American actress Meghan Markle has lived for years on a sleepy residential street of a middle-class Toronto neighbourhood without anyone really noticing.
She has walked her dogs in a nearby park. She has dined at her favourite restaurants and hung out in popular Trinity Bellwoods Park. But when reports broke that her rumoured boyfriend, Prince Harry, was visiting the TV star this week, her quiet neighbourhood in west Toronto suddenly became grounds for a media stakeout.
On Wednesday it emerged that the prince was in Toronto, after initial reports speculated the trip had been cancelled because his plans were leaked to the press.
The London Daily Telegraph reported that Harry actually had been in the city since last Friday and was staying with Markle in her home in Seaton Village — a name with important historical links that are probably well known by the prince.
Seaton Village is named after John Colborne, 1st Baron Seaton who distinguished himself at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. The prince served with the Blues and Royals, a regiment of the Household Cavalry whose battle honours also include Waterloo.
Residents of the Bathurst Street and Dupont Avenue area knew something was up when two dark SUVs were seen parked in front of the house over the weekend.
The two-storey property is painted in deep plum with black-framed windows. A towering tree looms over the manicured front lawn, offering a hint of privacy. The detached home looks like others in a neighbourhood that home mainly to families and plenty of dogs.
One neighbour was in the park playing fetch with his dog. The man said he saw the SUVs there Thursday through Sunday. He said he saw two RCMP officers standing by the vehicles, which were often idling, much to his annoyance and that of other environmentally conscious residents.
“I’ve lived in the neighbourhood for 10 years,” said the man said. “I’ve never seen Meghan.”
Thirty-five-year-old Markle, who plays Rachel Zane on the legal drama Suits, is said to have met Harry, 32, in May when he was in Toronto promoting the Invictus Games. Markle spends most of the year in Toronto, where Suits is filmed.
Their relationship was kept under wraps until this week. The news of royalty in Toronto brought reporters from the U.K. and New York, and many have been camped outside in front of Markle’s house since. But as of Thursday afternoon the two SUVs were gone, leaving only journalists and curious neighbours buzzing around the area.
Four reporters, three of whom waited in their cars and one who canvassed the area by foot, waited for any signs of a royal return. Frequently making calls and checking for messages, they seemed on edge.
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At the nearby Amore Restaurant, touted as having the best Italian sandwiches in town, a man in a knit cap and faded sweater working behind the aluminum counter was friendly — until he was asked about Harry.
Asked if he knew anything about the prince’s visit, the smile vanished. “I can’t answer that question,” he said. “I’ve been sworn to secrecy.”
A woman raking leaves in her front garden said Markle takes her dogs to the park across the street from her house.
Aside from the reporters, golden leaves litter the street. Leftover Halloween decorations hang on homes and rotting pumpkins sit on curbs. It’s not clear where Markle and Harry are, and if and when they’ll be coming back. “It’s sort of sad,” said the man playing with his dog. “She had privacy and now everyone knows where she lives.”
During the prince’s stay, Markle has posted teasingly cryptic daily photographs on the social media site Instagram, including a photograph of two bananas “cuddling” with the message “sleep tight.”
This week she posted a picture of a cup of tea and a jigsaw puzzle, perhaps suggesting how she and the prince were whiling away their time.
Harry had hoped to keep the relationship a secret for as long as possible to allow Markle time to prepare for the level of interest she would inevitably generate. While he is said to be disappointed that the news has leaked, he was at least on hand to give his girlfriend the benefit of his experience when it comes to handling such attention.
The prince, who is said to be desperate to make the relationship with Markle work, could stay in __canada until next week, as he has no official engagements until this year’s Remembrance ceremonies begin.
The magazine Us Weekly reported that Harry arrived at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport on a commercial flight on Oct. 28, with just one police officer for protection.
The couple, who reportedly began dating in June, have largely stayed indoors, cooking together and playing with Markle’s two dogs, Bogart and Guy, the magazine reported.
Markle spent time in London in July, September and October and has been introduced to the Prince of Wales. She has visited Kensington Palace, Prince Harry’s home, on several occasions.
With files from the London Daily Telegraph
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