Prince Harry had a crush on Meghan Markle for two years before even meeting her after watching the actress on TV.
When asked by a friend on a night out who his ideal woman was, the royal is said to have answered: ‘Meghan Markle from Suits’.
The 36-year-old actress plays sultry paralegal Rachel Zane in the show, and his appeared in several steamy scenes during the programme’s seven-season run.
The revelation comes from royal expert Katie Nicholl in tonight’s Channel 4 documentary When Harry Met Meghan: A Royal Romance, set to air at 9pm.
Prince Harry had a crush on Meghan Markle (shown together at the Invictus Games) for two years before even meeting her after watching the actress on the TV shows Suits (shown left)
The revelation comes from royal expert Katie Nicholl in tonight’s Channel 4 documentary When Harry Met Meghan: A Royal Romance, set to air at 9pm
She says: ‘He had a crush on Rachel Zane two years before he met Meghan and the reason I know is because I was having drinks with one of his friends.
‘She told me she’d been on a night out with Prince Harry. He was single at the time, so she said, “Harry, who’s your ideal girl?” And he said “Meghan Markle from Suits”.’
According to sources, royal aides have already been instructed to start planning a wedding for next year.
Senior members of the Royal Family are understood to have been asked to look at their diaries to shortlist a series of suitable weekends next year.
It may be significant, too, that the Palace chose to release news of the Duchess of Cambridge’s April due date comparatively early.
A wedding is believed to be out of the question until Prince William and Kate’s third child is born.
Meghan is currently in Toronto filming the eighth season of Suits, and work will not finish on the series until the middle of November
One important consideration both for courtiers and the Church of England is Meghan’s status as a divorcee.
Under Church rules, she would be unable to have a religious wedding and, although it could take place in church, a ceremony would be a blessing instead.
This could lead to the choice of a comparatively low-profile venue, such as the Royal Military Chapel at Wellington Barracks at St James’s Park.
Meghan is currently in Toronto filming the eighth season of Suits, and work will not finish on the series until the middle of November.
The 36-year-old actress (middle) plays sultry paralegal Rachel Zane in the show, and his appeared in several steamy scenes during the programme’s seven-season run