LONDON (AP) - American actress Meghan Markle has attended a celebrity polo match near London where Prince Harry was playing, increasing British press speculation about their relationship.
Photographs from Saturday’s Audi Polo Challenge in Coworth Park, 26 miles (42 kilometers) west of London, showed Markle on the sidelines. It is being described as her first public event with Harry.
The Sunday Telegraph published a grainy shot of Markle under the headline “It’s Getting Serious: Meghan’s High-Society Debut.” The Sunday Mirror said “Meghan Makes her Markle at Harry Polo.”
Prince Harry’s office at Kensington Palace did not comment on the images.
The palace said in a statement Saturday that Prince Harry and his brother, Prince William, have taken part in polo fixtures since 2007 to raise money for charity, bringing in 10 million pounds ($12 million).
Prince Harry, 32, confirmed last year that he was dating 35-year-old Markle, who is known for her portrayal of paralegal Rachel Zane in the television show, “Suits.” She has also appeared on “General Hospital,” ’’CSI: Miami,” ’’Without A Trace” and “Castle.”
The couple reportedly met in May 2016 when Harry was in Canada promoting the Invictus Games, a sporting event for injured members of the armed services.
Britain’s media were soon on their trail. In a highly unusual statement in November, Harry’s Kensington Palace office lashed out at the media for intruding on his privacy in their pursuit of information about her.
Kensington Palace at the time described how journalists tried to break into her home, bribe her ex-boyfriend and bombard her friends with requests for information. Photographers also appeared at the front door of Markle’s mother.
Harry said his statement was issued in hopes that the media “can pause and reflect before any further damage is done.”
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