Meghan Markle’s Surprise Hockey Game Appearance Included a Super-Special Friend

Harry had the honor of dropping the puck at the Vancouver Canucks game.

Christopher Luu

Published on November 21, 2023 @ 12:35PM

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Derek Cain/Getty Images

It looks like getting photographed at a sporting event is the new Erewhon walk, especially if you're looking at names like Taylor Swift and Meghan Markle, two women who have been spotted up in the stands supporting their beaus as they take to the turf — or ice. Last night, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made an unannounced appearance at the Canucks vs. San Jose Sharks game at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada, where Prince Harry participated in the ceremonial puck drop. If the location seems a little random, Vancouver is actually where the Invictus Games will be hosted next year (officially, Vancouver and Whistler). And while Meghan wore a sleek black Bleusalt sweater and a gold necklace for the occasion, her friend also managed to make a splash, according to People, he was an instrumental figure in Harry and Meghan's dating life.

The man in question was Markus Anderson, whom the Daily Mail stated is someone that Meghan has described as one of her “closest friends in the world." He's also the chief membership officer of Soho House, which is where Meghan and Harry famously had their first London date back in July 2016. The Daily Mail reported that Anderson had “arranged for the couple to meet secretly in private rooms” at Soho House's locations in Toronto and London as they evaded cameras.

Meghan Markle Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks — Derek Cain/Getty Images

People adds that Anderson made appearances on Meghan’s now-deleted Instagram account, which became defunct after she married Harry in 2018. Anderson was also with Meghan at the opening ceremony of the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, where Harry and Meghan made their official debut as a couple. Anderson attended Harry and Meghan's wedding at St. George's Chapel at Windsor and was even a guest at her baby shower in New York City back in Feb. 2019.

Harry's guest appearance at the hockey game comes 21 years after his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, also dropped the puck in Vancouver — and it was even the same two teams playing when she had the honor. The event was part of Elizabeth's royal tour of Canada in celebration of her Golden Jubilee.