These extraordinary photos show a happy and carefree Duchess of Sussex on a holiday in Malta a year before she first locked eyes with her future husband.
Before becoming a member of the royal family, Meghan, then a successful actress, spent a few days on Malta sampling the local food and learning about her ancestry.
The country has a special place in Meghan’s heart as her great-great-grandmother Mary was born there 1862.
The Suits actress was there to learn more about her ancestry and sample Maltese food and wine according to 89.7 Bay – and confessed she ‘blended in’ with the locals.
Wearing a traditional headdress, the future Duchess of Sussex is pictured on a visit to Malta in 2015 – a year before she met her future husband Prince Harry – wearing a għonnella
Future royal: Casually dressed in a grey t-shirt and baggy jeans, the future Duchess of Sussex looks decidedly happy and carefree in the images, which were taken in 2015
According to the news site, Meghan visited Mdina, Valletta, Victoria and Dwejra during her stay, during which she posed for a photo shoot for glossy fashion magazine ELLE.
She said at the time: ‘Coming to Malta has been really important to me because my great-great-grandmother lived here, so we’ve been trying to trace the ancestry.
‘his trip was mostly about trying to understand where I come from, my identity. There is something so lovely about fitting in a piece of the puzzle.
‘To come somewhere where you so quickly settle in to feeling welcomed is really special. It’s this Maltese hospitality that is really special to the place.
Blending in: This photo sees Meghan with the Marquis de Piro and his wife Frances at their home Casa Rocca Piccola, while dressed in a traditional għonnella headdress
Ready for lunch! Meghan visited Mdina, Valletta, Victoria and Dwejra during her stay, during which she posed for a photo shoot for glossy fashion magazine ELLE
‘Before I came, people were telling me, ‘When you go to Malta, everyone will look like you,’ and I started to say, “Oh my gosh I do sort of blend in,” and it’s the loveliest feeling.The Maltese people have been so kind.’
It is believed the remarkably candid snaps were taken in March 2015 – just four months before she met Prince Harry and eventually swapped the showbiz world for Kensington Palace.
Casually dressed in a grey t-shirt and baggy jeans, the future Duchess of Sussex looks decidedly happy and carefree in the images.
One photo sees her with the Marquis de Piro and his wife Frances at their home Casa Rocca Piccola, while dressed in a traditional għonnella headdress.
The rare images came to light after being tweeted by Joe Little of Majesty magazine earlier this week.