Meghan Markle and Rory McIlroy have never claimed each other romantically. However, Markle acknowledged their friendship in August 2014 when she revealed McIlroy to be her ice bucket challenge partner in an effort to promote donations and research for Lou Gehrig’s disease. “#ALSicebucketchallenge accepted!” Markle posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, in April of that year (via Page Six).”Special thanks to @McIlroyrory :).” Markle’s flirty use of the smiley-face emoji had people questioning the nature of their bond, but her complimentary blog comments about McIlroy pushed things into overdrive.
Markle took to The Tig to rhapsodize about McIlroy’s personal and professional qualities. “Ah yes. Rory McIlroy … Whispered (and shouted) to be the foremost golfer in the world, loved by Tiger, respected by Palmer, and dumper of frigid water on to my lone head for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge,” wrote Markle, according to Page Six. According to the book “Revenge: Meghan, Harry, and the War Between the Windsors,” Markle’s fondness for McIlroy reportedly had her then-boyfriend, chef Cory Vitiello, questioning if their bond was romantic. Author Tom Bower wrote that while Markle and Vitiello were at dinner with McIlroy, “She was spotted looking ‘smitten,’ gazing intently at McIlroy.” He continued, “Again he challenged Meghan. ‘Had there been an affair?'”
Markle reportedly denied the accusation.
