Actress Meghan Markle Elevates to an Entirely New Level of Famous

On the ladder of fame, there is nothing quite like being a royal. If anyone outside the British royal family can relate, it’s, perhaps, Sir Paul McCartney. Otherwise, the royal family is in a fame stratosphere all its own. And that is what American actress Meghan Markle is about to marry into.

Of course, she will get the attention starting now, long before she ever says “I do.” It’s the same level of attention that warned off two previous high-profile romantic interests of Britain’s Prince Harry. But, this time, he seems to have found a lady who is up to the challenge.

Markle is, of course, famous in her own right. An established and very popular television star, she is well-practiced in the art of glowing in front of massive, adoring crowds chanting her name. But never this massive a crowd and never this loudly…or this critically. The soon-to-be wife of Prince Charles’ younger son, Markle will feel a level of fame and scrutiny reserved only for a very exclusive number of people on this planet.

As an introduction, just a day or two after the engagement was announced, hundreds gathered in Nottingham to greet the couple in one of their first public appearances since the announcement. That, of course, is one thing Markle will have to grow accustomed to, every time she steps outside, it’s now a “public appearance.”

Fortunately, she will have a lot of practice over the next few months. The Prince and his betrothed are beginning a tour of Britain soon, which is expected to last well into the new year, presenting Markle to the British people and showing her around both the country and Windsor Castle, where they are scheduled to be married this coming May.

At Nottingham, Markle glowed, the picture of the soon-to-be-princess. She seemed to thrive on the adoration heaped on her by the gathered throng, which had, reportedly, “waited for hours just to catch a glimpse of the couple.”

That crowd waved both the Union Jack of Britain and the Stars and Stripes of the States. That dynamic will be an interesting one to watch unfold. It’s not the first time an American has been romantically connected to the British Royal family, however, it is the first time in a while. And that last time didn’t go so well. That history has many people watching this match very closely.

The politics of the engagement notwithstanding, Markle must grow accustomed to, or at least immune to, the incessant nitpicking by the British and even some American press. For example, one of the main topics of conversation after the couple’s Nottingham appearance: Markle’s handbag. Hardly a state secret or an item of great import, the purse was discussed endlessly by British media.

And that, more than anything else, defines the level of scrutiny she will now be under. Not even her handbag is safe.

Ronn Torossian is the Founder and CEO of the New York based public relations firm 5WPR: one of the 20 largest PR Firms in the United States.