As Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are snapped on romantic night out in London The Sun’s agony aunt Dear Deidre gives advice to the royal lovebirds
With all eyes on their relationship, it can't be easy for Harry and Meghan... but help is at hand
IT was the photo the world had been waiting for — Prince Harry and girlfriend Meghan Markle going public with their relationship as they strolled together through the middle of London.
But with totally different backgrounds, living thousands of miles apart and in the ever-present glare of the public spotlight, it can’t be the easiest relationship to conduct.
But help is at hand.
Here, KATE JACKSON imagines what Harry and Meghan might write to The Sun’s agony aunt Dear Deidre — and she writes back to the pair with her expert advice.
Harry's Headache
Dear Deidre
I AM head-over-heels with a woman who I think could be One’s one but I don’t know how it’s ever going to work.
She’s an actress living in Canada, while I play a rather peculiar role here in England.
And that’s part of the problem. She knows what she wants to do in life but now my Army career’s stalled, I don’t.
No one’s sending me a script for the next series of my life.
I used to run around Afghanistan with a loaded gun, now the only hi-tech kit I have in my hands is my iPhone.
I’m glued to it all day, searching for comments on “the ginger prince” on social media. And if I’m not doing that I’m forced to attend “official engagements”, now Granny and Gramps are getting too old, where I have to meet real people.
So I have little time to spend with my beloved, especially with the 3,500 miles between us.
Even when we get together it’s tough as I can’t go anywhere without being recognised. We always go out in what my butler calls “beanie hats” to try to blend in with
the ordinary folk.
Previous girlfriends couldn’t cope with the attention. I want to settle down but I need to be sure it can work.
Love Harry
Dear Harry
YOU’VE served in the Forces so you know long-distance relationships can work brilliantly — but work is the operative word.
You both have to be prepared to put in some serious effort and make some sacrifices.
I get the sense from your letter that you have plenty of time on your hands.
You’re besotted now and rushing in maybe a bit too far and too fast, but how do you see your relationship long-term?
If you both know you’re working toward a future that will be brilliant for both of you, you will have greater strength to survive separations and lonely moments.
You come from an ultra- privileged background where you are cosseted day and night.
Do you envisage your love treating you the same?
If so, you might have a rude awakening when she expects you to cosset her, and in very practical ways. Canada is a very egalitarian nation.
So talk honestly and in detail together, and use modern technology to communicate with her — not to search for whatever anyone else is saying about you.
Love Deidre
Meghan's Musings
Dear Deidre
I NEED your advice on a matter of the heart. My boyfriend of six months treats me like a princess — and, if I’m honest, of all the roles I’ve played, this is one I’m loving.
We have loads in common. I love spending time writing my lifestyle blog and he’s, well, he’s always checking things out online.
I’ve been married before. We dated for seven years, but divorced two years after the wedding. That totally sucked.
I think my new love’s family are fine with second marriages but it didn’t turn out well for the last American divorcee who tried to marry into the family. They’re also really old fashioned. Could they be ready for a strong, confident mixed-race woman?
My new boyfriend is three years younger than me and used to be a party animal. Now he wants to settle down but I think he’s fed up of playing third wheel to his older brother and his delightful wife. Funnily enough, I look a bit like her sister who he always says has a “cracking a*se”, whatever that is.
There’s even been talk of us getting engaged. Already! I wonder if he’s rushing into things?
Love Meghan
Dear Meghan
YOU are right to want to take a deep breath and be sure before you get too sucked into a very different life.
Do you want to give up a glamorous TV career to become a British princess?
You need to be sure he sees, wants and relates to you, and isn’t just head over heels for a beautiful image to rival his sister-in-law.
So insist you find some time you two can be alone together in an informal setting — think log cabin in the woods, maybe in deep snow — where you have to cook and look after yourselves.
Make sure it’s long enough that the novelty value wears off and you start seeing the real person underneath.
Doing the washing and washing up and coping with discomfort may be prosaic but it tells you volumes about a person.
If you still like what you see, then don’t let love turn to dust while you dither. You know from your marriage that being together years beforehand isn’t a foolproof remedy and sometimes a relationship can wither away.
Talk in depth and have a clear list in mind of what would help this work for you and what is a no-no. Be specific because guys tend to be literal-minded.
As for worrying about a second marriage, you should always go with your heart but the statistics are on your side.
According to The Marriage Foundation, 45 per cent of all couples who marry for the first time in 2013 will divorce, while couples in their second marriage have only a 31 per cent chance of divorce.
If you decide to go for it, I am sure his family will be so relieved to see him settled they will move mountains to help you be happy. We’re all keeping our fingers crossed for you both.