Meghan Markle and Prince Harry just took a big step forward in their relationship

Karen Fratti
Updated
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry just took a big step forward in their relationship
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry just took a big step forward in their relationship

After Prince Harry’s request last year that people leave him and his girlfriend, Meghan Markle, alone, the couple has been pretty low-key. But this weekend, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry made their relationship official, appearing in public together for the first time. Well, sort of.

Markle was spotted at the opening ceremony for the 2017 Invictus Games, which is Harry’s annual competition for wounded service members. It was held in Toronto, which is basically Markle’s second home, since that’s where her TV show Suits is filmed. But we have a feeling that her attendance wasn’t simply because she was “in town.” This event is a huge deal. Markle was seated a few rows behind Harry, who had a front-row seat with Melania Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

But, as Vogue pointed out, this event has the backing of Buckingham Palace, so if Markle was seated a few rows behind her boyfriend, it was not a fluke. There have been pictures of them closer together, like at Pippa Middleton’s wedding or when they attended a wedding in Jamaica, for example, but those were paparazzi shots and unapproved by the royal press office. Seating Markle around Harry at the highly publicized event essentially makes it official.

Here she is enjoying herself in the crowd with an unnamed friend.

TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 23: Meghan Markle attends the opening ceremony on day 1 of the Invictus Games Toronto 2017 on September 23, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. The Games use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect for the Armed Forces. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 23: Meghan Markle attends the opening ceremony on day 1 of the Invictus Games Toronto 2017 on September 23, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. The Games use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect for the Armed Forces. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)

We do love her matchy-matchy look.

TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 23: Meghan Markle attends the Opening Ceremony of the Invictus Games Toronto 2017 at the Air Canada Arena on September 23, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. The Games use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect for the Armed Forces. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 23: Meghan Markle attends the Opening Ceremony of the Invictus Games Toronto 2017 at the Air Canada Arena on September 23, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. The Games use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect for the Armed Forces. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)

The pair didn’t seem to be put out by having to sit separately. If anything, Markle is a really good sport. People on Twitter were happy to live-tweet her time in the arena for us. The only catch is you have to read every tweet in the Gossip Girl voice.

SPOTTED…

The couple took a vacation to Africa this summer, and engagement rumors were flying. Now that they’ve made a semi-official public appearance together, there might be some truth to the idea that an engagement is *right* around the corner. But first, maybe they can sit together at an event.