Matt Cardle recalls ‘exchanging messages about going on date’ with Meghan Markle before she met Prince Harry

Matt Cardle has recalled exchanging messages with Meghan Markle before she met her now-husband, Prince Harry.

It has been reported that former actress Meghan told the The X Factor winner Matt that she was a “big fan” of his work after he followed her online in 2015.

Matt had won The X Factor in 2010 and had appeared in West End show Memphis.

The Sun claims the pair exchanged messages, but never ended up meeting as Matt met his now-girlfriend, Amber Hernaman.

Speaking to The Sun on Sunday about their exchange, Matt, 37, said: “It was just a very weird situation, very odd. I really don’t know how it came about.

“Life’s got a course and I was not on that one. I’ve laughed about it, but it’s amazing thinking back.”

While Matt went on to meet his girlfriend Amber, Meghan met Prince Harry, 36, in 2016, before they married in May 2018.

The pair welcomed their son Archie last year, while Meghan recently revealed that she tragically suffered a miscarriage earlier this year, in July.

Prince Harry recently opened up on fatherhood as he said being a dad to Archie has changed “everything”, as he discussed his new conservation-based streaming service, WaterBear Network.

He revealed how he is more conscious of the climate after becoming a dad.

Harry said: “Being in nature is the most healing part of life. I truly believe that’s why it’s there.

“From the moment you become a father, everything really does change because then you start to realise, well, what is the point in bringing a new person into this world when they get to your age and it’s on fire?”

Harry went on to express his concerns for the next generation as he said: “We can’t steal their future, we really can’t. That’s not the role, that’s not the job we’re here for.

“I’ve always believed that hopefully we can leave the world in a better place than when we found it.”