Vand, 37, has known Markle since he was a teenager. During his guesting on the May 13 episode of the “Reality Life with Kate Casey” podcast, he recalled how he knew the Duchess of Sussex.
According to him, he went to an all-boys high school and one of their sister schools was where Markle studied. He basically grew up with her and they were friends. They had a connection even if she was a year older than him.
“Everyone was in love with her. She was sweet, and very kind. We admired her. She was a good friend,” Vand said of Markle (via Page Six).
He also shared how Markle had a way with the boys. Vand shared one incident when he felt Markle toyed with his heart. The duchess gave him an Eskimo kiss or a nose kiss. An act of pressing the tip of the nose against another. She also tried to impress him by speaking in Farsi.
“She knew what she was doing,” he continued.
“She toyed with our hearts masterfully. We were at a party one time and she sat on my lap. She got nose to nose with me. For a 16-year-old guy, that is an emotional moment. She said to me in Farsi, ‘You are so beautiful.’ I asked her, ‘How do you know Farsi?’ She said, ‘I learned it for you.’ Then she walked away.”
The “Shahs of Sunset” star hoped that Markle’s watching his reality show. He also hoped that Markle would share their “almost-make-out story” as authentically as he did.
While many were very fond of Markle in school, Vand said that one of his friends named Gabe was upset with the duchess. According to Vand, Gabe and Markle dated when they were in high school. They remained friends for years. However, when Markle got her role on “Suits,” she ghosted him.
“It really hurt his feelings. I got the sense Gabe really valued her friendship. So Meghan, if you hear this, reach out to Gabe. You know who that is, and just right that ship,” Vand added.
