The Dos and Don’ts of Dating a Royal: Lessons for Prince Harry’s New Gal Pal, Meghan Markle
It’s only been a few days since Suits actress Meghan Markle was first linked romantically to Prince Henry of Wales (better known as Prince Harry), and she’s already feeling the glare of the spotlight. She’s even made headlines for something as simple as leaving her Toronto home to go to work!
Although we’ve never dated anyone in the royal family, we feel we’ve learned a thing or two watching the media coverage over the years. That’s why we thought we’d take this opportunity to share some dos and don’ts that Harry’s new gal pal should keep in mind as she embarks on the adventure of her royal relationship.
Do expect that every aspect of your life will be inspected. That lesson has been clear since Diana Spencer first met Prince Charles in the late 1970s. Ironically, Charles was dating her sister, Lady Sarah Spencer, before Diana caught his eye. The British public quickly became enamored with the preschool assistant, and the tabloids followed her every move. Indeed, every word Markle, 35, has ever said about her hopes, dreams, likes, and dislikes, have already been dissected. She’s even had a relative, her half-sister, start talking trash about her. Unfortunately, that’s the price you have to pay for a high-profile romance.
Don’t plan on an intimate little wedding. This may be putting the cart before the horse, but it needs to be accepted from the outset. Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s wedding on July 29, 1981, was watched by over 750 million people — and this was in the pre-Internet era. Meanwhile, Prince William and Princess Kate‘s nuptials on April 29, 2011, had 72 million YouTube streams, in addition to the 37 million people who watched them exchange vows on television in the United Kingdom alone. Heads of state attended both, and the respective wedding dresses inspired bridal fashion for years afterward. Since Prince Harry is one of the world’s most eligible bachelors, there could possibly be even more interest when he’s finally ready to take the plunge!
Do keep your inner circle tight and scandal-free. Say what you will about Kate (and folks have had plenty to say), but the royal family could not have asked for a more perfect addition. The Duchess of Cambridge made nary a misstep during her courtship with Prince William, and really, none since. The only scandal she’s had to endure came at the hands of paparazzi who zoomed in to obtain snaps of Kate sunbathing topless while on vacation somewhere she felt relatively sure of her privacy. While it was a hard lesson to learn, we’ve never seen snaps like that of her again!
And last, but not least, don’t worry. Dating is hard, whether you’re with a royal or not. So Markle should always remember If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be. That’s the lesson Prince Charles’s second wife, Camilla Parker Bowles, learned as their complicated, decades-old love story — put on hold while they were married to others — finally resulted in a civil wedding in 2005. Bowles, who is now known as the Duchess of Cornwall, says she would never take the title of queen should Charles ever inherit the throne. It seems that being together is its own reward. Seems like a good lesson for the possible bride of the third in line to the throne?
