Both got married in a castle, both love yoga, both are close to the York sisters and both partner with the United Nations – and Marks & Spencer.
Most strikingly both dated Prince Harry – within six weeks of each other in 2016.
Meet the Duchess of Sussex and her unlikely doppelganger, pop star Ellie Goulding.
At 36, Goulding is five years younger than Meghan and the biggest difference is that her marriage to art dealer Caspar Jopling has fallen apart, while Meghan and Harry recently celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary.
But what are the ties that bind? Alison Boshoff has the story of two women who have a surprising amount in common – with everything from wedding planners to hairstyles and homes attuned.
Matching castle weddings
Meghan and Harry got there first with a wedding at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, in May 2018 followed by a reception at St George’s Hall in Windsor Castle that was attended by 600 guests.
Ellie married Caspar a few months later, in August 2018 at York Minster. This was followed by a reception at Castle Howard for around 300 guests.
Both couples had their weddings catered by the event planners Fait Accompli.
Meghan and Harry got there first with a wedding at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, in May 2018 followed by a reception at St George’s Hall in Windsor Castle (pictured)
Ellie married Caspar a few months later, in August 2018 at York Minster. This was followed by a reception at Castle Howard (pictured) for around 300 guests
Both couples had their weddings catered by the event planners Fait Accompli (pictured)
Meghan Markle waving as she arrived for the wedding ceremony on May 19, 2018, while Goulding wabes at her wessing to Capser Jopling
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle kiss on the steps of St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle after their wedding, while Goulding is seen kissing Casper at York Minister
Twinning cover girls
Both women are well used to the spotlight and both have been cover girls in prestigious Conde Nast publications.
Meghan – rather controversially – gave an interview to Vanity Fair in 2017.
The result was headlined: ‘I’m just wild about Harry’ apparently much to her displeasure as she had been assured that the piece would focus on her philanthropy rather than her relationship.
Ellie Goulding took the cover of the November 2021 Tatler, hailed as ‘Pop Princess and Queen of the Cotswolds.’
Cotswold set members
Goulding shares a house in Gloucestershire with art dealer Jopling – despite their separation – and son Arthur.
It is a short distance from the home which Harry and Meghan rented during the summer that she fell pregnant with son Archie – itself just a stone’s throw from Soho Farmhouse, an outpost of the Soho House empire.
Goulding shares a house in Gloucestershire with art dealer Jopling – despite their separation – and son Arthur. It is a short distance from the home which Harry and Meghan rented
The rented house was just a stone’s throw from Soho Farmhouse, an outpost of the Soho House empire
Crazy about Harry
Both women have dated Prince Harry – within weeks of each other.
Ellie and Harry became close in 2016.
At that point she had already performed at his 30th birthday party and performed at the closing ceremony of an Invictus Games as a favour to him in the same year.
They were reported to have had a romantic encounter under the blankets at a post-polo party in Berkshire in early June.
Ellie and Harry were reported to have had a romantic encounter under the blankets at a post-polo party in Berkshire in early June
Only six weeks later, in July 2016, Harry and Meghan met on a blind date set up by friends
A source said: ‘Harry and Ellie only had eyes for each other all night.’ The flirtation never blossomed into a steady romance.
Only six weeks later, in July 2016, Harry and Meghan met on a blind date set up by friends.
Harry later said: ‘All the stars were aligned. Everything was just perfect.
‘It was this beautiful woman, just sort of literally tripped and fell into my life.’
Polo supporters
As well as the Audi polo cup in 2016, Ellie has been to watch the sport at other times. She was seen at the Cartier Queens Cup Polo in 2021.
Meghan, meanwhile, has often been seen watching Harry play polo, both in the UK and in America, where he plays with a team based in Santa Barbara.
Ashley van Metre Busch, Prince Harry Duke of Sussex, Meghan Duchess of Sussex, Enda Kenny, Nacho Figuares and Miguel Mendoza pose with the Sentebale Polo 2018 trophy after the Sentebale Polo in 2018
Ellie Goulding is presented with flowers as players (left to right) Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Luke Tomlinson, Mark Tomlinson, Prince Harry and William Melville-Smith attend day one of the Audi Polo Challenge at Coworth Park on May 28, 2016
Wives of old Etonians
Both women married old Etonians.
Goulding’s husband Caspar Jopling, 31, is much younger than Harry, 38.
The Prince got just two A levels from the prestigious school, where termly fees stand at over £15,000 – a B in Art and a D in Geography.
Yorks (and the rest) in common
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are close friends of both women, and all of them attended each other’s weddings.
The York girls got to know Meghan in New York, via her friendship with designer Misha Nonoo who was then married to Alexander Gilkes, a mutual pal – even before she met Prince Harry.
Ellie Goulding is close to both Princesses after they met on the London social scene and they came to her wedding. She performed at Eugenie’s wedding, too.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s controversial documentary aired on Netflix, showing Meghan partying with Eugenie
Ellie Goulding is close to both Princesses after they met on the London social scene and they came to her wedding. She performed at Eugenie’s wedding, too
Hard seltzers and hard sells
Meghan is an investor in the coffee-alternatives start up Clevr Blends.
Before she was married to Harry she had a range of clothes with Canadian department store, Reitmans.
Ellie Goulding has linked deals to promote Nike and Pantene shampoo and has her own range of hard seltzers.
Meghan is an investor in the coffee-alternatives start up Clevr Blends, while Ellie Goulding has linked deals to promote Nike and Pantene shampoo and has her own range of hard seltzers
Letting it all out in therapy
Both women are great advocates for therapy, with the Duchess of Sussex encouraging her husband Prince Harry to seek help after having good experiences of therapy previously.
She also told a podcast that she is a fan of ‘journaling’ or writing a diary which helps her to get everything into perspective.
Harry, though, said that neither of them knew where to turn when she was feeling suicidal before Megxit, although Meghan later said in a podcast that he did get her a referral to a therapist.
Ellie Goulding has spoken about struggling with panic attacks and anger issues. She told a podcast that she has had ‘a lot’ of therapy and added: ‘‘I’ve had family stuff and I’ve had stuff in my personal life which probably made this anger get worse and worse. Therapy has helped me to get rid of things.’
Style doppelgangers: The pair have very similar styles, with both pictured wearing white tops, denim shorts and black shoes
Style doppelgangers: Ellie Goulding is pictured at the Nordoff Robbins O2 Silver Clef Awards 2018 and Meghan Markle is pictured arriving for a reception in The Hague – both wearing white suits
Style doppelgangers: Ellie Goulding attends The ABB FIA Formula E Championship pre-race dinner on February 28, 2020 and Meghan Markle of Suits attends USA Network and Mr Porter.com Present “A Suits Story” on June 12, 2012 – both wearing black off-the-shoulder dresses
Flexible yoga friends
Ellie Goulding is a great devotee of many forms of exercise and yoga is among them.
She said: ‘If I’m at home in London, ideally I like to try and fit in a couple of Bikram yoga sessions a week. I’m not really a Pilates girl or massively into spinning, but I do love yoga.
‘I also have a personal trainer at Barry’s Bootcamp and have actually started to combine my training by running to and from the classes.’
Meghan, meanwhile, was raised on yoga as mum Doria is a yoga instructor (and brought her mat over to Oprah’s house for a first meeting and spot of yoga before the Royal Wedding. It has been reported that Meghan favours Vinyasa yoga several times a week.
Ellie Goulding is a great devotee of many forms of exercise and yoga is among them. Meghan, meanwhile, was raised on yoga as mum Doria is a yoga instructor
Parallel good works
Both are involved with the United Nations.
Meghan became a UN advocate for women’s political participation in 2015 – and was so delighted to address the UN that she misspelled former secretary-general Ban Ki-moon’s name in her blog, The Tig. She’s since been back to support Harry when he made a speech in 2022.
Ellie Goulding is a UN Goodwill ambassador. She is also involved with homelessness charities.
Both are involved with the United Nations. Meghan became a UN advocate for women’s political participation in 2015, while Ellie Goulding is a UN Goodwill ambassador
Meghan’s parents separated when she was two years old and from the age of nine her father Thomas, a successful lighting director, raised her while her mother Doria pursued her career, Ellie grew up in a council house in Herefordshire. Her father, Arthur, walked out on the family when she was five years old and her mother then remarried to a man who she detested
Children of divorce
Ellie grew up in a council house in Herefordshire. Her father, Arthur, walked out on the family when she was five years old and her mother then remarried to a man who she detested.
Meghan’s upbringing was far more stable and wealthy.
Her parents separated when she was two years old and from the age of nine her father Thomas, a successful lighting director, raised her while her mother Doria pursued her career.
Those tendril dos
Both ladies for some years favoured a near-identical hairstyle, with tendrils of hair framing their face – actually they both chose variants on the 90s throwback style for their weddings.
