In Netflix’s explosive Harry & Meghan series (and if you haven’t binged the first part yet, where have you been?) Prince Harry and Meghan Markle did not hold back on their war on the British press . And in this war of words, nobody has been as vocal and downright mean than Piers Morgan. But how did the British media personality, who started off as friends with Markle, become one her most famous trolls? Here’s how their relationship’s evolved … 2015: Piers Morgan and Meghan Markle first meet through Twitter The 57-year-old had started watching the US series Suits and then followed several of the cast members on Twitter. Markle, 41, followed him back, and sent him a direct message, writing that she was a “big fan” of his. Morgan even shared an Elle magazine essay Markle wrote, describing her experience growing up with a white father and black mother, and how it shaped her sense of self, and called it “brilliant”. That was the beginning of a sweet friendship that has now turned sour. June 2016: Morgan tags Markle in a tweet saying it was great to finally meet her Though Markle has since deleted her Twitter account, which means any public correspondence with Morgan has been removed, Morgan later said in an online column that he tagged Markle after she tweeted about seeing a “friend” in the UK. “Great to finally meet you too @meghanmarkle,” Morgan wrote on Twitter. Who is the richest member of heavy metal band Metallica? Net worths, ranked October 2016: news breaks that Prince Harry and Markle have been dating for a few months The Sunday Express was the first outlet to report that Prince Harry had a new girlfriend, a TV star from California named Meghan Markle . The following month, Prince Harry released a statement calling out the media for their treatment of Meghan. The statement said a line had been “crossed” when it came to the media’s coverage of his girlfriend, saying she had been “subject to a wave of abuse and harassment”. It also referenced how her friends, coworkers and loved ones had been bombarded by members of the press. November 2016: Morgan publishes a tell-all Daily Mail column The column detailed everything he and Markle talked about when they met earlier that year. “Meghan and I chatted for 90 minutes,” Morgan wrote. “Long enough for me to get a good insight into the new royal girlfriend.” “Next night, she was spotted in Soho House with Prince Harry,” Morgan wrote at the time. “I’m not surprised he’s fallen for her, or that he’s so ferociously protecting their relationship.” ***EXCLUSIVE*** Race, romance, guns & trolls. My pint in the pub with Prince Harry's girlfriend @meghanmarkle. https://t.co/pTfwfXPMBI pic.twitter.com/NW29WTTSde — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 13, 2016 Morgan even addressed Prince Harry in the column, telling him to “ignore all the poisonous rubbish you’re reading or hearing about her”. November 2017: Prince Harry and Markle announce their engagement Morgan said “[his] friend will make the perfect modern bride ”. He also tagged Markle and asked if he’ll be invited to the wedding. 10 highest-paid actresses of 2022, ranked – from Zendaya to Lady Gaga “Congrats Meghan and Harry,” the TV host wrote on Twitter in response to the official announcement of their engagement. “My friend will make the perfect modern bride. PS do I get an invite @meghanmarkle?” November 2017: Morgan pens another Daily Mail column to Harry and Meghan “Hearty congratulations, Harry, you picked a real keeper, even if your romance did destroy my beautiful friendship with the amazing Meghan Markle .” Morgan, who has been married since 2010, called the evening a “strictly platonic [ …] date in the Scarsdale”. The broadcaster said he didn’t hear from Markle again, “which is perfectly understandable under the circumstances”. He wrote, “all will be forgiven though” if he were to get an invite to the wedding, or “better still”, an invite to Harry’s stag night or bachelor party. May 2018: Morgan pens a Daily Mail column addressed ‘Dear Meghan’ Celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey , Idris Elba and Priyanka Chopra were invited to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding, but Morgan was not among them. His whole column was written as if it were a letter to Markle herself. Morgan brought up their in-person meeting once again, and also warned the new Duchess of Sussex against “poking the bear” when it comes to bringing feminism and politics into the royal family. Who’s the richest U2 band member? Net worths, ranked – from Bono to The Edge “You can’t preach about everyone getting a fair shake when you yourself are getting the most prestigious, privileged and unequal shake imaginable, simply for getting married to a man,” he wrote. September 2018: Morgan retells his story about meeting Markle This was the beginning of Morgan’s story changing to the “Meghan Markle ghosted me” narrative. “We got on brilliantly and then I put her in a cab,” Morgan said on The Late Late Show . “And it turned out to be a cab that took her to a party where she met Prince Harry . And then the next night they had a solo dinner together, and that was the last I ever heard from Meghan Markle.” “I really liked her – this is why it hurts,” Morgan said while laughing. “She’s just a slight social climber, I’m afraid.” December 2018: Morgan becomes increasingly critical of Markle Markle’s reportedly contentious relationship with her father had been heavily publicised throughout 2017 and 2018. Morgan was one of the reporters who landed an exclusive interview with Meghan’s father Thomas Markle, giving him a platform to speak on Good Morning Britain . Morgan was particularly critical of the fact that Thomas had not attended the royal wedding (a circumstance for which the TV host blamed Meghan, of course). January 2019: Markle privately tells Prince Harry she was experiencing suicidal ideations Markle later revealed in her tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey that just before attending an event at Royal Albert Hall on January 16, 2019, she had told Prince Harry she was having thoughts about not “[wanting] to be alive any more”. 10 highest-paid actors of 2022, ranked – from Tom Cruise to Will Smith “It was like, ‘These are the thoughts that I’m having in the middle of the night that are very clear … And I’m scared, because this is very real,” Markle told Winfrey later, in March 2021. February 2019: Morgan tells the Mirror that Markle ‘told other members of [Suits] to stop talking to me’ “The moment she met Harry she cut everybody off who she thought might be no longer desirable in her friend and family circle,” he continued. For the rest of 2019, Morgan’s criticisms of Markle and accusations that she was playing the victim or using her acting skills to garner sympathy were regular occurrences on Good Morning Britain . January 2020: Markle and Prince Harry announce they are stepping down as senior members of the royal family A statement published by Buckingham Palace on behalf of Queen Elizabeth read: “Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family .” *NEW COLUMN* Meghan & Harry haven’t been criticised because of her colour but because she’s a selfish social climber & he’s a weak whiner - and by playing this despicable race card they have grossly libelled all of Britain. https://t.co/bMSFFSL3Ay pic.twitter.com/kIWmJcuXaz — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 13, 2020 The move, which was dubbed “Megxit” by the British tabloids, prompted speculation about the couple’s future and how it would relate to the British monarchy. March 2021: Meghan and Prince Harry’s interview with Oprah Winfrey airs Markle told Winfrey she was “given a very clear directive from the moment the world knew Harry and I were dating to always say, ‘No comment.’” The former actress also said her family members and friends were told to do the same. 10 highest-paid actors of 2022, ranked – from Tom Cruise to Will Smith Markle never publicly or privately responded to Morgan’s comments (flattering or otherwise) over the last four years. While Morgan perceived her lack of contact as “ghosting”, it’s entirely possible the initial cut-off was due to her instructions not to engage with the media. March 2021: Morgan accuses Markle of lying about her mental health The morning after the interview aired in the US, Morgan said he was “sickened” by the “absolutely disgraceful” interview and was “angry to the point of falling over”. Throughout that morning’s edition of Good Morning Britain , Morgan dismissed several claims Markle made, including that she had felt suicidal. March 2021: Morgan’s fellow Good Morning Britain host calls him out Morgan stormed off the Good Morning Britain set one morning after clashing with the show’s weather presenter Alex Beresford, who condemned Morgan’s continued attacks on Markle. Several hours after he walked off the set of Good Morning Britain , UK broadcasting company Ofcom announced an investigation into Morgan, saying it had received more than 41,000 complaints over his statements. Reports also come in saying Markle herself had filed a complaint with ITV’s chief executive “I’m told that the letter was written by the duchess for one reason only,” royals reporter Omid Scobie said. “To raise and share concern over the serious impact that Morgan’s comments could have on anyone struggling with their mental health or thinking about seeking help.” Whitney Houston blew her fortune, but now her family’s cashing in ITV bosses reportedly asked Morgan to apologise on air, but he refused and left the show instead, according to reports from The Telegraph, Mirror and The Sun. ITV declined to comment on the reports. December 2022: Morgan calls out Markle and Prince Harry over the premiere of their Netflix docuseries On December 1, Morgan responded to a trailer for the docuseries by blasting the couple on Twitter. “Imagine bleating about privacy then doing a kiss-and-tell reality series about your private lives? Then imagine preaching compassion as you trash your family again? Then imagine releasing first trailer deliberately to ruin your brother’s big trip to America?” Morgan tweeted. “Repulsive hypocrites.” On December 12, Morgan tweeted that the royal family should cut ties with Meghan and Prince Harry. One day later, Morgan referred to Markle and Prince Harry as “California mudslingers”. This article originally appeared on Insider . Want more stories like this? Follow STYLE on Facebook , Instagram , YouTube and Twitter . If you are having suicidal thoughts, or you know someone who is, help is available. For Hong Kong, dial +852 2896 0000 for The Samaritans or +852 2382 0000 for Suicide Prevention Services. In the US, call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on +1 988. For a list of other nations’ helplines, see this page.