Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, chose a very different life for themselves when they gave up their royal responsibilities for the slightly more laid-back world of California. Yet even if they’d moved to the farthest reaches of the globe, there’s one aspect of palace life they’ll never be able to escape. As celebrities, they’re still the subject of gossip, and the tabs are quick to pounce on any tidbit that suggests the black sheep royals are out of touch, hypocritical, struggling to stay relevant, or doing something scandalous. One rumor in particular surrounding the duchess has been circulating for years and shows no sign of slowing down: that there’s more to Meghan’s relationship with her friend Markus Anderson than meets the eye.

Meghan and Anderson, a consultant for the luxe Soho House group of international clubs, go back to her days as an actress on “Suits.” It just so happened that Anderson also knew the prince; not only did he introduce the couple, he also helped arrange their get-togethers at various Soho House locations. The friendship has continued to this day, with the two occasionally stepping out sans Harry.

The pair’s most recent appearance was at Paris Fashion Week in October 2025. Meghan was there to cheer on designer Pierpaolo Piccioli at the Balenciaga show, and Anderson came as her escort. Though there was no hint of any romantic coziness between them, that didn’t stop people from thinking otherwise. On X (formerly Twitter), a user posted a photo of them together, commenting, “Meghan Markle with her real husband.” Among the snickering replies was a sly reference to the late Princess Diana’s controversial interview: “One day Harry will write, ‘There were three in our marriage…’”

Meghan and Markus are besties but ‘H’ is still No. 1

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Despite the smirks and raised eyebrows, the Duchess of Sussex has yet to show any definitive sign she and Markus Anderson are anything other than best friends. Their body language at the Balenciaga show was casual but not intimate; in fact, Meghan Markle had an extremely awkward moment when she was seen laughing at something she apparently saw on the runway. Anderson didn’t join in the giggles, suggesting his pal’s behavior was less than seemly.

It’s also notable that Meghan and Anderson didn’t try to hide the fact they were at the event together. After all, if they truly were seeing each other on the sly, they’d surely be more cautious about their visibility. Anderson himself is a bit of an enigma; he doesn’t keep a public social media account, and no confirmation exists about his marital status.

There may be some red flags in Prince Harry and Meghan’s marriage, but after more than seven years together, they haven’t shown any explicit signs that their union is in danger. They’ve weathered the backlash over Megxit and the prince’s fiery memoir, the lackluster reception to their Netflix projects, and various other crises both related and unrelated to the royal family. They’ve carved out a comfortable life in Montecito with the children they adore. Most of all, Meghan knows Harry risked everything to prioritize her well-being. Jeopardizing that sacrifice with an affair would not only destroy her marriage and career, but also put her front and center in the tabloids even more prominently than when she was still a member of the palace.

https://www.thelist.com/2040225/meghan-markle-markus-anderson-affair-rumors-explained/