Prior to the Duchess brutally “ghosting” him, Piers Morgan has long claimed that he once had a close relationship with Meghan Markle. He claims that the pair spent “two hours in the pub” together.
Broadcaster Piers Morgan can rarely go a week without mentioning Meghan Markle’s name but how well did the former Good Morning Britain anchor actually know the Duchess of Sussex? Piers has long claimed Prince Harry’s wife brutally ghosted him but were the two ever friends?
While Piers may have once been keen to imply he had been close pals with Meghan – boasting in 2018 about his connections to the mum-of-two before starting a feud with her – the veteran journalist only ever met Meghan in person once before becoming one of loudest critics.
Meghan and Piers first crossed paths virtually in 2016 when the Suits actress messaged the TV presenter on Twitter and apparently let him know she was a fan. It’s hard to imagine now but the pair eventually met in real life for a drink in a London pub when Meghan visited the UK to watch her friend Serena Williams at Wimbledon.
‘We had two hours in the pub, she had a couple of dirty martinis and pints – we got on brilliantly,” Piers said of his ‘first date’ with Meghan during an appearance on the Late Late Show. “Then I put her in a cab, and it turns out it was the cab that took her to a party where she met Prince Harry. The next night they had a solo dinner and that was the last I ever heard from Meghan Markle. I never heard from her again – Meghan Markle ghosted me.”
At the time, Piers expressed a fondness for Meghan despite her seemingly not wanting to pursue a friendship with him. In 2018, the day before Meghan and Harry’s wedding, Piers shared a snap of the pub he enjoyed his one and only meeting with Meghan on his Instagram page.
The broadcaster boasted to his followers while capturing an exterior shot of The Scarsdale Tavern in Kensington, saying, “I took Meghan Markle to my local pub for a drink (she had dirty martinis, I had Harvey’s best bitter), and then took her in a cab to her first date with Harry. None of the locals were aware of who she was that night. They now appear to be aware of that.
But he quickly changed his perspective and called Meghan a “carrying, selfish, scheming Kardashian wannabe” and “narcissistic whiny brat” instead of trying to claim she was “a friend.” His unwavering criticism of Meghan in front of the camera eventually caused him to quit his Good Morning Britain role.
The dramatic exit unfolded during a 2021 episode when he accused Meghan of dishonesty about her mental health following the Duchess’s bombshell revelations to Oprah Winfrey about experiencing suicidal thoughts. Alex Beresford stood up for the Duchess on ITV, pointing out to the outspoken TalkTV personality that the former actress had “cut him off” after a “short-lived friendship”.
He said, “I understand that you don’t like Meghan Markle,” and he confronted Piers. On this program, you’ve made it very explicit a lot of times. I understand you have a personal relationship with Meghan Markle or have one, and she cut you off, she said, “Alex persisted,” adding that she has the right to cut you off. Since cutting you off, has she spoken to you in any way? You continue to trash her, but I don’t believe she has.
Piers left the set in a strop and later claimed Alex had launched a “personal derogatory attack” upon his return, only to exit permanently once more shortly after. Piers appeared to be unable to end the one-sided feud two years after abruptly leaving the ITV show.
When asked about his altercation with Alex in 2023, Piers said, “I don’t mind a guest doing that, but I do object to someone who asked to come on the show, who was on the team, and who then launches a very personal attack on me.
Talking to Amol Rajan in a BBC interview, Piers added: “And so at that moment, I thought there are two things that are going to happen here. Either I’m going to lose my rag and do something I regret – or I’m going to go and walk off. I don’t like to think about what I would have done.
“I was definitely looking at him and said, “Okay, I better leave the room.” He continued, “Just to be clear, I think he was a treacherous little p***k. So he can say what he likes about me.” He has a right to express his opinion without any rezerv. That’s how I feel about him.
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