The article by David Jones reconstructs Meghan Markle’s two-year relationship with Toronto chef Cory Vitiello, portraying it as serious, private, and—according to the piece—instrumental in her entrée to high society circles that later overlapped with those who knew Prince Harry. The narrative begins in summer 2014, when Meghan, then starring in Suits, praised Vitiello’s restaurant The Harbord Room on her lifestyle blog The Tig. Around that time, they began dating; by accounts from Vitiello’s mother Joanne, the romance quickly deepened, with Meghan spending Christmas 2015 with the Vitiello family in Brantford and the couple effectively living together.
Jones argues that Vitiello—already a minor celebrity in Toronto’s food scene—connected Meghan to influential figures such as Jessica and Ben Mulroney, Markus Anderson (Soho House), and designer Misha Nonoo. Columnist Shinan Govani is quoted to suggest that Toronto’s social ecosystem helped elevate Meghan’s profile beyond Suits, placing her within reach of introductions to Harry (variously credited to Violet von Westenholz or Nonoo). The article frames this period as a “sliding doors” prequel to the royal romance.
On the breakup, the piece relays anonymous claims that Vitiello ended things, citing Meghan’s alleged “prima donna” tendencies, including a petty spat over passing off one of his pasta recipes as her own at a dinner party. Vitiello himself does not corroborate any of this; in a brief on-the-record exchange, he refuses to discuss causes, speaks warmly of Meghan, and stresses respect for privacy. His mother says she never asked for details and still regards Meghan with affection.
The timeline presented has Meghan and Cory splitting roughly three months before she met Harry in summer 2016. Soon after a reported blind date in London, Harry made discreet visits to Meghan’s Seaton Village home (neighbors recall sightings), and Meghan dropped subtle social-media hints (matching bracelets) before the relationship became public in October 2016. The article also sketches Meghan’s Toronto life: a modest clapboard house, rescue dogs Guy and Bogart, neighborly chats with Bill Kapetanos, close friendships with Suits co-stars Gina Torres and Sarah Rafferty, and The Tig interviews that broadened her network.
The feature closes with the Vitiello family’s gracious well-wishes, suggesting Cory and Harry would likely get along. Editorial note: much of the piece relies on interviews, recollections, and unnamed sources typical of tabloid reporting; several points are speculative rather than independently verified.
