Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s romance has been explored in various media, most notably through their Netflix show and Harry’s memoir.

Initially, the couple was known to have been introduced by a mutual friend in 2016, but the identity of this friend was only confirmed seven years later in Harry’s book. The matchmaker, Violet von Westenholz, is not only integral to their story but also has longstanding ties to the royal family. Her parents recently attended the Royal Ascot alongside Queen Camilla, highlighting these connections.

Violet von Westenholz, a British socialite and public relations director for Ralph Lauren, is the daughter of Baron Piers von Westenholz, an old friend of King Charles III. The baroness, Jane von Westenholz, was appointed one of Queen Camilla’s “Queen’s Companions” in 2022, a modernized version of the “Lady in Waiting” role.

Despite early efforts to protect Violet’s identity, Harry’s memoir reveals their introduction. In 2016, Harry saw a video of Violet and Meghan on Instagram, which sparked his interest. This was during Meghan’s stay in London while on a break from filming Suits, attending Wimbledon dressed by Ralph Lauren, coordinated by von Westenholz.