How Meghan Markle used Princess Diana’s favourite perfume to charm Prince Harry – The Times of India
Did Meghan Markle subtly captivate Prince Harry by evoking memories of his late mother, Princess Diana, when they first met? According to royal biographer Angela Levin, Meghan strategically wore Princess Diana’s favourite perfume during their initial meeting, an act that was said to leave a lasting impact on Harry’s heart. Levin suggests that Meghan’s choice of fragrance gave her an insider advantage in winning Harry’s affection, noting, “The first time they met, she had Diana’s perfume on. Of course, Harry was just overwhelmed by that because he was a boy who loved cuddling up to his mother.” This detail hints at a deep, symbolic connection between Meghan and Diana, potentially stirring emotions for Harry that went beyond mere attraction.
The couple’s first date took place at the exclusive SoHo House in London, a private members’ club. Prince Harry, as he recounted in his memoir ‘Spare,’ was late by about half an hour due to the traffic, a delay that would set the tone for their initial meeting. Meghan, who had other dinner plans, excused herself to leave, but despite this brief interaction, their connection was undeniable.
In ‘Spare,’ Prince Harry shared how captivated he was by Meghan from the moment they met, although he didn’t mention the perfume. Instead, he was struck by her effortless style. Harry recalled Meghan wearing a simple black sweater, jeans, and heels, admitting, “I knew nothing about clothes, but I knew she was chic. Then again, she could make anything look chic.” He continued to describe how she looked even more stunning in person than in the many photos he had seen of her in fashion shoots and TV appearances, calling her “heart attack, beautiful.”
While Harry didn’t immediately recognize the significance of the perfume Meghan wore, he later recalled how his therapist encouraged him to connect with his emotions by using the scent as a trigger. He recounted the moment vividly, stating, “At the start of our session, I lifted the lid, took a deep sniff. Like a tab of LSD.” Harry, reflecting on the power of scent, added, “I read somewhere that smell is our oldest sense, and that fitted with what I experienced in that moment, images rising from what felt like the most primal part of my brain.” This profound connection through scent further deepened Harry’s emotional bond, perhaps explaining how Meghan effortlessly captured his heart from the very first meeting.
In his memoir, Harry mentioned, First by Van Cleef & Arpels, a floral fragrance as the scent which helped him process his grief in a therapy session, following his mother’s tragic death in August 1997 when he was just 12 years old.
Reports suggest that one of Princess Diana’s favourite fragrances was Penhaligon’s Bluebell, a floral green scent created in 1978 that evokes the essence of British woodlands in spring. Interestingly, this fragrance note also happens to be favored by Harry’s wife, Meghan Markle. In her now-defunct blog, The Tig, the former actress revealed that Wild Bluebell by Jo Malone London was one of her two signature scents. Like Penhaligon’s Bluebell, Wild Bluebell is a floral green fragrance that vividly captures the essence of the wild bluebell flower, creating a fascinating link between Meghan’s and Diana’s fragrance choices.
It’s not known which perfume did Meghan wear to the duo’s first meeting, but it’s quite a fascinating detail, isn’t it!
