Meghan Markle’s ex responded in three words to her relationship with Prince Harry

Markle was previously married to film producer Engelson, 49, from 2011 to 2014 after a relationship that lasted almost a decade.

An anecdote about his apparent views on their relationship has now resurfaced as rumors swirl about how Markle’s ongoing, relentless quest to be considered an A-list celebrity in Hollywood continues to put enormous strain on her marriage to Harry.

Frankel, 55, used a podcast appearance to recall a conversation with Engelson shortly after news broke that Markle was dating Harry.

A source familiar with the couple’s early years said: “People who knew Meghan before she met Harry often describe her as someone with immense focus and confidence in her ability to achieve her goals. Whether it was her acting career, business ventures or personal life, she was always seen as exceptionally driven.”

Another insider added: “Trevor knew Meghan better than most and never seemed surprised by the trajectory her life was taking. Those who were around them at the time often felt that he believed she was capable of succeeding in whatever environment she found herself in.”

Speaking on the podcast, Frankel explained that she briefly dated Engelson and recalled a conversation that she said took on new meaning after Markle’s romance with Harry became public.

She said: “(Trevor) said his ex was a woman from a so-called show To take. I didn’t know what the show was. I didn’t know the woman.”

Frankel said that after seeing media reports about Harry’s new relationship, she contacted Engelson.

She said: “Months later I see pictures of Harry dating someone and texting him: ‘Is this your ex?'”

According to Frankel, Engelson replied, “Yes.”

Then she said she asked him, “Do you think she’ll close?”

Frankel said Engelson responded with the three-word response: “Oh, she’ll close.”

His prediction ultimately proved correct. Less than two years later, Markle and Harry exchanged vows in a ceremony watched by millions of people around the world.

Markle wore a custom Givenchy wedding dress, which reportedly took 3,900 hours of work to complete, and became known as Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.

Sources say Engelson’s alleged response reflected a recognition of Markle’s boundless determination.

One source said: “The comment has been interpreted by some people as evidence that Trevor understood how ambitious and focused Meghan was, and his words convey the sense that he thought she was a ruthless social climber.

“He clearly believed she had the ability to navigate enormous opportunities and make them happen.”

Engelson has since married Tracey Kurland, 40, whom he married in 2019.

A source said: “If anyone previously doubted Meghan’s ambition, they only need to look at everything she has done since leaving royal life. She hasn’t stepped out of the spotlight and disappeared. Instead, she has methodically built a portfolio of projects including television, podcasts, publishing, lifestyle branding and commercial partnerships. That takes a huge amount of drive, planning and determination.

“The Netflix deal in particular showed that Meghan was thinking on a global scale. These weren’t small projects designed to keep her name in the headlines for a few weeks. They were part of a much larger effort to establish herself as a media entrepreneur and an influential public figure in her own right. Whether people admire or criticize that, the level of ambition is undeniable.

People close to her would probably call it focus rather than ruthlessness, but many observers see someone who is constantly looking for the next opportunity and isn’t afraid to reinvent herself. She has gone from actress to royal work, to documentary producer, podcast host and company founder in a relatively short time. Very few people would have the confidence or determination to try that.

“What’s striking is that even when projects have faced criticism or setbacks, Meghan has rarely backed down. She tends to regroup, launch something new and keep moving forward. That persistence has led some people to describe her as very ambitious, as she seems unwilling to let obstacles get in the way of her long-term goals.”

Another insider said: “The common thread running through Meghan’s post-royal career is that she seems determined to build an independent legacy. The television shows, the media ventures, the lifestyle projects and the commercial partnerships all point to someone who has a very clear vision of where she wants to be.

“From the outside, it can look relentless. She is constantly developing new ideas, exploring new business opportunities and expanding her public profile. Supporters see that as entrepreneurial energy, while critics sometimes interpret it as ruthless ambition. Either way, the scale of her ambitions is impossible to ignore.”