In a surprising revelation that connects reality television with royalty, Bethenny Frankel has shared an intriguing anecdote about Meghan Markle's former husband, Trevor Engelson. According to Frankel, Engelson confidently predicted that his ex-wife would successfully secure a relationship with Prince Harry when their romance first became public.
The Revealing Conversation
Frankel, known for her appearances on The Real Housewives of New York and her entrepreneurial venture SkinnyGirl, recently appeared on The Toast podcast hosted by Claudia Oshry. She disclosed details about her brief relationship with Engelson after they met at Chicago's Soho House in 2016 - the same year Harry and Meghan began dating.
The businesswoman recalled that when pictures emerged showing Prince Harry dating someone new, she texted Engelson to ask if the woman was his ex-wife. "He's like, 'Yup,'" Frankel told the podcast. She then asked him, "Do you think she's going to close?" to which Engelson allegedly responded with certainty, "Oh, she'll close."
Meghan and Trevor's Relationship Timeline
Markle and Engelson's relationship spanned nearly a decade before their marriage dissolved. They began dating in 2004, married in August 2011, but separated just two years later. Their divorce was finalized in 2014.
Engelson has since moved on, marrying Tracey Kurland in May 2019 - one year after Harry and Meghan's royal wedding. The producer now shares three children with his current wife, while Meghan and Harry have two children of their own.
Frankel's Perspective on Royal Drama
The reality star turned entrepreneur didn't hold back her opinions about the Sussexes' departure from royal life and their subsequent ventures. Frankel praised Meghan as "wonderful" and said she was "so great for the monarchy," but expressed disagreement with their decision to leave the United Kingdom.
She offered a colorful critique of their post-royal strategy, particularly their Netflix deals, saying: "Through Netflix, through them trying to put 50 pounds of s--- in a five-pound bag, it just seemed like had they been managed properly or really been strategic, like played chess, it would've been such a different outcome."
Frankel also commented on Meghan's recent appearance at Kris Jenner's birthday party, suggesting the Duchess struggles with her public identity. "Meghan is trying to be so many different things," Frankel observed. "And I just don't think that she herself is fully aware of who she is. It's very difficult to be front and centre at the Kardashian 70th party and then also be many of the things she wants to be."
Christmas Collection Controversy
Separate from Frankel's comments, Meghan Markle has recently faced criticism regarding her holiday collection for her lifestyle brand, As Ever. The collection features a neutral color palette of beige and brown tones, which many social media users found ironic given Markle's previous comments about "muted tones" during her time as a working royal.
In the 2022 Netflix series Meghan & Harry, the Duchess explained that she "rarely wore colour" while living in England, partly to blend in with the royal family and avoid embarrassing them. She described wearing muted tones as part of adapting to royal life.
The holiday collection, which Markle promoted in videos showing her tending to a beige and brown stocking amid neutral Christmas décor, prompted mixed reactions online. One social media user commented: "She just can't be honest and admit that she likes beige. And there is nothing wrong with that. The only problem is, she should just admit that she lied about having to wear the color while in the UK."
Markle's Netflix special With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration is scheduled to begin streaming on December 3, while her As Ever holiday collection is currently available.
