Meghan Markle’s on-screen father Wendell Pierce warned duchess her ‘world would change forever’

‘You can always know that you have a friend in me,’ actor told Meghan

(Getty Images)

Actor Wendell Pierce, who portrayed the Duchess of Sussex‘s father on US legal drama Suits, has revealed he warned his former co-star that her “world would change forever”.

Pierce, who has also starred in The Wire and Ray Donovan, appeared in the latest episode of BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, alongside host Lauren Laverne.

During his interview with Laverne, the 55-year-old recalled a time while filming Suits, prior to Meghan‘s engagement to Prince Harry, when she was wearing a costume engagement ring.

“We were shooting one day, before the engagement. In the show she was engaged, and she had a ring on,” Pierce said.

“We were about to get out of the car and I said: ‘Don’t get out. Give us the ring. There’s a paparazzi down the street. If a photograph got out with you with a ring on it, it would explode all over the world’.”

Pierce later told Meghan that should she ever need his support, he would always be there for her.

“When we had the final scenes I said: ‘Look, listen, your world is going to be forever changed and no matter where you are, you can always know that you have a friend in me,” he stated.

He added that their encounter was the last time they were able to speak to one another, saying it was “great”.

“She’s a really good actress and was always sweet, always kind,” Pierce said of the duchess.

Meghan and Prince Harry announced their engagement in November 2017, five months before the duchess’ final episode of Suits aired on television.

Earlier this month, the duchess revealed that British friends warned her not to marry Prince Harry as the tabloids in Britain would “destroy” her life.

Meghan made the admission while speaking on the ITV documentary Harry and Meghan: An African Journey, which followed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their recent royal tour of southern Africa.

“When I first met my now-husband my friends were really happy because I was so happy, but my British friends said to me: ‘I’m sure he’s great but you shouldn’t do it because the British tabloids will destroy your life’,” she said.

The duchess added that as an American, she “very naively” couldn’t comprehend the thought of her appearing in tabloids.

“I’m not in tabloids. I didn’t get it, so it’s been complicated,” the 38-year-old stated.

For all the latest news on Meghan Markle, click here.