5 Times Meghan Markle Fit Right in With the Royal Family

May 15, 2018

Meghan Markle’s life will change in a big way when she marries Prince Harry on Saturday, May 19, but she’s already shown the world that she’ll have no problem settling into her new life with ease, grace, and charm. Check out five times Markle seemed right at home with the royal family.

1. During her post-engagement interview with Prince Harry: After Kensington Palace announced that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were engaged, they sat down for an interview with the BBC, during which Markle expertly fielded questions about the challenges ahead. Charming and articulate, relaxed yet holding her own beside her prince, the former Suits star looked like she had been handling royal interviews her entire life.

2. At her first official engagement with Prince Harry: Just days after announcing their engagement, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle appeared together at the Terrence Higgins Trust World AIDS Day charity fair in Nottingham, England. It was their first official royal engagement, but you’d never have known it from the way Markle charmed the crowd. Smiling, shaking hands, and stopping to chat with well-wishers, the bride-to-be handled her royal duties with a grace not unlike that of her fiancé’s sister-in-law, Duchess Kate Middleton.

3. During her first holiday season with the family: The royal family broke tradition by inviting Meghan Markle to join them for Christmas before she married Prince Harry. Not only did she attend Queen Elizabeth II’s staff holiday party earlier in December, but she also spent Christmas day at Sandringham, where she attended church with her future in-laws in Norfolk. And according to Prince Harry, his fiancée was a hit. “It was fantastic,” Harry told BBC Radio 4’s Today. “She really enjoyed it. The family loved having her there.”

4. At her first joint engagement with Prince Harry, Prince William, and Duchess Kate: By February 2018, Meghan Markle was ready to join Prince Harry, Prince William, and Duchess Kate for their first official engagement as a foursome. Appearing at the Royal Foundation Forum in London, William made a point of welcoming his future sister-in-law in his opening address, saying they were “particularly happy” that it was the first Royal Foundation event with Markle. Later, Harry joked about the four performing their royal duties together, saying, “Working as a family does have its challenges, of course it does. [I think] the fact that everybody is laughing shows they know exactly what it’s like. But we are stuck together for the rest of our lives.” Markle added, “Togetherness at its finest.” And considering the smiles on all of their faces, we have to say that’s true.

5. Meeting the queen’s corgis: Meghan Markle charmed Prince Harry, the royal family, and the public, but there was one more test for her to face: the queen’s corgis. The monarch’s beloved dogs are notoriously picky about the company they keep, but they liked Meghan immediately — which is more than Prince Harry can say for himself. “The corgis took to you straight away,” the prince said in their interview with the BBC. “I’ve spent the last 33 years being barked at — this one walks in, absolutely nothing.”

Do you think Meghan Markle fits in well with the royal family? Let us know @BritandCo!

(photo via Christopher Furlong/Getty Images + Chris Jackson/Getty Images + Chris Jackson/WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Idris Elba Reveals How He Ended Up as the DJ at Prince Harry’s Royal Wedding

There were a lot of A-list celebrities at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s May 2018 royal wedding, but only Idris Elba had the honor of acting as DJ for the couple’s reception. This week, in a new interview, the actor revealed how he ended up with the once-in-a-lifetime gig.

“Harry and I, we’ve hung out a couple of times through his dad,” Elba, who hails from London, said on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Wednesday, February 27. “His dad’s charity The Prince’s Trust helped me out as a young actor. So I do a lot of work with them and met Harry and William a few times.”

royal wedding royal family

42 Perfectly Unique Gifts For The Foodie In Your Life

Foodies – you know 'em, and you love 'em. They're the ones that always bring food to the function, making sure everyone's well-fed. They're constantly breaking a sweat in the kitchen when they're whipping up those elaborate dinner recipes that you just can't stop craving. This season, return the favor of those curated dinner parties and lively happy hours by giving your favorite foodie one of these unique foodie gifts. From kitchen accessories to home goods, apparel to cookbooks, your food-loving pal is going to love these tasteful picks.

Our favorite foodie gift ideas for 2024:

Lisa Says Gah!

Lisa Says Gah! Holiday Nail Art Stickers

Winter nails will never be the same after they get a tasty treatment from these food-themed nail stickers. We're obsessing over the martini glasses!

Amazon

More Is More: Get Loose in the Kitchen: A Cookbook by Molly Baz

This bold book by cool cookin' girl, Molly Baz, encourages risk-taking in the kitchen and a pure "cooking for fun" mentality, which we could all use a heaping serving of, no?

Amazon

The Pasta Tarot: A 78-Card Deck for Delicious Divination

Your local astrology-loving foodie will instantly want to noodle with this super fun deck. The cards' themes are rooted in the authors' queer Italian American identities, offering an insightful and unique take on tarot.

Marianna Fierro

Marianna Fierro Olives Print

For the big brine fan, behold this bold olive art print. Bonus points for gifting this pick with a frame for them to hang in the kitchen!

Areaware

Little Puzzle Thing Rainbow Jelly Puzzle

Though you could snag this 12x12-inch puzzle in French fry form, we just can't get enough of this vintage-esque rainbow jelly!

Amazon

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking by Samin Nosrat

Salt, fat, acid, and heat are the four main building blocks of creating an excellent dish. If your foodie friend is seeking more guidance, Samin Nosrat lays out the process simply and deliciously.

Dusen Dusen

Dusen Dusen Oven Mitt

Bet they've never had a standout oven mitt like this one! It's 100% cotton and 100% eye-catching. When kitchen gear gifts can double as decor like this, you've nailed gift-giving.

Boy Smells

Boy Smells Banana Pudding Candle

This dessert-inspired home scent is so good, you may just wanna eat it. Seriously – it smells like something's baking, even though all you did was strike a match.

Amazon

Jellycat Amuseable Happy Boiled Egg

We owe a lot to eggs – omelets, deviled eggs, cakes, cookies – the list goes on and on. This soft, palm-sized plush is an adorable tribute to the great egg!

Amazon

Brainstream Al Dente Singing Floating Pasta Timer

This pasta timer (AKA Mr. Al Dente) sings whenever your pot of pasta's done cooking. It may be a more gimmicky foodie gift, but it can really spare you from throwing noodles at the wall.

Anastasia Inciardi

Anastasia Inciardi Prints Sticker Sheet

These snacky stickers are the ultimate water bottle or laptop decoration for the famed foodie in your life.

Amazon

Maldon Sea Salt Flakes

Maldon salt has unknowingly become the top salt choice for the Cool Kids™️ in the kitchen. The chunky flakes are perfectly balanced in flavor. Sprinkle some on a batch of chocolate chip cookies, and you'll never go back.

Amazon

What's for Dessert: Simple Recipes for Dessert People: A Baking Book by Claire Saffitz

Take it from baking queen Claire Saffitz for tips on creating a sweet little treat.

Hedley & Bennett

Hedley & Bennett Smock

If they practically live in the kitchen, an apron or smock is a must for eliminating stains and messes. This one comes in a ton of different colors to suit any chef in your life!

Pon the Store

Pon the Store Cocktail Napkins

For the foodie who can't resist a good cocktail, these printed napkins make for the perfect complement to a drink – plus, they set the tone for a night full of sippin'.

Material Kitchen

Material Kitchen The Salt Sphere

This super sleek sphere serves to store salt and other essential seasonings.

Williams Sonoma

Staub Ceramic Stoneware Petite Tomato Cocotte

Tomato confit will get even tastier once it's made inside this tomato-y piece of cookware.

Match South

Match South Waffle House Candle

This double-wicked candle emits the smells of warm spices and syrup, eliciting nothing other than the sweet nostalgia of going to Waffle House. Burns well with freshly-cooked waffles, of course!

Uncommon Goods

Taiyaki Maker

With this iron mold, they can bring the iconic Japanese street food, taiyaki, to brunches and breakfasts.

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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post has been updated.

food and drink food gifts foodie gifts gift guide gift ideas holiday shopping holidays gifts

"Soulmates" Emma Watson & Tom Felton Are "Forever Grateful For Each Other"

Harry, Ron, and Hermione may be the iconic trio of the Harry Potter series on screen, but in real life, it’s Hermione and Draco whose friendship has stood the test of time. Emma Watson and Tom Felton have the kind of relationship songwriters could get inspo from forever. Over the years, they’ve been childhood friends, co-stars, each other’s unrequited crushes, and self-proclaimed soulmates.

Emma and Tom met while filming the first Harry Pottermovie and have remained super close since. They see each other frequently IRL and often treat fans to pictures of them hanging out outside of Hogwarts. Here’s a timeline of Dramione’s — err, I mean, Emma and Tom’s — cutest friendship moments.

Emma Watson

Warner Bros.

2000 — Emma Watson & Tom Felton meet while filming Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Emma Watson is the youngest member of the main HP cast. When Sorcerer’s Stone began filming, the actress was nine years old and madly in love with Tom. You can only imagine why the 12-year-old actor didn’t feel the same. “For the first two movies, I had a huge crush on Tom Felton. He was my first crush,” Emma revealed to Seventeen. “He totally knows. We talked about it — we still laugh about it. We are really good friends now, and that’s cool.”

Warner Bros.

2003 to 2011 — Tom helps Emma navigate fame as they film Harry Potter

The older and therefore wiser (at least, that’s what they say) Tom Felton took Emma Watson under his wing while filming the Harry Potter movies. According to producer David Heyman, around the time they were filming Prisoner of Azkaban and becoming some of the most recognizable kids in the world, Emma struggled to come to terms with her celebrity status. Cue Tom Felton.

“We were filming Hagrid’s lesson with the Hippogriff. Tom and Emma were really friendly, and Tom really encouraged Emma to engage with the fans in the way that she hadn’t. It was like she needed someone, a friend, to go on that [journey] with her. They were all looking out for each other,” David said.

Tom and Emma's friendship got stronger with each Potter flick they filmed. “I became very protective over her,” Tom said during the Harry Potter reunion special. “I’ve always had a soft spot for her, and that continues to the day.”

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

2017 — Tom Felton supports Emma Watson at the Beauty and the Beast premiere.

Hermione isn’t the only brunette bookworm Watson’s played; she also starred as Belle in Disney’s live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. Unlike his fellow Harry Potter alum Matthew Lewis, Felton didn’t walk the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere, but he was photographed at the event.

Emma Watson/Instagram

2018 — Emma Watson & Tom Felton hang out in LA

Tom and Emma truthers know exactly where they were the day Emma casually dropped this now-iconic post of her and Tom together on the California coast on Instagram. Tom moved to LA in 2012 after wrapping the Potter series, but it would take more than an ocean to keep him away from Emma. In the post, you can watch the pair tease each other as they share a skateboard.

Max

January 2022 — Tom and Emma speak candidly about their friendship during the Harry Potter reunion special.

Tom Felton and Emma Watson reunited once again for HBO Max’s Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts special. Watson went into detail about her childhood crush on Felton, saying that she “fell in love” with him when he drew God as a girl with a backward cap on a skateboard. She also confirmed that nothing romantic has ever happened between them. “We just love each other,” she said.

Amazon

October 2022 — Emma writes the foreword to Tom’s book.

Tom Felton's memoir, Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard, is chock full of Harry Potter references that’ll make even the meanest Muggles smile, but the best Harry Potter Easter egg is on the first page. Emma Watson wrote a super sweet foreword for the book (an apt choice given that she studied English lit in college). In it, she gushes over Tom’s kindness and even says they’re "soulmates." Read the whole thing for yourself here!

“I love Emma so much,” Felton tells Elle Australia. “And I think, I know she loves me. She was the first person to read the earliest drafts of the book, and she was very kind to volunteer and write the forward for it, which I’m forever grateful for.”

Obsessed with celeb friendships? Then you have to check out Jennifer Lawrence & Dakota Johnson's Cozy BFF Date.

pop culture relationships emma watson celebrity

20 Easy No-Bake Thanksgiving Desserts To Give Your Oven A Break

Whether your kitchen is equipped with a teeny 18-inch range or magnificent double ovens (can we come over???), somehow it always seems to be operating at capacity come the holidays. While some things are non-negotiable when it comes to getting a bit of heat, dessert doesn't have to be one of them. This collection of 20 easy Thanksgiving desserts will save the day, allowing you to serve up something sweet without breaking a sweat. That way, you can focus on what really matters: spending time with the people you love. From tasty cakes to pretty pies, you'll love all the no-bake options available to choose from.

Half Baked Harvest

Fudgy Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cake

Chocolate lovers won't be able to get enough of this delicious ice cream cake. It balances salty and sweet *perfectly* and on top of the fact that it tastes great, it looks just as amazing. (via Half Baked Harvest for Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Oreo Turkey Pops

This is a great easy Thanksgiving dessert to get your guests involved in. Simply set up an activity station to kick off the festivities, and by the end of the night, their Oreo turkeys will be ready to shake their tail feathers. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Pumpkin Ice Cream Tart with Speculoos Crust

We totally recommend that you keep a few of these tarts in your freezer at all times. Simply pop them out of their molds and top with a spoonful of whipped cream and sprinkle of pecans as needed. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

White Chocolate Pumpkin Mousse

Ease your day-of Thanksgiving dessert prep with this delish prepared-ahead mousse. (via Brit + Co)

Spicy Southern Kitchen

Coconut-Pumpkin Chiffon Pie

The contrasting textures offered by a chewy coconut crust, silky pumpkin filling, and fluffy whipped cream topping make for one decadent pie. (via Spicy Southern Kitchen)

Diethood

Pumpkin Mousse Ice Box Cake

It’s almost hard to believe that this gorgeous layered creation requires no baking at all. (via Diethood)

The Real Food Dietitians

4-Ingredient Scotcheroo Bites

The only thing you'll need to fire up for this easy Thanksgiving dessert is your stovetop, to make the melty chocolate topping. Otherwise, this recipe is super painless and oh-so tasty. (via The Real Food Dietitians)

Shared Appetite

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Trifle

You'll need to pull out your skillet for this (mostly no-bake) easy Thanksgiving dessert recipe. Trust that the sautéed cinnamon-sugar apples that result will be totally worth it. (via Shared Appetite)

Slim Pickin's Kitchen

Bailey's & Coffee No-Bake Pots de Crème

With only five ingredients, these spiked custard cups can be thrown together in a jiffy. (via Slim Pickin's Kitchen)

White on Rice Couple

Fluffy Cranberry Pie

The pretty pink hue of this pie is bound to elicit a few oohs and aahs from Thanksgiving party-goers. Thankfully, the flavor lives up to the hype! (via White on Rice Couple)

The Edgy Veg

Vegan No-Bake Cookies

Packed with oats, nut butter, shredded coconut, and sunflower seeds, these no-bake cookies are a great healthy option for your easy Thanksgiving desserts. (via The Edgy Veg)

Life With the Crust Cut Off

No-Bake Pumpkin Gingersnap Cheesecakes

Five minutes of prep, four flavor-packed ingredients. We're sold. (via Life With the Crust Cut Off)

Life, Love and Sugar

Caramel Apple Trifles

Fans of cinnamon and caramel — and let’s face it, everyone else for that matter — will swoon over these eight-layer trifles. This is already one beautiful dish, but the fact it's a no-bake Thanksgiving dessert makes us love it even more. (via Life, Love and Sugar)

Forks Over Knives

This post has been updated with additional reporting by Meredith Holser.

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