Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Met Through Instagram—and Revealed Some of Their First Flirty Texts in New Netflix Docuseries

Getty Images

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have one of the most high-profile relationships in the world, and have been in the public eye ever since they made their official debut in 2016. However, the Duke and Duchess have kept many details about their early courtship private—until now. In their new six-episode Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghan, the couple opened up about how they first met, which was actually through Instagram.

While scrolling on the social media app, Prince Harry noticed a re-posted Snapchat video of his future wife (with that iconic puppy filter on!) with a mutual friend. "I was like 'who is THAT?!'" he said, People reports. Their mutual friend suggested the pair connect and offered to relay his message.

Later, that pal let Markle know that "Prince Haz" was interested—and since she had no idea who that was, she asked if she could "see his feed" on Instagram. "That, to me, was the best barometer," she added. "So I went through and it was just like beautiful photography and all these environmental shots, and this time he was spending in Africa."

Markle and Prince Harry exchanged phone numbers the next day and sent a few flirty text messages (which they shared during the series!) ahead of their first date, reports Us Weekly. "So come on—what u doing tomorrow night? Hope you're having fun over there!" Prince Harry wrote in reference to Markle's trip to London to watch the Wimbledon Championship.

"Heading back to soho. I have a dinner tomorrow at 8 but maybe can do drinks tomorrow night. Would that work? Maybe 6?" she replied. The duke enthusiastically responded, "You're ON!"

Related: Meghan Markle Revealed Her Sweet Nickname for Prince Harry on Her First Podcast Episode

Just two dates later, they decided to take a 10-day trip to Botswana. "I was astonished that she said yes," Prince Harry said. The Duchess of Sussex noted that she wasn't quite sure how to handle their romantic adventure: "So I get there, this is the first time I've seen him in a month. Very awkward at first like, oh God, do we, do we kiss? Do we? And I just remember he handed me a chicken sandwich!"

But that trip to Botswana was a pivotal point of their courtship, since it gave them the opportunity to learn more about each other away from the cameras. "To start with we're sitting next to each other and then we progressed to holding hands and then we squeezed in a kiss and amid the bumps and then everything felt totally normal and natural," said Prince Harry.

Markle noted that they were able to be their true selves. "There's no distraction," she continued. "There was no cell phone reception. There's no mirror, there's no bathroom. And there was no, how do I look? Thankfully, we really liked each other."

Now four years into their marriage, Prince Harry says his unwavering feelings for Markle have only grown. In the series, he explained that she encompasses some of his late mother Princess Diana's best qualities. "So much of what Meghan is, and how she is, is so similar to my mom," he said. "She has the same compassion. She has the same empathy. She has the same confidence. She has this warmth about her."