Meghan Markle's Royal Friendship with Princess Eugenie Began Before Prince Harry
The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, established a connection with the British Royal Family long before her romance with Prince Harry commenced in July 2016. At 44 years old, the former actress was still building her career when she attended the prestigious Art Basel Miami Beach event in December 2014. Notably, Princess Eugenie, then 24, was also present at the same glitzy gathering that year.
Fashion Designer Misha Nonoo Facilitated the Introduction
Although precise details of their initial encounter remain unclear, reports from Tatler magazine indicate that Bahrain-born fashion designer Misha Nonoo played a pivotal role in fostering the friendship between Meghan and Eugenie. Misha, who was married to Prince Harry's Eton contemporary Alexander Gilkes at the time, had maintained close ties with both York sisters since 2012. She quickly bonded with the Suits actress after their paths crossed at the Miami art show over a decade ago.
Meghan herself later confirmed this timeline during her March 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, stating explicitly that she knew Princess Eugenie, now 35, before becoming acquainted with Prince Harry. This revelation underscores the independent nature of her royal connections prior to her high-profile relationship.
Early Royal Encounters and Missteps
Two years after the Oprah interview, Prince Harry disclosed an awkward moment from Meghan's early royal interactions. During their first meeting at Royal Lodge in October 2016, Meghan mistakenly identified Eugenie's father, the disgraced Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, as the late Queen's assistant. Despite this social misstep, the couple maintained their closeness with Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank.
In fact, Andrew's younger daughter became the first royal to visit the Sussexes at their Montecito, California home after they stepped back from senior royal duties in 2020. This gesture demonstrated the strength of their relationship during the transition period.
The Art Basel Connection Detailed
Royal biographer Andrew Morton provided additional context about the December 2014 Art Basel meeting where Meghan first connected with Misha Nonoo. Markus Anderson, membership director of Soho House and a friend of Meghan's, orchestrated the introduction during lunch at Soho Beach House in Miami.
Markus Anderson is a great fixer and mixer, Morton wrote. He has an instinct for putting strangers together who he thinks might gel. The biographer described how Meghan and Misha got along famously, with their lunchtime drinks extending into evening cocktails as they discussed fashion collections and upcoming events.
While it remains uncertain exactly when Meghan and Eugenie first met directly, photographic evidence confirms both women were in Miami for the art fair that same year, supporting the timeline of their early connection.
Growing Friendship Within Royal Circles
After Prince Harry began dating Meghan in 2016, Eugenie became the first family member to meet the new couple socially. In his memoir Spare, Harry recalled inviting Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank to dinner at Nottingham Cottage, where they devoured her stories about Suits and her travels. The Duke wrote fondly: I remember Euge hugging Meg, as they were sisters.
Their friendship extended beyond formal royal settings, with the two couples enjoying double dates and social outings. In November 2016, they famously attended a Halloween party in Toronto disguised in post-apocalyptic costumes, an event Meghan described to Ellen DeGeneres as one fun night on the town before their relationship became public knowledge.
Current Strains and Future Uncertainties
The longstanding friendship now faces potential strain following Prince Andrew's unprecedented arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Royal experts suggest Meghan may seek to distance herself from the scandal surrounding Andrew's connections to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Royal journalist Duncan Larcombe told The Mirror: From Meghan's point of view, it's probably a commercial thing, from Harry's point of view, it's probably more of an emotional thing. He noted that while Harry has historically been close to his cousins Beatrice and Eugenie, Meghan is likely more concerned about the optics of ongoing association with the family given the heightened scrutiny.
Despite these challenges, Eugenie has demonstrated consistent loyalty to the Sussexes. She shared a 40th birthday tribute to her dear Meghan on Instagram in 2021 and was the first royal to visit them in California after their relocation. However, Andrew's dramatic downfall and ongoing legal troubles present a significant test for these personal royal relationships moving forward.
