Everyone has an opinion about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – but only
his oldest friends can tell you how much meeting Meghan changed him. Here's what
Harry's long-time friend and polo teammate has to say about the controversial couple.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have faced intense criticism of their relationship ever
since they first started dating. When the couple initially went public with their relationship,
the British tabloids released a vicious tirade against Meghan who, as a divorced,
biracial American woman, was seen to some as an undesirable companion for a prince.
In fact, the level of vitriol aimed at the "Suits" star got so intense that the Duke of Sussex
was moved to have his spokesperson release an official statement in November 2016, saying,
"His girlfriend, Meghan Markle, has been subject to a wave of abuse and harassment. Some of this
has been very public — the smear on the front page of a national newspaper; the racial undertones of
comment pieces; and the outright sexism and racism of social media trolls and web article comments."
In January 2020, the Sussexes announced that they would be stepping down from their roles as senior
members of the royal family. They subsequently relocated to California and later admitted to
Oprah Winfrey that the relentless abuse had been instrumental in their decision-making process.
In recent years, the duke and duchess have continued to fight against misinformation.
Meghan even emerged victorious after suing Associated Newspapers for breach of privacy
when they published a private letter she'd sent to her estranged father.
In the face of constant criticism, the Sussexes need all the positive press they can get,
which is why it's so heartening to see one of Harry's friends flying the flag for them.
Prince Harry's long-time friend and fellow polo player Nacho Figueras has made it
clear that he supports the Duke of Sussex's relationship with the former Hollywood star.
Following the couple's move to California, the polo player remained close to the prince,
and in August 2022, Harry and Figueras both competed in the Sentebale Polo Cup in Colorado. He
also joined the prince this season as part of the Los Padres team at the Santa Barbara Polo Club.
Revealing that Harry always wanted to settle down with the right woman and become a father,
Figueras told People,
"[My wife] Delfi and I have known Harry for a very long time [...] I know firsthand how
much he wanted to have a family. He found an amazing teammate, or partner, in Meghan.
They love each other very much; their children are lovely."
"He was ready to find her. It really made us very happy to find him."
Figueras also relished the opportunity to spend some quality time with his buddy, telling People,
"Being able to be with them for the last two months
only made me happier — seeing them be a lovely family with their kids and their dogs,
and that's really what he always wanted [...] I'm very happy for them."
The competitive duo has gotten closer by playing together for Los Padres,
with the Argentinian native noting that they've bonded both on and off the field.
According to Hello! magazine, the Sussexes have a number of close, and notably famous,
friends in California, with whom they feel comfortable sharing their new life in the US.
Figueras and the duke seem to share a deep connection thanks to their strong family values.
The polo player's comments couldn't have come at a better
time, since the repercussions from Tom Bower's explosive biography about the Sussexes are still
being felt. In "Revenge: Meghan, Harry, and the War between the Windsors," Bower claimed that
Prince Harry's childhood friends thought he was crazy to even date Meghan in the first place.
"Don't believe everything you read though."
Bower also suggested that Harry's friends considered Meghan to be humorless, alleging,
"According to some of Harry's friends, again and again
she reprimanded them about the slightest inappropriate nuance. Nobody was exempt."
The author further contended that Meghan originally headed to London with the
intention of securing herself a high-profile man to further increase her own profile.
Royal expert Robert Lacey also alleged in the Daily Mail,
"Sussex supporters have noted the bizarre combination of self-promotion
and self-pity that characterizes Meghan."
Regardless of the critics, Harry's closest friends appear to be on board with the prince's marriage.