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Elizabeth Hurley Reveals She Met Duchess Meghan Before Prince Harry Did: ‘We Were Just Actresses’ (Exclusive)

Elizabeth Hurley Reveals She Met Duchess Meghan Before Prince Harry
Elizabeth Hurley, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan. Gregory Pace/Shutterstock; Tim Rooke/Shutterstock

Elizabeth Hurley may have played the Queen of England on TV, but her connection to the royal family is more than what was on screen.

Related: Duchess Meghan Through the Years

The 54-year-old, who starred on E!’s The Royals, told Us Weekly exclusively that she met Duchess Meghan when they were working actresses before the Suits alum started dating Prince Harry

“I met her once when we were both just actresses. I think before she probably met her future husband. She was fantastic,” said Hurley, who illuminated New York City’s Empire State Building with pink lights and a pink ribbon on its mast on Tuesday, October 1, as part of Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Campaign

Though the Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery star hasn’t spoken to the former Tig writer in years, she noted that she’s a huge fan of the Duchess of Sussex’s royal work.  

Elizabeth Hurley Reveals She Met Duchess Meghan Before Prince Harry
Elizabeth Hurley illuminates the tower lights of the Empire State Building in pink on October 1, 2019 in New York City. Kristin Callahan/ACE Pictures/Shutterstock

Related: Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan: A Timeline of Their Relationship

“For me, she’s doing a great job and looks wonderful. So I wish her nothing but luck,” Hurley said. “To be honest, I haven’t met her since. I don’t really know her very well. She knows that she’s doing a great job in Africa.”

As for her other famous friendships, Hurley also told Us about her current relationship with her ex Hugh Grant, who she dated from 1987 to 2000. The Four Weddings and a Funeral star, 59, married producer Anna Elisabet Eberstein in 2018. The couple share 7-year-old son John. The Notting Hill actor also has son Felix, 6, and daughter, Tabitha, with ex Tinlan Hong

“He’s one of my best friends. He’s a great dad,” Hurley said of Grant. “He does have five kids now. He’s happily married. And everything’s good. His career’s great. Family life’s great. He’s a lucky man.”

 When asked about her current relationship status, the Bedazzled star remained mum. 

“I won’t tell you if I were [dating someone],” she said. “I’m trying very hard to keep my private life a little more private than it perhaps has been in the past.” 

The Gossip Girl alum starred as Queen Helena Henstridge on The Royals, which ran for four seasons on E! from 2015 to 2018. She shares son Damien, 17, with ex Steve Bing

Related: Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s Sweetest PDA Moments: Photos

Meghan and Harry, 35, met through mutual friends in July 2016. The couple wed in May 2018 and welcomed their son, Archie, now 4 months, a year later.  

With reporting by Marc Lupo

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