Harry's Insta-Love: How a Filtered Photo Sparked Royal Romance

Prince Harry's initial encounter with Meghan Markle was far from a traditional royal meeting. In his memoir, Harry recounts how he first saw Meghan in a 2016 Instagram video shared by a mutual friend. Despite a whimsical dog filter overlaying their faces, Harry was immediately struck by her beauty and captivating spirit, feeling an immediate connection. This serendipitous digital sighting prompted him to seek an introduction.

The prince swiftly contacted his friend to arrange a meeting, leading to Meghan sending him a message complimenting his travel photos. Their initial text exchanges were prolific, with Harry describing his thumbs cramping from constant messaging. They arranged their first date for July 3, 2016, at a London establishment, a meeting that Harry arrived late to due to traffic but quickly found to be effortless and deeply connecting.