Meghan Markle's life has long been a mix of intrigue and speculation, and her first marriage to Trevor Engelson remains one of the more puzzling chapters.
In 2004, Meghan, then 23, began dating 28-year-old Trevor in Los Angeles. After seven years together, they married in a stunning Jamaican ceremony in 2011. Despite its outward beauty, the marriage was short-lived, with many speculating about Meghan’s true reasons for saying “I do.” Some believe she was seeking stability rather than love, a notion supported by claims in Tom Bower’s book Revenge. According to Bower, Meghan’s acceptance of Trevor’s proposal may not have been driven by romance, and Trevor’s parents reportedly doubted her sincerity.
Their wedding was uncharacteristically secretive. Guests at the Jamaican celebration were prohibited from taking photos or videos, with the only images captured by Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle. Adding to the intrigue, the couple reportedly had a private courthouse ceremony in Los Angeles before their public wedding, an event so secretive that no photos or details have ever emerged. Even after the marriage, both Meghan and Trevor went to great lengths to maintain their privacy, with court records of their union requiring special access to this day.
Meghan’s apparent efforts to erase her first marriage have fueled theories about her motives. Some suggest she was embarrassed by her past or concerned about how it might be perceived. Her rise to fame on Suits and her transition into royalty may have made her previous life feel incongruent with the image she wanted to project. Despite these efforts, Meghan was unable to completely erase the marriage. Photos from her father, legal documents, and accounts from witnesses ensure its place in her history.
The marriage ended abruptly in 2013 when Meghan moved to Toronto for her work on Suits. While Trevor reportedly tried to keep the relationship intact, Meghan distanced herself. The final blow came when she returned her wedding rings via FedEx—a gesture viewed by many, including Trevor’s friends, as cold and impersonal. By 2014, Meghan had begun dating celebrity chef Cory Vitiello, quickly immersing herself in Toronto’s elite social circles and marking a shift from actress to socialite.
Tom Bower’s Revenge reignited interest in Meghan’s first marriage, suggesting that many of her decisions were strategic rather than emotional. The book paints a picture of a woman willing to shed old connections and embrace new opportunities as part of her broader ambitions. These claims have fueled the narrative that Meghan’s relationships may have been more about career and social advancement than personal connection.
Although Meghan worked hard to obscure details of her first marriage, certain elements remain. Over 100 guests, including members of the Suits cast, attended the Jamaican wedding. Marriage and divorce records exist in Los Angeles, albeit with limited public accessibility. Photographs taken by her father also persist, providing a tangible link to the marriage Meghan seemingly wanted to leave behind.
Meghan’s transition from Hollywood actress to member of the British royal family underscores her ability to reinvent herself, but her past continues to raise questions. Her attempts to erase her first marriage suggest a desire to control her narrative, perhaps to ensure that it aligned with her evolving public image. Her relationship with her father adds another layer of complexity; while he has hinted at revealing more about her past, including photos from her wedding to Trevor, he has yet to do so, keeping the story alive.
Meghan Markle’s story is one of reinvention, but it also reveals the challenges of controlling a public narrative in a world where details are difficult to erase. Her calculated decisions and focus on crafting a polished image have drawn both admiration and criticism. As public interest in her life persists, her ability to navigate the scrutiny and balance ambition with authenticity will continue to define her journey. The lingering intrigue surrounding her first marriage highlights how even the most carefully curated narratives cannot fully escape the shadows of the past.
