(Image Source: Getty Images | Photo By Rosa Woods)
The tragic death of Princess Diana in 1997 left an indelible mark on millions worldwide, but for a young Meghan Markle, the loss resonated deeply. Long before she became part of the royal family, Markle admired the People’s Princess, finding inspiration in Diana’s grace and humanitarian spirit.
Growing up in Los Angeles, Markle would watch videos of Diana’s iconic 1981 wedding to Prince Charles with her childhood friend Suzy Ardakani. Suzy’s mother, noticing their fascination, handed Markle a copy of Diana: Her True Story. Markle cherished the book for years. Recalling their shared admiration, Sonia Ardakani told the Daily Express:
“I always loved Diana, and I have her biography, which I gave Meghan to read.”
When news broke of Diana’s tragic car accident in Paris, Markle and her friends were heartbroken. In his biography Meghan: A Hollywood Princess, Andrew Morton captured the moment, writing:
“She and her friends watched the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, in early September 1997, tears coursing down their cheeks at the poignant moment when the camera zoomed in on the royal coffin.”
The sight of young Prince Harry’s handwritten note on his mother’s coffin, simply addressed “Mummy,” left a profound impression on Markle.
Years later, fate intertwined Markle’s life with Diana’s family. Prince Harry revealed in his memoir Spare that their love story began on a remarkable date:
“It occurred to me how uncanny, how surreal, how bizarre, that this marathon conversation [with Meghan] should have begun on July 1, 2016. My mother’s fifty-fifth birthday.”
Markle’s childhood fascination with the royal family extended beyond admiration. Ninaki Priddy, a close friend, remarked:
“She was always fascinated by the Royal Family. She wants to be Princess Diana 2.0.”
In 2022, Markle visited Diana’s final resting place at Althorp with Harry, marking the 25th anniversary of Diana’s death. Harry shared in Spare: “At long last, I was bringing the girl of my dreams home to meet mum.”
Royal experts, including Diana’s former private secretary Patrick Jephson, believe Diana would have provided invaluable guidance to Markle in navigating royal life. Biographer Morton reflected:
“She’d have seen Meghan as somebody she aspired to be herself, someone who was an articulate activist on the world stage.”
With shared values and an enduring legacy, Diana’s influence on Markle remains profound, connecting two remarkable women across time.
