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Every royal family fan remembers Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding. The pair tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018.

Because of Harry’s proximity to the throne, he had to get permission from his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, to marry the Suits actor before it could happen. Because of how the royals operated in the past and what led to Edward VIII’s abdication, there were rumblings of an issue with Markle being an American divorcee. The queen did, of course, approve the marriage, but one thing could have been a dealbreaker.

Meghan Markle was previously married

Markle began dating movie producer Trevor Engelson in 2004. After seven years together, the pair got hitched in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, on Sept. 10, 2011, according to The Hollywood Reporter. However, they split in 2013, citing “irreconcilable differences.”

“A wealthy entrepreneur friend claimed the marriage ended so abruptly that Meghan sent her wedding and engagement rings back to Trevor by registered post,” royal biographer Andrew Morton wrote in his book, Meghan: A Hollywood Princess. “Another confirmed that the decision to end the marriage was made by Meghan and that it had come ‘totally out of the blue.’”

There’s been speculation that the future duchess’ career really started taking off. Her work schedule got so hectic that she didn’t have time for anything else, including her husband.

Engelson went on to remarry a woman named Tracey Kurland in 2019, reports People.

Royal expert explains what would have made Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s marriage ‘difficult’

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Ben Stansall – WPA Pool/Getty Images
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Royal expert Duncan Larcombe told The Express about a key element of Markle’s past regarding whether she could marry Harry.

“[Meghan and her former husband] weren’t married for very long, so there isn’t tremendous baggage. But also she didn’t have children,” Larcombe said. “If she did have children with her first husband, then that really would make it quite awkward and difficult to work out. By marrying Prince Harry, she immediately joins the royal family and all her children that she has will have a position within succession to the throne.”

The duke and duchess have welcomed two children together

The former Suits star and Harry did have children of their own. They welcomed a son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, on May 6, 2019.

On June 4, 2021, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed their second child: a daughter named Lilibet Diana.

Archie is sixth in the line of succession to the British throne. Lili is seventh behind their father, Prince William, and his three children.