Before she became a royal, Markle starred as Rachel Zane in Suits, a hit TV show – she came to Hong Kong in 2012 as part of a press tour where she arrived in style wearing Zac Posen and Kaufman Franco
During her trip, the self-proclaimed foodie tried local cuisine and ate dim sum, chicken congee, fried noodles and loved char siu; she also says she went to China Club and Hong Kong Park

Wait – did Meghan Markle really come to Hong Kong?

Princess Diana’s nieces, Lady Amelia and Eliza Spencer, might be the British royals who most recently caused a stir by touching down in the city, but the Duchess of Sussex actually did the same 10 years ago.

That’s right. Before she received her royal title, Markle, 41, visited the fragrant harbour for a Suits press tour in Asia.

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So what did she do during her trip? Let’s take a look back down memory lane …

The warm welcome

Meghan Markle in Hong Kong back in the day. Photo: @meghanmarkle/Instagram

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Markle came to Hong Kong from late October to early November in 2012. While her personal Instagram page (@meghanmarkle) and lifestyle blog The Tig no longer exist, photos screenshotted online show a record of what she got up to in her pre-royal life.

She was welcomed with open arms by award-winning TV presenter and personality Dom Lau, who described Markle as “hands down my best interviewee” in a Twitter post in October 2013.

Why was Meghan Markle in Hong Kong?

Meghan Markle with Dom Lau. Photo: @domjlau/Instagram

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The American actress was in the city for a Suits press tour.

Meghan Markle in Hong Kong for a Suits press tour in 2012. Photo: @mxghanmarkle/Instagram

In the few photos available online, she’s seen posing in front of a Casbaa (now known as the Asia Video Industry Association) backdrop.

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Meghan Markle being interviewed by Diva Universal. Photo: @_duchess_of_sussex/Instagram

Markle was also interviewed by Lau for Diva Universal.

Exploring the city and eating dim sum

Meghan Markle with Roshan at Sam’s Tailor. Photo: TripAdvisor

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Of course, no trip to Hong Kong is complete without eating dim sum, a traditional delicacy ubiquitous to the city. The self-proclaimed foodie told Singaporean magazine Her World about her visit in an interview: “I’m currently in Hong Kong and being an adventurous eater, I’m so excited to try the local cuisine here and indulge in some good dim sum. Wherever the world brings me, I’m happy to try good food.”

Meghan Markle posted this photo of Hong Kong Park. Photo: @meghanmarkle/Instagram

As previously reported, in another interview in 2013, Markle spoke about her love for char siu (barbecue pork). “I took a bite of barbecue pork and had one of those ‘come to God’ moments. Like, this is what it’s supposed to taste like. What have I been eating all these years?” she enthused. “I have a good amount of time to eat my way through Hong Kong.”

Meghan Markle posted a pic of a taxi driver in October 2012. Photo: @meghanmarkle/Instagram

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Markle added that if it weren’t for Suits, she wouldn’t have had the opportunity to come to Hong Kong. During her trip, she went to China Club, visited world-renowned Sam’s Tailor and snapped a pic at Hong Kong Park. In her Instagram archive, she also posted photos of her trying a matcha green tea mousse and traditional Chinese breakfast with fried egg noodles, chicken congee and soy bean milk.

Shopping paradise

Meghan Markle at the Casbaa event in Hong Kong, in 2012. Photo: @meghan_update/Instagram

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Ever the fashionista, Markle posted snippets of some of her outfits during the press tour too.

Meghan Markle at a press event in Hong Kong, in 2012. Photo: @meghanmarkle/Instagram

She wore a Zac Posen skirt to meet advertisers and opted for a Kaufman Franco dress for another event.

Meghan Markle wearing Kaufman Franco in Hong Kong, in 2012. Photo: @meghanmarkle/Instagram

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In an interview, she spoke about the city being a top fashion destination: “I hear the shopping here [in Hong Kong] is prime, but what can rival Rachel Zane’s [Markle’s character in Suits] closet? It’s like having a best friend with the best clothes and you can borrow them all of the time.”

What would happen if she visited Hong Kong today?

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at the annual Mountbatten Festival of Music, in March 2020. Photo: @sussexroyal/Instagram

It wasn’t until years later that Meghan met Prince Harry. The couple are said to have first been introduced in the summer of 2016, via Harry’s childhood friend Violet von Westenholz, per E! News. After news broke globally that the two were together, Markle’s life changed completely, with her every move under a media microscope since. If she were to make a casual visit to Hong Kong today, it would certainly garner much more press and, nonetheless, an equally warm welcome.

Which other British royals have visited Hong Kong?

Princess Diana (left) minding the steps while listening to Governor Chris Patten during her visit to Hong Kong. Photo: SCMP Archive

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Being a former British colony, Hong Kong has a long history with the royal family. While Lady Amelia and Eliza recently visited last month, icons like the King Charles (then Prince Charles), the late Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth have also made trips to the city. Markle’s husband Prince Harry and his brother Prince William have yet to visit.