It’s been very interesting and very discombobulating to see the British press react to the news that Prince Harry has a very official new (American!) girlfriend, Meghan Markle. I read the Daily Mail every day (because it’s my job, peeps) and they have been freaking out for a week over the idea that Harry is officially with an American… who is an actress… and who is mixed race. What’s weird is that I don’t think the “girlfriend rollout” was bungled whatsoever. It was clear that Harry or someone in his press office really wanted the story to get out there, and his press people really seemed to be leaking stuff to American outlets in addition to British outlets. When the British papers get scooped by American outlets about a British prince, the result is some angst and anger. So the Daily Mail did some digging and they claim that Harry was actually dating someone else (SOMEONE BRITISH, thankyouverymuch) during the same time he was starting up with Meghan.
Prince Harry secretly dated a stunning English fashion model while he was wooing American TV star Meghan Markle, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. The Prince enjoyed a series of dates with Burberry model Sarah Ann Macklin in June and July while he was romancing Miss Markle when she visited London. Friends of Miss Macklin, 27 – who looks uncannily like the American actress – told us that Harry, 32, met the model at a private party where he took her number and bombarded her with texts, just as he is said to have done with Miss Markle.
It was unclear last night whether Miss Markle, 35, who stars in US television drama Suits, was aware that Harry was seeing a lookalike brunette while he was beginning his relationship with her. Sources say Harry’s interest in Miss Macklin brought on a jealous reaction from her chiselled ex-boyfriend David Gandy, an underwear model for Marks and Spencer.
A source close to Miss Macklin said last night: ‘Their fling is an open secret among her friends. David Gandy knew that Harry was pursuing her and tried to get her back. At one point she had the country’s most famous male model and a prince vying for her affection, and the novelty was not lost on her. She ended up turning David down and dating Prince Harry. It eventually fizzled out but they are on friendly terms.’
Another friend confirmed: ‘They were introduced at a social gathering and Harry made a beeline for her. She was very flattered by the attention and they went on a few dates. Everything was kept very below the radar. They got on, but are quite different. She is very clean living and barely drinks and in that respect they were on a different wavelength. Harry also seemed a bit non-committal and it never really got off the ground. Things fizzled out before he went to Africa for a month in August.’
I actually knew the name “Sarah Ann Macklin” because I used to be somewhat obsessed with David Gandy, and I remembered when they dated. I kind of thought they were over several years ago, but sure… maybe there was some kind of love triangle between David Gandy and Prince Harry. Some girls have all the luck, eh? That’s like the biggest “who would you rather?” real-life situation ever. Anyway, I wouldn’t doubt it – I think Harry was single and mingling and if there was some overlap with another woman during the beginning of his thing with Meghan, so be it. That wouldn’t be a dealbreaker for me, nor would it be a dealbreaker for most people. The Daily Mail is going through a passive-aggressive phase with Meghan Markle: they’re trying to make her feel bad about herself so she’ll “take her claws out” of their British prince. “Hey, girl, we like you and everything but you know he was dating other women, right?” Such nonsense.
Also: when did Harry develop such a thing for brunettes? If I had known that Harry was open to romancing brunettes, I would have flown to England to claim him a long time ago.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Honestly where are all these stories coming from?
Was going to say the same thing. These “leaks” sound fake just for the fact that the palace doesn’t leak info like this
Good question and why are “they” releasing this information??
Honestly Kaiser, much as I love a bit of Hot Hal news, you are really far too good to get mixed up with that in-bred lot. We need you here to keep us entertained, and informed, with your razor sharp wit. I am sure that all the bowing and scraping involved would get on your nerves after a while. Not to mention having to deal with Katie Bucket et al!
Agree – I still see no actual facts that any of these stories are true!
SUPER CONSPIRACY TINFOIL HAT TIME!
Andrew is behind these stories to get back at Chuck for trying to Cinderella the York sisters.
Dun, dun, dun!
Zapp!
I tip my tinfoil hat to you! This isn’t the MOST insane theory given that Meghan and Fergie share a PR rep in Kruger Crowne. And it’s also knocked Charles and Camilla’s tour of the Mideast completely out of the news–they’ve hardly gotten any coverage at all–and PC is known for working his arse off on tours.
C&C are doing 50 engagements in 7 days, and nobody’s talking about it.
You know I agree with the YORK conspiracy theory but I think it’s more centered on Eugenie and not her father. So Camilla Tominey at the Express had the original scoop which followed on the heels of her scoops about 1) Eugenie planning to settle down with her boyfriend and live in Kensington Palace and 2) the rift between Andy and Chuck over Andys daughters.
My theory is that as Eugenie is BFF with Harry she is somehow the source. Part of the stories include Eugenie and her boyfriend hanging out in Toronto w the new couple. Camilla Tominey is claiming other royal reporters have it wrong about Meghan at Balmoral, etc and seems very confident in her source.
But I had no idea that Meghan and Fergie shared the same PR firm that is verrry interesting as well
Harry is the Yorks only conduit into the main line to the throne action as Charles and Will and Kate have no time for them
And since this started many people is now turning against Harry who had the better press lately and big public support.
They are saying he’s still the Party Prince using public money to live like a playboy and that he could learn from his brother about respecting a partner (LOL!!) and trying hard to make it work instead of fouling around.
So it seems someone else no longer has to worry about the ‘spare’ getting better press and support for a while.
1 more York tinfoil thought…… Fergie not being invited to Will and Kate’s wedding! You KNOW that permanently aggrieved Andy and the girlz. Not to mention Fergie herself who went on Oprah to talk about how hard it was. (Select quotes: “I really love the feeling that sort of Diana and I both weren’t there”… “it was also hard because the last bride up that aisle was me”.)
Now I don’t really blame them for not inviting her as she was fresh off her bribery scandal. But, it makes me think sticking really close to Harry….and any eventual bride to Harry……is VERY important to the Yorks. Because I bet for one thing, Fergie is going to get an invite to that wedding…
Yes, because his new girl is American the British tabloids will spin this like he is a lothario travelling the world for hookups on the public purse. Which actually kind of sounds like what is in fact happening. It’s the Daily Mails wet dream. Oops. Loving how they are making it known he was pursuing more than one woman at the one time, non exclusive. Burn. It’s going to get messier the deeper they dig, you can tell already. It will be fascinating to see how this plays out. There seem to be a lot of “sources” all of a sudden with plenty to say.
It came from Katie Nicholl.
She has some concrete info supposedly.
If there is more to it , Katie Nicholl will find it, she’s like a hunting dog. lol
I think part of it is the British Press can’t totally control this story because the girl is American, the US press can promote her the way they want. I think the UK pres hates that American media can promote her how they want.
Any chance Celebitchy will run the James Middleton exclusive? I found James almost sounding miserable and his mom Carole sounds like she can be quite hard if the -chillin don’t tow the line of what SHE wants.
I mean UK press can’t control the Meghan Markle story and they are desperate to find Harry a British girlfriend. Yesterday someone even said they hear Chelsy wants him back.
lol
Well I guess this makes it official?!
https://www.royal.uk/statement-communications-secretary-prince-harry
YES, Richard Palmer, Royal Reporter says that confirms it.
Richard Palmer @RoyalReporter ·
Until now, the palace has been reluctant to discuss the relationship even on background but friends – not a euphemism for aides – did.
Richard Palmer @RoyalReporter ·
In complaining about media coverage of Meghan Markle, Prince Harry has confirmed officially for the first time that she is his girlfriend.
TWITTER:
It’s OFFICIAL YAY!
David Gandy’s not my type. Too chiseled, but if I were a statuesque model, I could see choosing him. He looks positively solid for leaning my thin wiry frame against.
I always think of him as Essex being chased by Elizabeth I.
Interesting to note that throughout the Sarah-Ann M story it says “friends of HER”, “sources close to HER”. Not once a source close to Harry. Very convenient for Katie Nicholl to get this exclusive a week after the Sunday Express got theirs. Someone at the Daily Mail is not happy about an American girlfriend.
Does anyone remember where the Middleton PR hack works? DM or a different tabloid?
The Fail – its their go to rag to trash people and leak stories. Their hack is Paul Dacre, the editor in chief of the print edition.
Thanks!
Look at yesterday’s exclusive with James Middleton in the Daily Mail.
I could have sworn Gandy was gay?? Maybe I’m confusing him with Luke Evans. Anyway, she and Megan look nothing alike unless we’re just finding girls with brown hair and…eyes.
I think your confusing him for Luke Evans, whose very good-looking, but I don’t know anything about David Gandy.
Nothing will come of these – loose lips sinks ships and this ship is leaking like a sieve!
They are not lookalike
Yeah, they really look nothing alike. Megan is much more attractive for one thing.
I am now finding it very very difficult to believe this story – its becoming absurd with all these ‘stories’. It was believable at the beginning but now ….. its in fantasy realm.
I won’t believe any of it until i have seen photographic/video evidence or the palace confirms it.
But wouldn’t Meghan publicly deny the story if it wasn’t true? This isn’t just your typical, no-need-to-dignify-with-an-answer, “Jennifer Aniston Is Pregnant and Alone”-type story in Star or what have you — it’s been featured in several major newspapers. You’d think if there was no truth to it, she’d have said something by now… right?
I do agree that we won’t know for sure until there are pictures, though.
A Toronto police cruiser was parked (and another on patrol) by Markle’s home during the time Harry was reportedly visiting her. I don’t doubt Harry had a date with Markle but he’s playing the field. I wouldn’t be surprised if Harry didn’t get married until he’s 40.
I don’t doubt Harry and Meghan are dating, but I think wedding bells are a bit premature. I think a lot of people are getting way ahead of themselves. I do like Harry; he possesses an emotional intelligence his brother will never have, but it looks to me like the ginger scamp was hedging his bets a little. What to believe?
The day he announces his engagement will global news. His wedding will also be as big as Williams. Also, I hope his children becomes HRH so I hope QEII changes the LP.
I hope William and Katw never come near the throne. It’s obvious William doesn’t want to be.
His wedding will absolutely not be as big as William’s was.
What Lorelai said. A spare can’t have as grand a wedding as the heir.
@Lorelai and @LAK, if Harry and his bride are popular enough and the media gives it too much attention then yes it will be as big. Nothing is impossible.
@Lorelai and @LAK, if Harry and his bride are popular enough and the media gives it too much attention then yes it will be as big. Nothing is impossible.
Kitty: This isn’t a popularity contest. Protocol rules the day.
@LAK, you must also know times are changing and if the public wants it I doubt the monarchy would deny it.
Protocol trumps popularity, as does taxpayers seething about expense. The public isn’t going to want to waste millions on his wedding, and they will not. It doesn’t matter how much some people like Harry, the taxpayers will not foot the bill for another huge wedding.
Harry wedding will be smaller and much less expensive, because that is the way it will be. It has nothing to do with not believing in unicorn popularity.
Kitty, i know this is your dearest wish, but it is the one fact that has remained immovable in 1000yrs of Royalty.
Times may change, and they have changed, but this fact remains.
All I am saying LaK if there was such a public demand for it then yes it would be big and also the tourism as well. Everyone loves royal weddings.
No, Kitty, not everyone loves royal weddings. Many people resent if not hate them. The traffic hassles, the security nightmares, and the cost cost cost cost cost. The royals bring no net benefit to tourism. Read the facts and figures from the official tourism websites.
The public is not going to stand up en masse and say, “Please take hundreds of millions away from government programs that need it because we want to waive some Made in China flags around for a few hours.”
He will have a smaller wedding. End of.
If Harry gets married, his wedding will be a smaller affair in terms of expense, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be wall-to-wall media coverage. Royal watchers will get just as much coverage as they got with W+K.
It will be similar to how the Andy and Fergie wedding was a big deal, but not as quite of a big deal as Chuck and Di. That is if the taxpayers are not still pissed about austerity measures and if Brexit doesn’t make things that much worse.
@nota, there is not end of. You guys all don’t know what the future entails. Things changed. You watch. If he were to marry a black female who is American it would be a big deal.
Can’t help but ditto everything LAK has been saying on this ‘Harry dating’ for days now.
Protocol will not change. The same rules as always will apply. Why? Because that is always how it WILL be.
Please listen to what the Brits on here are saying as they have lived it for decades. And……..Meghan is not black, she is mixed race. Tough one to grasp I know.
Would the guy even *want* a massive state affair to top the Cambridges like that? Kitty, you’re talking about what you guess to be the public’S demands, but what about the actual bride and groom?
If you want a comparison, look at Andrew & Fergie’s wedding vs Charles and Diana. It’s undeniable that Andrew was more popular, but the direct heir has simply a different level of scrutiny. Or for another great example, Zara’s wedding in comparison to Will’s. One was certainly bigger, but the other one looked like it was way more fun. Which do you think Harry would choose?
@BritAfrica and Bridget, I look at things differently and sorry I have to disagree. Things changes like how the future King married a divorced women who himself is divorced. You all watch and see.
Watch what and see? I don’t think the general public cares nearly enough to do a side by side comparison. People will want to see what she’s wearing, see that they’re a happy couple, and that’s it.
I want Harry to get married at Christmas in St. Martin in the Fields. With a choir singing Christmas carols; the church bedecked in holly, poinsettias, and paperwhites, with the bridesmaids in winter white with red and/or green sashes.
I’ve got it all figured out. Oh, and it will be televised. 🙂
Protocol CAN have exceptions (change). Remember 31 August 1997 – 6 September 1997.
Bluhare – my cousin has sung a few times at St Martins in the Fields with the Guides. It’s lovely there!
Kitty – I frickin’ HATE royal weddings. Can’t get away from the bloody things. Sugar dripping from every pore of the BBC for weeks. I can assure you that I am far from alone in this.
@juliem
Who knows how serious it is but I don’t know if he was hedging his bets as much as he just wasn’t in a relationship and did what single people do which is date people. I don’t see anything wrong here nor does it nessecarily make whatever he has with meghan markle less legit.
Also this meghan girl was in a long term relationship when she met Harry in May- June or whenever it was . So I doubt it turned into a relationship between her and Harry straight away. It may very well be her that didn’t want to jump into anything straight away. Especially since Harry wasn’t even around her in the summer ( he spent most of the summer in Africa didn’t he? )
Jess, it IS hard to know how long they’ve been together. The info I’ve read is 6 months, which would make them “on” in May or thereabouts. And he was supposedly dating Sarah, the model, in June/July. Again, all we have is leaked info, so probably not too reliable. As in: Meghan has already met Bill and Cathy, no, wait, she’s going to meet them in the near future, etc.
I do remember that Harry was in Africa this past summer, but there wasn’t a lot of pictures/info to come out of his work with wildlife conservation. At least not like his previous summer in Africa. If he could slip in and out of Toronto unseen, maybe he could slip in and out of Africa too. Conspiracy theory, I know. Tis the season. But there is just something about all this I’m not buying. Not that it matters.
I am not necessarily saying its serious with meghan markle though nor that he didn’t have a fling with the English model . I could believe he has had something with both these women. It was more a response to your comment about hedging his bets. I don’t necessarily think it’s hedging his bets to be perhaps casually dating someone else when he met her. I actually don’t think it’s that easy for Harry to find someone who wants to be serious with him especially as he seems attracted to independent educated women. It could easily be Meghan that wasn’t that interested at first which is also what’s being said in those reports. You know she would almost have to give up her career to be with him that’s a big ask. It’s something his previous girlfriends weren’t prepared to do.
Cressida didn’t give up her career and Chelsy was in law school while they were dating. Why would Markle have to give up her career to be with him? Sophie didn’t give up her career until several years into the marriage.
If Markle moved to the UK, everyone would say she was only getting acting jobs there because of the Harry connection. She could continue to act in North America, and they see each other when they choose to make time. Like Fred and Mary did when Mary was living in Australia.
If they want to be together, they will be. If they decide to get married, she will give up her career and do royal work. Just as Maxima, Letizia, Daniel, Grace Kelly, etc. all did.
“Who would you rather?” David Gandy, absolutely 🙂 . Does anyone else think he’s a bit older than he claims to be?
Definitely. He’s gorgeous, but I would’ve put him at least 43-44, not 36.
Count me in as a vote for David Gandy…whether he really is 36 or older. I’d take him any day over Harry.
Not that either one of these men would be vying for my affections…LOL!
She has a Cressida Bonas vibe to her. Something ab the hair and body type, like the brunette version.
She seems to fit more his type. The American actress is more of a deviation but hey life’s short, be happy our favorite ginger.
Nothing personal, but to link your comment to a general trend, I find it interesting how fans seem to actually like it better when men that are “catches” date or even marry random models rather than age appropriate women with careers. (Excluding, of course, cases when the model is an age appropriate woman with a career, ala Gisele and Tom.) I theorize that it’s sort of like how it’s easier to take it when the Patriots win again as opposed to your rival franchise or even worse, a goshdarn “lovable underdog” that isn’t your team. Look how much shade the Amals and Sophies of the world get relative to other partners…
interesting theory Dr. Watson. So, the closer she is to ideal (well-spoken, well-educated, well well) the more the criticism?
Hmm…
Geez, nothing but models and actresses and trust fund babies. If that’s all royalty boils down to, and anyone marrying in gets to be “royal”, what the hell is the point of it all? Is he really as shallow and dumb as all that?!
Are you really that shallow and dumb to look beyond their job description?
I think we often get distracted by his public appearances because he’s such a natural with just about anyone he meets. But let’s not pretend he has peasant-y poor friends. They’re all rich. I mean where would he even meet normal people?
I’m from Toronto and Meghan was known to be dating a prominent chef in the city for two years until she met Harry. The chef is hella hot too!
Seems like she’s no dummy. Hmmm…a chef, who may make a good living, or a Prince, with untold millions.
Not surprised at all by that decision!!
I’ve stopped clicking on the Fail even to have a moan at whatever shite they are stirring (see: neo-fascist attacks on judges and the rule of law last week). #stopfundinghate and all that jazz.
However, I am still gleefully maintaining my cherished hope for a wedding here. I’m now also hoping the happy couple go for a Markle-Windsor surname. That should ensure the Fail’s rage reaches levels of spontaneous combustion, right?
+1
+1. Am convinced its the Fails fault we got a leave Brexit result, you’d be surprised at how many people actually believe whatever they print.
+1 I am incandescent with rage at the Mail’s (and the Telegraph’s) attacks on the judges. An independent judiciary is a cornerstone of democracy. Russian oligarchs come here to have their cases heard because our judiciary is independent and fair, including with respect to the government. This ruling does not prevent Brexit. It states that the PM cannot take the rights provided by the European Communities Act 1972 away by prerogative powers alone, but must go to Parliament. This is a constitutional matter and one which was entirely correctly decided. If Farage really does gather 100,000 people in front of the Supreme Court there will be counter-protesters galore.
Harry can marry whoever he wants. I do hope it’s that Markle girl though as it seems to make both Kate fans and bigots really angry.
It’s not as though we haven’t already had a civil war over Royal Prerogative, is it? I am going to any counter-protest, Tina. See you there?!
@Sixer, good point! See you there.
The attack on the Judges is frigging hilarious isn’t it?? I saw it on the BBC news website as I now absolutely refuse to click on the Fail.
Life is too short to read the opinions of racists and bigots. They are bleating incessantly these days because they are finally becoming less powerful.
And no, nobody should quote bloody Brexit at me. If the young had bothered to vote and European citizens had been allowed to vote, frigging Brexit would never have happened!
The sultry shots of Harry they always feature with all these stories about Meghan and now this other chick are hilarious.
I don’t doubt he has flings he is a single man and should have fun.
But let’s just remember Harry spent much of the summer in Africa. If he dated this woman in this time period he would hardly have seen her in the period he supposedly dated her.
I am always confused by how Harry gets praised as being a good Royal, better than Bill and Katie? He is mildly personable AND he has it easy because the comparison is like one between a pig and two wooden sticks. Of course the pig wins! But I am not sure the pig would win any other praises…..
(Or insert your animal of choice)
When are the yearly appearance tallies for each royal published again?
Maybe its because he has passion for his royal duties and its in his heart like Diana was. Compare him to Will and Kate and its quite obvious he has no passion for the royal duties like Kate as well. Its a bit obvious William doesn’t want to be King.
Testing
I finally read the US weekly article about Meghan and I was impressed! Love the past quote where she has said that she doesn’t want to be a lady who lunches she wants to be a woman who works. She could be a game changer at KP….. Especially contrasted w Kate who doesn’t even want to be a lady who lunches, unless the lunch is specially prepared by her Mummy…
I agree. My sister and I (both royalty lovers/followers since Diana’s debut) were texting about Megan and I said, “Regardless of whether she is the one or not, I see him with a girl like her. I think he would be bored with a ladies-who-lunch girl or a Kate. My sister texted back and said “our (80 year old) dad would be bored with Kate.”
If it’s Harry’s camp, which I doubt, their doing a terrible job. Her nephew is already talking to the press. According to Meghan’s nephew she is looking forward to Harry’s marriage proposal in December. Meghan did one of Kate’s numbers by having her shirt buttoned so low the world can see her bra. If anything I find her a little bit too tacky. Meghan has a picture of herself on her bed in both accounts. However, I hardly doubt that Meghan will be upset about all the press coverage she’s receiving. I’m not a fan of Harry’s nor do I find him attractive, but I did prefer the blonde-hair girl he dated for years the best.
So what? I never bought that “Harry is a Royal Bridget Jones” narrative. I’d say he’s been getting chicks left and right, he’s just been selecting wisely and they don’t talk.
he sounds like a typical man in any town any where in the world. With the advent of tinder you can pretty much bet anyone you’re going out with for the first few dates is also having a first few dates with someone else. o have trust issues after decades of being alive Lol!
This may be a stupid question or one that has already been raised but could he marry her? She is divorced…or did the rules change after Charles married Camila?
Yeah the rules have changed. It seems the royals and certain close assoc can do anything… though it’s interesting no matter how much Fergie tries, she can’t quite get back into the royal fold and with Charles on deck, I’d say it’s pretty much hopeless for her and her daughters.
Princess Anne divorced and remarried. Charles, a widower, married a divorcee. So did Lady Davina (Windsor) Lewis.
50 percent of the UK population is divorced. If Harry married a divorcee it isn’t going to cause problems.
Isn’t kind of creepy how Harry “bombards” these girls with texts? The few guys I’ve known who do that are manic, get bored easily, and a lil d-baggy.
Yep, that raised my eyebrows too. I think he knows that his title can get him anything. I’m sure Harry is a nice guy, but he knows how to play his image to best advantage. He’s a more personable version of his horrible brother but, they’ve had the same upbringing of getting what they want.
Discombobulated and David Gandy
All in one story. Each impressive in their own way!
Ooooh the BBC now reading out statement from Kensington Palace about the wave of abuse Megan has suffered. It’s very very strongly worded talking about racial and sexist undertones of reporting. Released on Harry’s behalf. It’s serious then.
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://twitter.com/i/web/status/795931735443861504&ved=0ahUKEwjuiYyy-pjQAhULLMAKHcVVAvgQhlQIuAEwHA&usg=AFQjCNEJquly_JZSDeA2OZ6Uz4RDv92jlg
And pretty much calling out the Fail’s racism even if not by name.
Hoo-flucking-ray.
I always knew the Fail was a bigoted rag but this week they have surpassed themselves with the “Enemies of The People” headline . That was some serious Nazi-esque shit. I can’t even bring myself the hate read it anymore.
There was an article about Markle headlined with a pun on Straight Outta Compton. Truly despicable.
By the way, the critical Twitter account @DMReporter is now my only Fail access due to all-out boycott mentioned above.
Here’s their take on the Fail’s take on the statement:
http://twitter.com/DMReporter/status/795940966146437120
Thanks for that Sixer. I’ve followed them now, it’ll make me feel better not contributing to DM site traffic.