All the Men Meghan Markle Dated Before Marrying Prince Harry

Before Meghan Markle became the Duchess of Sussex, her love life had included college romances, Hollywood relationships, and even a marriage. While she is now happily married to the Duke, royal fans can't help but wonder about her previous chapters. Some of these romances were relatively brief, while others were more serious. From college basketball star Steve Lepore to film producer Trevor Engelson and chef Cory Vitiello, here is a look back at all the men Markle dated before Prince Harry.

During her first year at Northwestern University, Markle was reportedly dating basketball player Steve Lepore. According to royal biographer Andrew Morton's book Meghan: A Hollywood Princess, the couple dated for around five months before Lepore transferred to Wake Forest University in North Carolina to continue playing basketball. The duo reportedly ended things on a cordial note and, describing their relationship, Morton called them "quite the pair".

Markle was later linked to fellow Northwestern student Shaun Zaken. According to reports by the Daily Mail, the pair met while at university and dated for around six months in 2003. Zaken went on to work as an actor and writer, with credits including Sex and the City and Mystery Girls. Their relationship, however, appears to have been another short chapter, with Markle choosing to focus on her acting career.

After graduating, Markle was reportedly linked to actor and writer Brett Ryland. According to Hello, the pair was believed to have dated for around five months before moving on their own path. The duo never made things official, and their relationship was said to be a private affair. Ryland later worked as a writer and producer, including on projects such as Two Broke Girls and The Good Half.

Then came one of Markle's most serious relationships. Markle met film producer Trevor Engelson in 2004, when she was in her early twenties. The couple dated for several years before marrying in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, in 2011. Their marriage lasted around two years before they divorced, citing "irreconcilable differences," and soon after filing, they were granted a "no-fault" divorce. Later, Trevor remarried Tracey Kurland in 2019, just a year after Markle married Harry.

After her divorce, Markle was reportedly in a relationship with Canadian celebrity chef Cory Vitiello. The duo dated for two years and reportedly even lived together before ending things in 2016. In a conversation with the Daily Mail, Vitiello praised Markle and wished her the best for her future. "I've got a lot of respect for Meghan and, from my end, to make it seem like I'm part of the story would seem self-serving and opportunistic. I'm pleased for Meghan. She's a great girl. There is no bitterness. I respect people's private and personal lives, and although she has put herself in the public eye, I still hold to that," he told the outlet.