Meghan Markle's first impressions of her first date with Prince Harry have been revealed in a new explosive biography.
The Duchess of Sussex was left smitten following her date in London with the Prince in the summer of 2016 - set up by a mutual friend Violet von Westenholtz.
The next morning when she called her talent manager pal Gina Nelthorpe-Cowne about how it went, the women were like 'excitable teenagers', according to well-known author Tom Bower.
In an extract from ‘Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War between the Windsors', published today by Blink Publishing, Bower exposes the words the American actress reportedly used to describe her now-husband following their first encounter.
In a review of Harry's character, Bower claims Meghan said: "He’s lovely, adorable and such a gentleman."
"Meeting Harry on 1st July, 2016 came at a critical moment for Meghan," Bower wrote.
Love the royals? Sign up for the Mirror's daily newsletter to get all the latest news on the Queen, Charles, Kate, Wills, Meghan, Harry and the rest of The Firm. Click here to sign up.
"Nearly 35, she mentioned to Gina that her biological clock was ticking. She wanted children.
"If they clicked she could fulfil her ambition for global celebrity...
"Early the following morning Meghan called Gina Nelthorpe-Cowne. ‘He’s lovely, adorable and such a gentleman,’ she gushed.
"‘Will you meet again?’ asked Nelthorpe-Cowne.
"‘I hope so. We left on good terms.’
"By the end of the conversation, Nelthorpe-Cowne shared Meghan’s excitement: ‘We were both in heaven, like teenagers, about the news.’
"‘We’re meeting again,’ Meghan told Gina Nelthorpe-Cowne over lunch. ‘He’s really lovely,’ she sighed."
It comes after Meghan dished the details of how the couple hit it off instantly and planned to meet up again the next day.
In their engagement interview, Meghan said: "We met for a drink, and then I think very quickly into that we said, 'Well what are we doing tomorrow? We should meet again."
The instant connection was reciprocated, as last year the Duke of Sussex admitted the couple went from "zero to 60" within just weeks of dating - and he knew she was 'the one' by their second date.
Prince Harry divulged the details of his early romance with Meghan when speaking to his pal James Corden on US TV show The Late Late show.
He also revealed how being comfortable around one another behind closed doors came naturally to the pair.
Harry said: "The second date I was starting to think, wow, this is pretty special."
"It wasn't where we went, it's the way we hit it off with each other. We were just so comfortable in each other's company," he added.
"Dating with me, or any other member of the Royal family, is flipped upside down. All the dates come dinners or watching TV or chatting at home, then once you become a couple you venture out for dinner and to the cinema.
"Everything was done back to front with us. So actually, we got to spend an enormous amount of time as just the two of us. Rather than going to friends' houses."
He went on: "There were no distractions, and that was great, it was an amazing thing. We went from zero to 60 in the first two months."
Following their first public date in London, the couple explored Botswana together.
A year later in November 2017, they formally announced their engagement with an official photocall at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace.
The Sussexes married at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle the following May, and welcomed baby Archie a year later and in June 2021, their daughter Lilibet.
In 2020, Meghan and Harry stepped down from their Royal duties in the UK and have made a life for themselves across the pond where they now live in Los Angeles.
'Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War between the Windsors' is set to rock the Royal Family as it examines the rift between the Sussexes and the royals.
It includes allegations that the Duchess threw a cup of tea in the air during a Royal tour, while the Queen was said to be pleased she couldn't attend Prince Philip's funeral.
Tom Bower's book: 'Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War Between the Windsors' by Blink Publishing will be published on July 21.
