Meghan Markle found fame playing Rachel Zane in Suits before she married Prince Harry, but things could have turned out very differently.

Meghan Markle was very nearly beaten to the part of Rachel Zane in Suits, which would have meant the show would not have been able to get their sneaky Prince Harry reference into the final ever episode.

The Duchess of Sussex was cast in the legal drama when she was still a relatively unknown actress, with the first series airing in 2011, with it gradually becoming one of the most streamed shows.

According to Harper’s Bazaar, Meghan competed with one other actress for the role of Rachel, which would have completely altered the course of her life.

She went up against Kim Shaw for the part, a Canadian-American actress who went on to land roles in Saving Hope, NCIS and the film Animals.

Jeff Wachtel, chief content officer of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment, told The Hollywood Reporter that Meghan won the role due to her chemistry with co-star Patrick J. Adams, saying: “They had it right away. It was a lot of fun.”

Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

Meghan Markle as Rachel Zane in Suits (Image: Getty)

Meghan left the show after its seventh season in 2017, with Suits carrying on for two more seasons before wrapping for good in 2019.

In the final episode an interaction between characters Louis Litt (Rick Hoffman) and Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) appears to reference Prince Harry, although it is unclear if this was deliberate.

“Wait a second. Are you wearing a morning coat?” Harvey asks Louis ahead of his wedding, to which Louis responds, “Of course, I’m wearing a morning coat. Frankly, I’m disappointed you’re not.” Harvey then responds “Louis, you’re not the prince of England.”