Just two years prior to dating Prince Harry, the now Duchess of Sussex had struck up an unlikely bond with Irish golf star Rory Mcllroy.
In the summer of 2014, just months after her divorce from Trevor Engelson and at the height of her Suits fame, Meghan Markle and Rory went public with their new friendship.
Rory, who has just won his 27th PGA tour title, had nominated Meghan to do the ALS ice bucket trend which saw him pouring a cooler filled with freezing cold water over her head to raise awareness of motor neurone disease.
The future Duchess accepted the challenge on the condition that Rory pour the water over her himself.
The video shows the pair giggling on a balcony in New York as he stood above her on a step-ladder and drenched her.
At the time, it was reported Meghan and Rory went for drinks together at the Fitzpatrick Hotel in New York.
Not long after, Meghan took to her former blog, The Tig, to gush over her new bestie, dubbing him a ‘force’ and the ‘real deal’.
Just two years prior to dating Prince Harry , the now Duchess of Sussex had struck up an unlikely bond with Irish golf star Rory Mcllroy
Rory, who has just won his 27th PGA tour title, had nominated Meghan to do the ALS ice bucket trend which saw him pouring a cooler filled with freezing cold water over her head to raise awareness of motor neurone disease
Two years down the line in 2017, both Rory and Cory were out of the picture as the actress began dating her now husband Prince Harry
She wrote: ‘Ah yes. Rory McIlroy. THE Rory McIlroy. Whispered (and shouted) to be the foremost golfer in the world, loved by Tiger, respected by Palmer, and dumper of frigid water on to my lone head for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. That Rory McIlroy.
‘He is a force who has the propensity to actually work hard and play hard – relishing intense practices to substantiate his title, embracing nights of sipping Opus One (his bold and impressive choice of wine) and indulging in group dinners at Cipriani – for the balance, of course.
‘And yet, beyond his work/play ethic, the most endearing quality of this man is his character – as real and honest as they come, appreciating a simple smile, never shunning a fan photo, enjoying a plate of pasta with veal ragu, and expressing a love for his parents that is rarely seen in men his age. Or at any age, to be honest. He is not just the real deal… he is real. And perhaps that is what makes him even more cherished.’
Whispers of the pair being romantically involved manifested in October 2014 when they were seen having dinner together at Fade Street Social in Dublin, Ireland.
However, the speculation amounted to nothing as their relationship turned out to be platonic and Meghan is thought to of been dating chef Cory Vitiello at the time.
Two years down the line in 2017, both Rory and Cory were out of the picture as the actress began dating her now husband Prince Harry.
Meanwhile, Rory had began dating Erica Stoll the year prior, married her the next year and had their daughter Poppy.
Meanwhile, Rory had began dating Erica Stoll the year prior, married her the next year and had their daughter Poppy
In a statement, Rory said: ‘Erica and I have realised that our best future was as a family together’
The day after a PGA Tour win last May, Rory filed for divorce from Erica after seven years of marriage.
He made the filing in Palm Beach County State Court in Florida, calling for a respectful and amicable process.
But just a month later, the couple changed their minds and announced they had reconciled their differences.
In a statement, Rory said: ‘Erica and I have realised that our best future was as a family together.’
