Meghan Markle could have married into English football royalty - but plans for a date with a World Cup star were given the red card.
There might be tensions in the Sussex household tonight as Prince Harry's England take on Meghan's USA in an epic World Cup 2022 clash in Qatar.
Life could have been completely different for the Duchess of Sussex, who went on to marry Harry in front of millions of people and become part of the Royal Family, as well as a Polo WAG.
But there are very differing accounts of who was responsible for blowing the final whistle on the potential romance before it even kicked off back in 2013.
Meghan, who was 32 at the time, had just divorced from film producer husband Trevor Engelson, and was meeting up with UK journalists in a bid to get press attention on this side of the pond.
Speaking in 2017, Daily Mail journalist Katie Hind claimed Meghan showed her messages she had been sent from Ashley Cole.
The former England star, who plated at the 2002, 2006 and 2020 World Cups, allegedly asked to go on a date with the then Suits actress.
In an account for the Mail, the journalist wrote: "[Meghan pulled an] iPhone from her handbag, she pointed to the picture of a good-looking man on her Twitter account, and said: 'Do you know this guy, Ashley Cole?
"'He follows me and he keeps trying to talk to me on Twitter. He's trying really hard'. 'I bet,' I said calmly.
"She continued: 'He wants to go out on a date while I'm over here in London. What do you think? Do you know him?'"
At the time, Ashley was earning around £100,000 a week while playing for Chelsea and had been considered one of the best left backs in the world.
In the UK, Cole was known for being a love rat and had been dumped by ex-wife Cheryl a few years before, but Meghan had no idea about his cheating past.
When she was informed, Meghan reportedly said: "Some of my friends told me to stay away from him, too. I think I'll leave it."
However, others claimed it was actually Meghan who got turned down by the former Arsenal defender.
Cole’s brother rubbished the suggestion that the football ace begged the actress for a date.
In 2019, Matty Cole told The Sun: "It's nonsense, completely made up. He definitely wouldn’t have to beg Meghan Markle for a date.
"She's not the kind of girl he goes for anyway, and he’s never fancied her."
While former WAG Lizzie Cundy claimed she tried to set Meghan up with Cole after they got on "like a house on fire" at a charity event.
Lizzie, who was married to former Chelsea striker Jason Cundy, countered the claims that it was Cole doing all the chasing.
Speaking to Grazia last year, she shared: "Meghan said she loved London, and would love an English boyfriend, so I went through my phone to see who I knew that might be a good fit.
"I tried to find her a boyfriend - Ashley Cole wasn’t so keen - but I did try to fix her up, which is funny looking back."
While she didn’t manage to bag a footballer, things didn’t turn up too badly for Meghan.
The former actress went on a blind date with Prince Harry, later claiming she had no idea who he was, before they began a relationship in July 2016.
They appeared in public together for the first time in September 2017 in Toronto at the Invictus Games, of which Harry is a founding patron.
In May the following year, the couple got married in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle - and have since welcomed two children, son Archie and daughter Lilibet.
Do you have a story to share? Email webfeatures@trinitymirror.com
