Meghan Markle vowed to ‘take a risk’ and ‘live a life less stifled’ 18 months before she dated Prince Harry

NOT long before she met Prince Harry, Meghan Markle vowed to live a “life less stifled” and to “take a risk”.

In 2014, the then-actress took to her lifestyle website The Tig to write a special New Year message for her fans.

The post was uploaded a year and a half before Meghan was introduced to Prince Harry on a blind date in early July 2016.

Meghan of 2015: “May this year bring you endless joy.

“I hope you take a risk, that you do something that gives you butterflies in the pit of your belly, that you live a life less stifled, and that you exceed your own expectations.

“You absolutely can and you absolutely must.”

Meghan, who was starring in Suits at the time of the post, also revealed: “Without question this is the happiest I have ever been – personally, professionally, wholly.”

She also admitted that starting The Tig was a passion project for her to share her own thoughts and views, instead of “hiding behind a character” as she felt she did in acting.

Meghan added: “I’m an actor. I have made a career of saying other people’s words for a living and making them sound believable.

“Yes, we color them with nuance and add subtext to the writing, but at the end of the day I can hide behind the character.

“Simply speaking, I am the vehicle. But this Tig thing…that was all me. My thoughts, my words, my likes, my ethos. If you didn’t like it, then you probably didn’t like me.”

The news that Meghan Markle was dating Prince Harry came out in October 2016, and by April 2017 she announced she was shutting down both The Tig and Instagram.

She wrote in a statement: “What began as a passion project (my little engine that could) evolved into an amazing community of inspiration, support, fun and frivolity.

“You’ve made my days brighter and filled this experience with so much joy. Keep finding those Tig moments of discovery, keep laughing and taking risks, and keep being the change you wish to see in the world.”

She was then thrust into a world of preparing for her new life as a royal, which included being taught British etiquette rules.

Although Meghan has thrown herself into royal life following marrying Prince Harry in May, she has recently come under fire for rumours of a rift between her and Kate Middleton.

Over the last few weeks, speculation has mounted over growing tensions between the Cambridges and Sussexes.

It comes after claims Meghan had been branded “Duchess Difficult” by Palace insiders following another one of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s aides – Samantha Cohen – resigning from her role.

There were also claims Kate had told Meghan not to berate members of her team after she reportedly “b****cked” one of Kate’s staff.

The row – which the Palace has denied – followed rumours that Kate was “left in tears” during a “stressful” fitting for Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress.

Speculation was fuelled even further after it was announced Prince Harry, 34, and Meghan, 37, would not be moving into the Kensington Palace apartment next-door to William and Kate.

Instead they will move to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, which is currently being refurbished.

Kensington Palace has denied the claims of a rift, insisting “none of this is true”.

Recently, we told you Meghan Markle ‘won’t spend Christmas morning with Prince Harry’ as royal men traditionally have breakfast in a separate room.

We also revealed ‘favourite’ Meghan Markle ‘received the most expensive Christmas present’ from her dad Thomas.

And we told you how ‘controversial’ Kate Middleton upset the Queen’s staff when she moved in with Prince William.