behalf of the Duke, describing the media coverage as ‘harassment’ and ‘abuse’, even having ‘racial undertones’.

Much of the criticism towards Meghan is rooted in her first marriage to film producer Trevor Engelson, whom she was married to for three years and divorced in 2013. She also had a blog, the Tig, which was closed down in 2017.

She had once written on her blog: "I've never wanted to be a lady who lunches — I've always wanted to be a woman who works."

Just like her husband, Markle is active in humanitarian work. As well as campaigning for women’s rights with the UN, she is also an ambassador for World Vision Canada, a Canadian charity which supports children in developing countries.

"The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh are delighted for the couple and wish them every happiness," Buckingham Palace tweeted following the wedding announcement.

Because Harry is a royal who is in direct line of succession, their union had to be approved by Queen Elizabeth before they could wed. Their wedding, along with the Queen's blessings marks a time of change in the royal family: Not long ago, a divorced person marrying into the royal family would have been unimaginable.

What do you think of the Duke and Duchess' fairytale love story? Let us know in the comments - and make sure you pass this along to your friends and family!