It may come as a surprise, but Piers Morgan is friends with Prince Harry's new girlfriend Meghan Markle.
The Good Morning Britain host has revealed that he and Meghan struck up a friendship in June after the actress admitted that she was a "fan" of his.
The pair went for drinks in Piers' local pub in Kensington, where he ordered a pint of bitter and she had a dirty martini.
Meghan sent a direct message to Piers on Twitter, sparking a friendship
They sat down for some 90 minutes, Meghan having come from Wimbledon. She later took an uber to dinner in Mayfair and the following night was spotted at Soho House with Prince Harry – the start of their blossoming romance.
Speaking about how he and Meghan first met a few months ago, Piers, 51, said on his breakfast show: "She sent me a direct message [on Twitter] and said 'thanks for the follow, hey I'm a big fan of yours.' We exchanged some fun stuff.
"My take on her was she's very beautiful, she's very intelligent, she's 35, she's been divorced, her dad's black her mum's white and she had some problems with that growing up."
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe presenter said: "She's very beautiful, she's very intelligent"
Watch: The moment Meghan picks Prince Harry in HELLO!'s exclusive video
Piers then had some dating advice for Harry, the fifth-in-line to the throne, who confirmed last week that he and Meghan are an item.
"She's big on handwriting when it comes to romance. So Harry if you're watching put it in writing," said Piers. "I was really impressed I thought she was a very nice woman, very suited to Harry and different, biracial, an actress."
Meghan and Piers went for drinks in June after Wimbledon
Writing in his column on Mail Online, Piers elaborated on his and Meghan's relatively new friendship, which started after she sent him a direct message on Twitter.
Piers wrote: "She promptly sent me a Direct Message: 'Well hello there – thanks for the follow. Big fan of yours!' Over the next few months we exchanged regular amusing debate about various storylines and she even emailed me future episodes not yet available in the UK.
© Photo: Getty ImagesHarry has been secretly dating the actress since the summer
"In late June, she messaged me to say: 'I'm in London for a week of meetings and Wimbledon, would love to say hi!' I suggested my local pub in Kensington. Meghan came straight from the Royal Box at the tennis, giggling from 'a little too much champagne…' 'Serena Williams sends her love,' she said. 'You're very popular, it turns out. Get you.'"
Commenting on Harry's new royal romance, Piers wrote: "I'm not surprised he's fallen for her, or that he's so ferociously protecting their relationship. Harry, ignore all the poisonous rubbish you're reading or hearing about her. Meghan Markle is perfect princess material. Just put any proposal in writing."
