09 February 2023 , 09:22
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle enjoyed months of privacy in the early days of their relationship, falling in love in secret away from prying eyes and speculation.
They went on ‘normal’ dates to fancy restaurants, had cosy nights in and even went on holiday together.
But it was only a matter of time before their blossoming relationship made its way into the public eye, and the couple got the news they were dreading during a night out in Toronto.
Authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand talk about that life-changing day in their book Finding Freedom, claiming that Meghan called a friend shortly afterwards to relay a devastating realisation about what she’d let herself in for.
They write: "One night late in October in Toronto, Harry was happy, and so was Meghan. Until they received a call from one of Harry's aides at Kensington Palace. It wasn't good news.
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Meghan and Harry, pictured on their first date, managed to avoid the spotlight as they fell in love (Netflix)"A tabloid was going to run with the story of their relationship. Their main worry was that her place would be besieged by photographers within 24 hours.
"They had little time to think, because there were only a couple of paparazzi in Toronto but it wouldn't be long before photographers flew in from New York and LA, all hoping to get that first picture of the happy couple."
The Duke was inundated with calls from his staff, many of them trying to get him to return to London early as they were concerned about his slimmed down security team.
However, he refused to leave.
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There was huge excitement about the new royal romance (Getty Images)Scobie and Durand claim that while Meghan was nervous about what was to come, she was also relieved as it meant she no longer had to lie to family and friends.
They say that she got more than 100 messages from former friends and acquaintances looking for gossip.
But the authors claim the true extent of the fame that came with dating a royal was a huge shock to Meghan, and resulted in her sending one particularly worried message to a friend.
They write: "Prior to meeting Harry, the only times she experienced cameras were on a set or on a red carpet.
"The security was necessary. Shortly after the news broke, a photographer from an LA-based photo agency had scaled the fence into her back garden and waited for Meghan by her car, hoping to get a picture before she headed out to run errands.
"Meghan was terrified and called the police.
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"'This is how it's always going to be, isn't it?', she said to a friend."
But the couple stuck with it and made it official in 2017 when Harry got down on one knee at their Kensington Palace home. They tied the knot in a stunning ceremony at Windsor Castle’s St George’s Chapel in May 2018.