A complete timeline of how Piers Morgan met Meghan Markle and went from publicly singing her praises to trashing her on TV

Kim RenfroMar 11, 2021, 22:57 IST

TV host Piers Morgan and the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle.Getty Images

Piers Morgan claims Meghan Markle ghosted him after they met up for platonic drinks in 2016.
He went from writing that she's got "beauty" and "brains" to being one of her most vocal critics.
See how they first met over Twitter, and their one-sided fallout, in Insider's full timeline.

Piers Morgan recently quit his TV show, "Good Morning Britain," after reportedly refusing to apologize to Meghan Markle on air.

The British morning show had received more than 41,000 complaints, including one from Markle herself reportedly , following Morgan's accusations that the Duchess of Sussex was lying about having suicidal thoughts during her time with the royal family.

According to Morgan, he and Markle were once "friends" after they began following one another on Twitter and met up for platonic drinks.

Keep reading for a full timeline of the two celebrities' initial friendship, and how Morgan went from publicly praising Markle to regularly disparaging her on TV and in his Daily Mail columns.

Fall 2015: Piers Morgan starts following a few of actors from "Suits" on Twitter, and Meghan Markle follows him back.

Meghan Markle starred in "Suits" from 2011 to 2017. USA Network

September 2015: Morgan shares an article Markle wrote about her personal experiences with racism as a biracial woman. He calls it "brilliant."

Meghan Markle in 2015. Getty/Robin Marchant

Fall 2015 through Spring 2016 : Morgan tweets about "Suits," and says Markle is sending him screener episodes.

Piers Morgan in 2016. Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

June 2016: Morgan tags Markle in a tweet saying it was great to finally meet her.

July 2016: Markle and Prince Harry begin privately seeing each other after they were set up on a blind date.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Phil Noble/Pool/Getty Images

October 2016: News breaks that Prince Harry and Markle have been dating for a few months.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. Getty/Chris Jackson

November 1, 2016: Morgan tags Markle in a tweet, asking about the next season of "Suits."

November 8, 2016: Prince Harry releases a statement via Kensington Palace, confirming his relationship with Markle while calling out the "wave of abuse and harassment" directed at her.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Jeremy Selwyn/WPA Pool/Getty Images

November 8, 2016: Prince Harry releases a statement via Kensington Palace, confirming his relationship with Markle while calling out the "wave of abuse and harassment" directed at her.

November 12, 2016: Morgan publishes a Daily Mail column detailing everything he and Markle talked about when they met earlier that year.

May 2017: Morgan tweets saying that his "sole interest" in Pippa Middleton's wedding was what Meghan Markle was going to wear.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Chris Jackson/Getty Images

November 2017: Prince Harry and Markle announce their engagement, and Morgan says "[his] friend will make the perfect modern bride." He also tags Markle and asked if he'll be invited to the wedding.

Piers Morgan. Jeff Schear/Getty

November 2017: Prince Harry and Markle announce their engagement, and Morgan says "[his] friend will make the perfect modern bride." He also tags Markle and asked if he'll be invited to the wedding.

November 2017: Morgan pens a Daily Mail column headlined: "Hearty congratulations, Harry, you picked a real keeper (even if your romance did destroy my beautiful friendship with the amazing Meghan Markle)."

Piers Morgan. Ramin Talaie/Getty Images

November 2017: Morgan pens a Daily Mail column headlined: "Hearty congratulations, Harry, you picked a real keeper (even if your romance did destroy my beautiful friendship with the amazing Meghan Markle)."

January 2018: Markle deletes her Instagram and Twitter accounts.

Prince Harry Meghan Markle at their engagement announcement. Chris Jackson / Getty

May 19, 2018: Prince Harry and Markle tie the knot at Windsor Castle. Piers Morgan is not among the invited guests.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry share a moment. Danny Lawson - WPA Pool/Getty Images

May 21, 2018: Morgan pens a Daily Mail column addressed "Dear Meghan," and accuses her of "scripting" the perfect day for her wedding and turning in "an Oscar-winning performance."

Meghan Markle on her wedding day. AP

May 21, 2018: Morgan pens a Daily Mail column addressed "Dear Meghan," and accuses her of "scripting" the perfect day for her wedding and turning in "an Oscar-winning performance."

September 2018: Morgan goes on the "Late Late Show" and retells his story about meeting Markle.

December 2018: Morgan becomes increasingly critical of Markle, and interviews her estranged father on "Good Morning Britain."

@GMB / Twitter

December 2018: Morgan writes a new column with the headline "Meghan Markle is a ruthless social climbing actress who has landed the role of her life and is determined to milk it for all she can."

Ben Birchall - WPA Pool/Getty Images

December 2018: Morgan writes a new column with the headline "Meghan Markle is a ruthless social climbing actress who has landed the role of her life and is determined to milk it for all she can."

January 2019: Markle privately tells Prince Harry she was experiencing suicidal ideations.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Royal Albert Hall on January 16, 2019. Getty Images

February 2019: Morgan tells the Mirror that Markle "told other members of ['Suits'] to stop talking to me."

TV personality Piers Morgan and the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle. Getty Images

January 2020: Markle and Prince Harry announced they are stepping down as senior members of the royal family.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Mark Cuthbert/ UK Press via Getty Images

January 2020: Morgan says Markle is a "selfish social climber" who plays the "despicable race card."

January 2020: Morgan also posts a screenshot of the first time Markle messaged him on Twitter, saying "she's probably not such a 'big fan' of mine now."

February 2020: Morgan seems to allude to Markle's "ghosting" of him in a tweet about her "old tricks."

March 7, 2021: Markle and Prince Harry's interview with Oprah Winfrey airs. In the interview, Markle says she was told not to engage with the press once she was brought into the royal family fold.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with Oprah Winfrey in 2021. Harpo Productions/Joe Pugliese/Getty Images

March 7, 2021: Markle and Prince Harry's interview with Oprah Winfrey airs. In the interview, Markle says she was told not to engage with the press once she was brought into the royal family fold.

March 8, 2021: Morgan accuses Markle of lying about her mental health.

Piers Morgan on "Good Morning Britain." GMB/Twitter

March 9, 2021: Morgan's fellow "Good Morning Britain" host calls him out for trashing Markle and holding a grudge against her for their personal fallout.

Morgan leaving the set of "Good Morning Britain." GMB

March 9, 2021: Morgan quits "Good Morning Britain" after the show receives 41,000 complaints, including a direct one from Markle, reportedly.

CBS

March 10, 2021: Morgan maintains he still doesn't believe Markle with reports saying he refused to issue an apology to the Duchess of Sussex.

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A complete timeline of how Piers Morgan met Meghan Markle and went from publicly singing her praises to trashing her on TV

Fall 2015: Piers Morgan starts following a few of actors from "Suits" on Twitter, and Meghan Markle follows him back.

September 2015: Morgan shares an article Markle wrote about her personal experiences with racism as a biracial woman. He calls it "brilliant."

Fall 2015 through Spring 2016 : Morgan tweets about "Suits," and says Markle is sending him screener episodes.

June 2016: Morgan tags Markle in a tweet saying it was great to finally meet her.

July 2016: Markle and Prince Harry begin privately seeing each other after they were set up on a blind date.

October 2016: News breaks that Prince Harry and Markle have been dating for a few months.

November 1, 2016: Morgan tags Markle in a tweet, asking about the next season of "Suits."

November 8, 2016: Prince Harry releases a statement via Kensington Palace, confirming his relationship with Markle while calling out the "wave of abuse and harassment" directed at her.

November 12, 2016: Morgan publishes a Daily Mail column detailing everything he and Markle talked about when they met earlier that year.

May 2017: Morgan tweets saying that his "sole interest" in Pippa Middleton's wedding was what Meghan Markle was going to wear.

November 2017: Prince Harry and Markle announce their engagement, and Morgan says "[his] friend will make the perfect modern bride." He also tags Markle and asked if he'll be invited to the wedding.

November 2017: Morgan pens a Daily Mail column headlined: "Hearty congratulations, Harry, you picked a real keeper (even if your romance did destroy my beautiful friendship with the amazing Meghan Markle)."

January 2018: Markle deletes her Instagram and Twitter accounts.

May 19, 2018: Prince Harry and Markle tie the knot at Windsor Castle. Piers Morgan is not among the invited guests.

May 21, 2018: Morgan pens a Daily Mail column addressed "Dear Meghan," and accuses her of "scripting" the perfect day for her wedding and turning in "an Oscar-winning performance."

September 2018: Morgan goes on the "Late Late Show" and retells his story about meeting Markle.

December 2018: Morgan becomes increasingly critical of Markle, and interviews her estranged father on "Good Morning Britain."

December 2018: Morgan writes a new column with the headline "Meghan Markle is a ruthless social climbing actress who has landed the role of her life and is determined to milk it for all she can."

January 2019: Markle privately tells Prince Harry she was experiencing suicidal ideations.

February 2019: Morgan tells the Mirror that Markle "told other members of ['Suits'] to stop talking to me."

January 2020: Markle and Prince Harry announced they are stepping down as senior members of the royal family.

January 2020: Morgan says Markle is a "selfish social climber" who plays the "despicable race card."

January 2020: Morgan also posts a screenshot of the first time Markle messaged him on Twitter, saying "she's probably not such a 'big fan' of mine now."

February 2020: Morgan seems to allude to Markle's "ghosting" of him in a tweet about her "old tricks."

March 7, 2021: Markle and Prince Harry's interview with Oprah Winfrey airs. In the interview, Markle says she was told not to engage with the press once she was brought into the royal family fold.

March 8, 2021: Morgan accuses Markle of lying about her mental health.

March 9, 2021: Morgan's fellow "Good Morning Britain" host calls him out for trashing Markle and holding a grudge against her for their personal fallout.

March 9, 2021: Morgan quits "Good Morning Britain" after the show receives 41,000 complaints, including a direct one from Markle, reportedly.

March 10, 2021: Morgan maintains he still doesn't believe Markle with reports saying he refused to issue an apology to the Duchess of Sussex.