Meghan Markle’s whirlwind year: Royal romance, marriage and a family fall-out
MEGHAN Markle hasn’t even been an official royal for a year and the Duchess of Sussex has already experienced a string of firsts as she marks her 37th birthday today.
It has been a whirlwind for the American starlet who appears to have taken to royal life like a duck out of the water.
And today will likely be a time for reflection on a momentous year for Meghan, who married her prince on May 19 in front of millions across the world after giving up her successful acting career to join the firm.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have enjoyed an unlikely romance which has defied all odds, exceptions and stereotypes of the Royal Family.
The pair met in July 2016 and announced their engagement in November 2017, barely two years after meeting for the very first time.
Just five months later the pair were married in a spectacular Royal Wedding in Windsor, which captured the attention of millions, not just in the UK, but also across the pond in the US, and the world.
Meghan and Harry were officially named the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the nuptials marked the start of Meghan’s journey into becoming a royal.
And she has spent months learning how to be a royal in a crash course from the Queen’s special advisor, Samantha Cohen.
But the Duchess is no stranger to living life in the fast lane and has already enjoyed a slew of firsts in her very new and short royal career so far.
It has been a whirlwind year for Meghan Markle who appears to have taken to royal life like a duck out of water
Just three days after tying the knot to Prince Harry, she attended her first engagement as a royal at Prince Charles’ birthday celebrations at the gardens of Buckingham Palace.
Days later, Meghan also made her Trooping the Colour debut on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to mark the official birthday of the Queen.
And it was no different for the duchess when she embarked on her first solo outing with the Queen on the monarch’s very own Royal Train.
The Duchess was honoured to have been invited because not even the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry have travelled on the train, described as Buckingham Palace on wheels.
The pair got on like a house on fire and heartwarming pictures showed the Queen in fits of giggles as her granddaughter-in-law whispered something funny.
The 92-year old monarch is not the only fan of Prince Harry’s wife – Prince Charles has given his daughter-in-law the nickname “Tungsten”, which is one of the hardest metals known to man.
It is said to highlight her “tough” and “unbending” nature and Buckingham Palace sources say it shows the future king appreciates Meghan for being a good influence on her husband Prince Harry.
But it hasn’t all been plain sailing for the American royal, who has been forced to endure the very public breakdown of her relationship with her father, Thomas Markle.
Mr Markle was forced to pull out of his daughter’s Royal Wedding over heart complications following surgery and since then he has carried out a number of explosive interviews with the media.
Frustrated and embarrassed, the Duchess of Sussex is reportedly at her “wits’ end” over how to act as her unravelling relationship with her father is played out in the spotlight.
In his latest rant, the retired lighting director accused his daughter of cutting him out of her life and claimed the Royal Family were trying to “silence” him.
He even dragged Princess Diana into the row by saying the late princess would have “loathed” the way he has been treated.
As Meghan marks her first birthday as a member of the royal family, she will not be celebrating with a lavish birthday party, but rather celebrating at the wedding of Prince Harry’s friend in Surrey.
Prince Harry’s childhood friend Charlie Van Straubenzee will marry Daisy Jenks, a wedding and party video maker today.
Source: EXPRESS CO UK
