Long before she knew she would marry a prince, a teenage Meghan Markle tries on diamond rings in Switzerland.
Aged about 14 or 15, Miss Markle was given a tour of a diamond house with her childhood friend Ninaki Priddy during a summer trip around Europe.
The holiday also included a sightseeing jaunt to Buckingham Palace as well as a stay at a hotel in Kensington.
Smiling for the camera in 1996, Meghan can be seen holding out her left hand to show off a huge diamond ring – not so different from the one Harry, 33, presented her with earlier this month.
This picture, from 1996, was taken two decades before the American actress, now 36, met Prince Harry.
Smiling for the camera, the teenager can be seen holding out her left hand to show off a huge diamond ring – not so different from the one Harry, 33, presented her with earlier this month.
The engagement ring, designed by the prince himself, holds three diamonds, two belonging to Princess Diana and a third from Botswana where he and Meghan have enjoyed romantic getaways.
But unlike the piece of jewellery which was revealed to the world on Monday, the young Miss Markle had to return these diamonds after posing for the picture.
Miss Priddy, 36, pictured right, said: ‘We went to a diamond house, seeing the stones, putting the eyeglass on to measure dimensions and clarity… The last bit of the tour they brought out a bunch of engagement rings. And being kids, how could we not play dress-up for a second?’
Other pictures of the European trip, which included a five-day tour of Britain, show Miss Markle grinning outside Buckingham Palace. The full series of fascinating images of the American, who will in May officially become a member of the Royal Family, will feature in Saturday’s Daily Mail.
The photos, given exclusively to the Mail, will show Miss Markle throughout her youth – from singing at a concert as a small child to a night out with friends celebrating her university graduation.
A 15-year-old Meghan Markle poses in front of Buckingham Palace, with friend Ninaki Priddy, during a European trip in 1996
Miss Markle showed off her sparkling engagement ring, which Harry designed himself, made from two diamonds which belonged to his late beloved mother Diana, Princess of Wales
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle appeared at a photocall at London’s Kensington Palace yesterday. Their 16-month whirlwind romance blossomed when they met through mutual friends
It was reported last night that Harry had asked Meghan’s mother for her daughter’s hand in marriage.
An American magazine said Harry spoke to yoga instructor and therapist Doria Ragland about it when she flew from her Los Angeles home to join the couple at the prince’s Invictus Games event in Canada in September.
In their official engagement interview on Monday Harry waxed lyrical about his future mother-in-law, describing her as ‘amazing’.
He also said he had not yet met Meghan’s father Thomas Markle, who divorced Miss Ragland when their daughter was young, but had spoken to him on the phone.
Left, Harry and Miss Markle at the Invictus Games in Toronto, this year and right, on Monday after announcing their engagement at Kensington Palace
St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in Berkshire has been chosen as the venue for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding will take place at St George’s Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle in May because it is a place ‘close to the couple’s hearts’
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will marry in May St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, pictured, the interior of the church
The royal family have flocked to congratulate the happy couple after their engagement announcement on Monday afternoon
Meanwhile there was mystery over a post on Instagram by Harry’s ex-girlfriend Cressida Bonas, from whom he split in 2014.
The day after the engagement was announced the 28-year-old actress shared a message with her 6,000 followers which read: ‘No matter how educated, talented, rich or cool you believe you are, how you treat people ultimately tells it all.’
Miss Bonas accompanied the quote with the caption: ‘Truth #quotestoliveby.’
Internet users questioned whether it was directed at her ex, with whom she split up not entirely unacrimoniously, although it is more likely that it was not aimed at Harry.
Harry and Meghan’s engagement excitement can be revealed in a series of candid and funny shots not shown to the millions who watched in Britain and later around the world
Harry makes a funny face and makes Meghan laugh out loud in footage not shown to millions last night
Left, Miss Markle as a baby with her father Thomas and right, the actress in later years with her mother Doria Ragland
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend the Wheelchair Tennis on day 3 of the Invictus Games Toronto 2017