Famed British royal Prince Harry and American-born actress Meghan Markle have been making headlines for becoming an official pair, and while most media outlets are buzzing about Markle's role on Suits and other hit shows, soap fans might be interested in the California native for a different reason.
Though she now has quite a few acting projects under her belt, she actually got her start in the entertainment industry with a role on General Hospital back in 2002. The actress played the role of Jill, which ended up being a one-episode appearance.
Kensington Palace confirmed that Prince Harry is dating Markle in November as an attempt to help ease the intense media attention aimed at the actress and her family -- some of which disrespected her mixed heritage (she's half Caucasian and half African American).
"The past week has seen a line crossed," the Palace's letter read. "[Prince Harry's] girlfriend, Meghan Markle, has been subject to a wave of abuse and harassment. Some of this has been very public -- the smear on the front page of a national newspaper; the racial undertones of comment pieces; and the outright sexism and racism of social media trolls and web article comments. Some of it has been hidden from the public -- the nightly legal battles to keep defamatory stories out of papers; her mother having to struggle past photographers in order to get to her front door; the attempts of reporters and photographers to gain illegal entry into her home and the calls to police that followed; the substantial bribes offered by papers to her ex-boyfriend; the bombardment of nearly every friend, co-worker, and loved one in her life."
It continued, "Prince Harry is worried about Ms. Markle's safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her. It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms. Markle should be subjected to such a storm. He knows commenters will say this is 'the price she has to pay' and that 'this is all part of the game'. He strongly disagrees. This is not a game -- it is her life and his."
Do you remember Markle's 2002 GH appearance as Jill? What do you think about the way the media and Kensington Palace have handled the actress' position as Prince Harry's new love? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.
