Meghan Markle was still living with her then-boyfriend, chef Corey Vitiello, when she went on her first date with Prince Harry, a new book claims.

According to “Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the war between the Windsors,” out now in the UK, Meghan – then an actress on the US Network drama “Suits” – in 2016 put into action a plan to befriend a group of well-connected Brits, Page Six has reported.

Stay up to date with the latest news on the British Royals with Flash. 25+ news channels in 1 place. New to Flash? Try 1 month free. Offer ends 31 October, 2022 >

Among them were Harry’s childhood friend Violet von Westenholz, who was working as a publicist for Ralph Lauren. Meghan had been hired to wear the designer’s clothing during the Wimbledon tennis tournament in the summer of 2016.

In a conversation with Westenholz at Wimbledon, author Tom Bower writes, Meghan persuaded “sensitive soul” von Westenholz to set her up on a blind date with the prince.

“Her problems were familiar to all unknown, unmarried actors in their mid-thirties – fear of loneliness and personal and financial insecurity,” Bower writes. “Unsurprisingly, Meghan was preoccupied by her own financial security – and finding a husband.”

Before agreeing to the set-up, the book claims, von Westenholz sent Harry photos of the dark-haired actress.

Von Westenholz’s father, Piers, is an interior decorator and antique dealer and an old chum of Prince Charles’ wife, Camilla. During weekend visits to the von Westenholzes’ Hertfordshire country estate and during joint family holidays, Princes Harry and William played with Violet as children.

Although Bower writes that Meghan’s two-year romance with Vitiello, a Toronto-based chef, was in its last throes when she met Harry, they still shared a home together.

More Coverage

The book also claims that, two weeks after their first date on July 1, 2016, “Harry secretly flew to Toronto. He stayed for about one week in the house of a friend of Meghan’s, probably Jessica Mulroney. With Cory still sharing [Meghan’s] home, the situation for Meghan was tricky but manageable.

“At the end of the week, after he returned to London, Meghan was convinced that her spell was cast and the relationship with Harry would be sealed. She told Cory that their affair was over,” Bower writes.
According to the book, Vitiello “was relieved. The final months had been unpleasant.”

This artcile originally appeared in Page Six and was reproduced with permission.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7HWrGWcp51jrrZ7xKernqqklravucSnq2iblaGyo77IrbBmpJmbsnC%2BzrKYpatfp7y6rctmrp6clJ67qL%2BOppygoJGjeq6t0aSjnqtdqL2muMtmmpqrpGK8t7HRZqeroZ6Ysm60wKupsmWnnbatsYysq6KknGK5qsLIp55mr5mptW6x15umsp6inrKvsI6nnLCrXajBsL7YaGubaWJpgHmtxG2ca5qUZn53sJZynZ1tY2yDdoWRcG6d