Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were brought together by a friend they both knew. Their relationship didn’t start face-to-face like many others—it began online. Harry first saw Meghan in a short video clip on his friend’s Instagram story. He was immediately interested in her and asked more about who she was. That moment led to them talking for hours online, getting to know each other through chats and messages. They finally decided to meet in person the next night at Soho House in London.
But things didn’t go as smoothly as Harry had hoped. He got stuck in London traffic and ended up arriving late. He was frustrated with himself because it meant they had less time to talk. Even though the meeting was short, Harry felt something special. In his book *Spare*, he wrote about how he wished they had more time, and how Meghan disappeared quickly after a hug goodbye. He joked that compared to Meghan, even Cinderella took longer to say goodbye.
Despite the bumpy start, their connection grew stronger. One of their most memorable early moments together happened in Botswana. Harry invited Meghan to join him on a trip there, a place he loved deeply. Even though they had only met in person twice, she said yes. Harry was surprised and thrilled. They spent five days together in a tent, far away from cameras, phones, or anyone else. That time alone helped them understand each other better. It was during that trip Harry realized Meghan could be the one he wanted to spend his life with. He talked about this emotional moment later in their Netflix series *Harry & Meghan*.
As their bond grew, they tried to keep their relationship private for as long as possible. Their final night out together before the media found out was a secret Halloween party in 2016. Meghan shared this story in an interview with Ellen DeGeneres. She said that Harry came to visit her in Toronto, and they dressed up in costumes along with Harry’s cousin Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack. The four of them went out together and had a fun night, enjoying what would be their last evening as an unknown couple before the world learned about their romance.
Later, during their royal tour in Australia, Harry and Meghan began to feel tension with the Royal Family. They sensed jealousy from inside the palace, something they’ve spoken about openly. But through it all—from the Instagram message to a camping trip in Botswana to secret Halloween nights—they continued to build their relationship away from the spotlight for as long as they could.
