Prince Harry so smitten with US TV star Meghan Markle the fith-in-line to the throne texted her until he got a date
Friends say the romantic Royal and Suits actress are 'extremely serious about each other' claiming heir to the throne and his new flame are 'the real deal'
PRINCE HARRY inundated a sexy actress with texts until she agreed to go out with him.
The 32-year-old royal pursued Suits star Meghan Markle, 35, after meeting her at a charity do in May.
And The Sun can reveal they saw each other twice last month after a string dates over the summer.
Friends say the couple are “extremely serious about each other and massively loved-up”.
One said: “They are the real deal. He definitely pursued her and besieged her with texts until she agreed to a date.
“They went out with a group of friends to Soho House in London in early July, followed by two dates by themselves where
Harry swept her off her feet. By August it was a serious.
“He is very full-on but she was going through quite a tough time with her previous boyfriend and she was very flattered.
“She couldn’t contain her excitement, but once she got back from London she became very secretive. It was then that it changed from them just ‘seeing each other’ to boyfriend and girlfriend.
“He’s head over heels and she feels the same.”
While the pair have tried to keep their relationship under wraps, Meghan is certainly not one to keep her personal life completely private.
She regularly posts pictures to her one million followers on Instagram and last week featured one of her in a branch of Sainsbury’s.
But Harry likes an independent girl and the LA-born actress is undoubtedly her own person who is clearly not afraid of the limelight. Meghan, who is nicknamed “Flower” by her African-American mum, Doria, grew up on TV sets, with her dad Tom Markle working as a lighting director on hit Eighties and Nineties US sitcom Married . . . With Children.
After going to private school, she graduated from Northwestern University in Illinois, where she studied theatre and international relations, and spent years as a struggling actress — including a bit-part in CSI: NY in 2006 — before becoming a household name in Suits in 2011.
Besides starring as Rachel Zane in the legal drama, Meghan — who lives in Toronto, Canada — is a successful businesswoman, running her own food, fashion and travel website The Tig.
She was recently appointed an Advocate for Women by the United Nations, joining fellow actresses and ambassadors Angelina Jolie and Emma Watson.
She also visited Rwanda to work on a clean water project and has travelled to Afghanistan to support US armed forces.
Our source added: “Harry loves her humanitarian work in Africa and the fact she’s an independent, sassy girl, while she’s part of a power clique in Toronto that includes the prime minister and major TV stars so she’s not intimidated by celebrity.”
With Meghan’s glamorous dress sense, charity work and volunteering echoing his beloved mum, Princess Diana, it appears to be so far, so perfect for the royal, who has always said his heart lies in Africa.
But success in Meghan’s personal life has until now eluded her, and there was one small problem when she met Harry — she was seeing someone else.
Having split from her husband of three years, film producer Trevor Engelson, in 2013, she was dating Canada’s version of Gordon Ramsay, celebrity chef Cory Vitiello.
A pal close to the couple said: “Their relationship was on the rocks but it was complicated as they were still living together and had to sort out custody of the dogs.
“Cory is quite the player and they were on the outs in April.
“Meghan was feeling pretty down and vulnerable. She’d been very hurt by Cory. Then suddenly there’s a Prince Charming who’s pursuing her like mad and she couldn’t contain her excitement.”
Contrary to reports, the pair did not meet when Harry was in Toronto in May to promote next year’s Invictus Games.
Meghan was in Mexico at the time, while Harry spent only a day in the city before heading to Florida’s Palm Beach to play in a polo match for his Africa charity Sentebale.
Friends say they first became aware that the relationship was serious in August.
Despite Harry being in Africa from July to the start of September, Meghan was in London in August and at the Soho Farmhouse members’ club in Oxfordshire with Made In Chelsea’s Millie Mackintosh in September.
The pal added: “She hasn’t met William, Kate or Charles yet.
“But this has become a pretty serious relationship so that’s the logical next step.
“Harry is pretty gutted this has got out.
“She really could be the one.”
She has ordered her relatives to stay quiet about her romance with the fifth-in-line to the throne.
But family friend Eri Specht, who was in a relationship with Meghan’s half-brother Tom for 15 years, said: “She’s very smart, very well educated and very poised.
“If anyone is well suited for a prince, Meghan is. She is a great catch — she’s really kind, careful and goes out of her way to help other people.
“She would be a very moderating, careful influence on Harry, whatever they stepped into. You don’t want him to end up with Miley Cyrus! Meghan is much more classy and sensible.
“She worked really hard to get where she is. She’s very accomplished and professional.”
Eri added Meghan was “heartbroken” by the breakdown of her marriage to Engelson.
But she said the actress was ready to start a family, and Harry has made no secret of the fact he wants kids and to settle down.
Now, finally, he may have found his perfect woman.