How Meghan explored her Maltese ancestry: Extraordinary unseen images show a happy and carefree royal-to-be wearing a traditional headdress a year before she first locked eyes with Prince Harry
- The future Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex’s great-great-grandmother was born in Malta in 1862
- Meghan visited the country in March 2015, a year before she met Prince Harry, to learn about her ancestry
- In the unseen snaps, Meghan is pictured happy and relaxed as she samples the local food and wine
- Describing her visit in 2015, Meghan, who was working on Suits, confessed she ‘blended in’ with the locals
- In an interview at the time, she said: ‘There is something so lovely about fitting in a piece of the puzzle’
These extraordinary photos show a happy and carefree Duchess of Sussex on holiday in Malta just over a year before she first locked eyes with her future husband.
Before marrying into the royal family, Meghan, then an up-and-coming actress, spent a few days in the country soaking up the local culture and learning about her ancestry.
Malta has a special place in Meghan’s heart as her great-great-grandmother Mary was born there 1862, and the future royal confessed to feeling a special connection with the Commonwealth nation.
According to local news sites, Meghan visited Mdina, Valletta, Victoria and Dwejra during her brief stay, during which she took part in a shoot for glossy fashion magazine ELLE UK.
The Suits actress was in Malta to learn more about her ancestry and sample Maltese food and wine, according to 89.7 Bay – and later confessed she ‘blended in’ with the locals.
Wearing a traditional headdress, the future Duchess of Sussex is pictured on a visit to Malta in 2015 – a year before she met her future husband Prince Harry – wearing a għonnella
The future wife of Prince Harry is seen wearing a traditional headdress in one of the newly-surfaced snaps. Meghan described the ‘bucolic bliss’ of the Maltese countryside in an Instagram post written at the time, adding: ‘Coming to Malta has been really important to me because my great-great-grandmother lived here, so we’ve been trying to trace the ancestry’
Future royal: Casually dressed in a grey t-shirt and baggy jeans, the future Duchess of Sussex looks decidedly happy and carefree in the images, which were taken in 2015. She said of her stay in Malta: ‘To come somewhere where you so quickly settle in to feeling welcomed is really special. It’s this Maltese hospitality that is really special to the place’
Meghan said at the time: ‘Coming to Malta has been really important to me because my great-great-grandmother lived here, so we’ve been trying to trace the ancestry.
‘This trip was mostly about trying to understand where I come from, my identity. There is something so lovely about fitting in a piece of the puzzle.
‘To come somewhere where you so quickly settle in to feeling welcomed is really special. It’s this Maltese hospitality that is really special to the place.
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‘Before I came, people were telling me, “When you go to Malta, everyone will look like you,” and I started to say, “Oh my gosh I do sort of blend in,” and it’s the loveliest feeling. The Maltese people have been so kind.’
In an interview during her stay, she said: ‘In Gozo I loved the fresh goat’s milk cheeses, particularly the pickled ones with the black pepper on them.
‘I’m about to have the spaghetti with rabbit, which I’ve been waiting to try. This morning, for breakfast, I tried the pastizzi with peas and ricotta. Oh my goodness they’re delicious! So my suitcase will be filled with all sorts of Maltese treats.’
Blending in: This photo sees Meghan with the Marquis de Piro and his wife Frances at their home Casa Rocca Piccola, while dressed in a traditional għonnella headdress. Meghan later mused: ‘This trip was mostly about trying to understand where I come from, my identity. There is something so lovely about fitting in a piece of the puzzle’
Ready for lunch! Meghan visited Mdina, Valletta, Victoria and Dwejra during her stay, during which she posed for a photo shoot for glossy fashion magazine ELLE. Meghan felt she ‘blended in’, calling the locals ‘so kind’ in an interview
Meghan is a self-confessed foodie and said during her 2015 trip: ‘I’m about to have the spaghetti with rabbit, which I’ve been waiting to try. This morning, for breakfast, I tried the pastizzi with peas and ricotta. Oh my goodness they’re delicious! So my suitcase will be filled with all sorts of Maltese treats’
A casually dressed Meghan soaks up the local culture in Malta in 2015. Prince Harry also shares a connection with Malta, as his grandparents lived there in 1949 when Prince Philip was made First Lieutenant on HMS Chequers
The future Duchess of Sussex, dressed in a black polo neck and boyfriend jeans, cracks a smile during her 2015. Malta visit. The rare images came to light after being tweeted by Joe Little of Majesty magazine earlier this week
All smiles: Meghan strikes a pose as she explores Malta in 2015. The country has a special place in Meghan’s heart as her great-great-grandmother Mary was born there 1862. Meghan also described the ‘bucolic bliss’ of the Maltese countryside in an Instagram post written at the time
Tourist for the day: Casually dressed in a grey t-shirt and baggy jeans, the future Duchess of Sussex looks decidedly happy and carefree in the images. Meghan appears to be wearing her beloved £1,600 MaxMara ‘Manuela’ Coat
Meghan also described the ‘bucolic bliss’ of the Maltese countryside in an Instagram post written at the time.
It is believed the remarkably candid snaps were taken in March 2015 – just four months before she met Prince Harry and eventually swapped the showbiz world for Kensington Palace.
Casually dressed in a grey t-shirt and baggy jeans, the future Duchess of Sussex looks decidedly happy and carefree in the images.
She appears to be wearing her beloved £1,600 MaxMara ‘Manuela’ Coat, which has not seen the light of day since Meghan became a fully-fledged royal.
One photo sees her with the Marquis de Piro and his wife Frances at their home Casa Rocca Piccola, while dressed in a traditional għonnella headdress.
A beaming Meghan can’t hide her delight as she explores Malta with her guide. Prince Harry also shares a connection with Malta, as his grandparents lived there in 1949. It is believed the remarkably candid snaps were taken in March 2015 – just four months before she met Prince Harry and eventually swapped the showbiz world for Kensington Palace
The future Duchess of Sussex exploring the streets of Malta in 2015. Before marrying into the royal family, Meghan, then an up-and-coming actress, spent a few days on Malta soaking up the local culture and learning about her ancestry
Meghan shares a joke with her companion as the pair pose in front of a dramatic rural backdrop. The rare images came to light after being tweeted by Joe Little of Majesty magazine earlier this week
Meghan’s ripped jeans and baggy t-shirt are a world away from her polished royal wardrobe. Prince Harry also shares a connection with Malta, as his grandparents lived there in 1949 when Philip was made First Lieutenant on HMS Chequers
Making friends: Meghan gushed about the locals, later saying: ‘Before I came, people were telling me, “When you go to Malta, everyone will look like you,” and I started to say, “Oh my gosh I do sort of blend in,” and it’s the loveliest feeling. The Maltese people have been so kind’
Meghan exploring the picturesque streets of Malta. It has previously been speculated that Meghan and Harry might have been planning to honeymoon in Malta, as Prince Harry also shares a special connection with the nation
Meghan learning about Maltese culture. It is believed the remarkably candid snaps were taken in March 2015 – just four months before she met Prince Harry and eventually swapped the showbiz world for Kensington Palace
The rare images came to light after being tweeted by Joe Little of Majesty magazine earlier this week.
He wrote: ‘In Valletta on Saturday I was shown this pic of the then Meghan Markle with the Marquis de Piro and his wife Frances during her visit to the island in 2015.
‘Meghan, whose great-great-grandmother was born on Malta, wears the għonnella national head-dress. #duchessofsussex.’
Prince Harry also shares a connection with Malta, as his grandparents lived there in 1949 when Prince Philip was made First Lieutenant on HMS Chequers.
The Queen’s friend and bridesmaid Lady Pamela Hicks told the Mail: ‘The Princess really loved Malta because she was able to lead a normal life, wander through the town and do some shopping.
‘It was the only place that she was able to live the life of a naval officer’s wife, just like all the other wives.’
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