Meghan Markle’s dating history before Harry from Sex And The City star to basketball player

2022-12-14

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are easily one of the most recognisable couples out there.

From their lavish televised royal wedding through to their recent explosive Netflix documentary series in which they outlined the hardships they’d shared together while in the public eye, it’s safe to say the couple are stronger than ever.

But while the duo, who share two children together, Archie, 3 and Lilibet, 1, seem to be living the romantic high life in their Montecito home, it hadn’t always been Meghan’s dream to grow up and fall head over heels for a Prince.

Like many of us, it took Meghan quite a few years to find Mr.Right, with a slew of famous faces dotted throughout her dating history – including a basketball player and even a professional chef.

Here we take a look back at The Duchess’ dating history over the years.

Shaun Zaken

One of Meghan’s earliest relationships was with comedy writer Shaun Zaken, with the two reportedly enjoying a six-month relationship together in 2003 while they attended Chicago’s Northwestern University together.

Best known for his work as a writer, Shaun was instrumental in the creation of the reality show Nail Files and even wrote for a number of shows including Team Toon and Mystery Girls.

Sex And The City fans may also recall the star once even made a cameo on the hit US show, where he played a waiter.

Much like Meghan herself, Shaun had always aspired to make it big in Hollywood, with the two even helping each other to prepare for auditions by running lines.

Steve Lepore

During her time at Northwestern, Meghan also shared a five month relationship with college basketball star Steve Lepore.

The talented player began his collegiate career at the prestigious university in 1998, but by 2000 he was ready to head on to pastures new, with his newly forged relationship with Meghan coming to a swift end as he moved across the country to a new university in North Carolina.

Among his many achievements, Steve picked up both a gold and silver medal in 1998 and 1999 respectively as he competed on the USA Basketball Junior World Championship Team as a shooting guard.

He currently works as a coach for Eastern Kentucky University, and is a happily married to wife Carri, and a doting dad to their five year old daughter Giuliana Rudi.

Brett Ryland

During Meghan’s time as an actress she also reportedly began dating fellow actor Brett Ryland, with their relationship lasting just five months before the Duchess opted to end things.

Primarily known for his work on the small screen, Brett starred in just a handful of performances, with his most notable work being in Mother’s Little Helpers and South of Nowhere.

Alongside acting however, he did also turn his hand to writing, as he wrote one episode for the TV series God Friended Me.

Trevor Engelson

After a string of relatively short romances, came one of Meghan’s most enduring – her long-term relationship with film producer Trevor Engelson.

First meeting in 2004, the couple struck up a firm friendship before taking things one step further, with the couple happily dating for six years, before finally getting engaged in 2010.

The pair married just one year later, in a sun soaked Jamaican wedding on September 10th, 2011.

It was after they’d tied the knot that the relationship became more strained, with the couple struggling to maintain a long distance relationship while Meghan was in Toronto filming suits and Trevor was living in LA.

The couple finally decided to call it quits after realising the distance wasn’t sustainable, with the couple officially parting ways in August 2013, before finalising their divorce in 2014.

Cory Vitiello

Shortly after splitting from Trevor, Meghan began a relationship with Canadian chef Cory Vitiello after they struck up a bond while Meghan was filming within Toronto.

Initially taking things slow, the couple were together for two years in total, with rumours even swirling of a potential engagement between the pair after Meghan was reported to have moved into a townhouse with Cory, by the DailyMail.

A skilled chef and restaurateur by trade, Cory opened three restaurants during his time in the city; The Harbord Room, THR & Co. and Flock.

Alongside his culinary work, Cory also dabbled in reality TV when he took part in Chef In Your Ear as a contestant in 2015.

The pair officially split in May 2016, just two months before Meghan met Prince Harry.

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