Friends of Meghan Markle’s first husband are still advised to ‘never mention the “M” word’ after he was left ‘crushed’ when she demanded a divorce, despite being a Hollywood hotshot with new millionaire wife

It was a typical lunchtime at the Italian restaurant Il Pastaio in Beverly Hills, a hot spot loved by famous cops, handsome Hollywood executives, and stars like Justin Bieber and Al Pacino.

At a sunny corner table, a ruggedly handsome man in gold-rimmed sunglasses held court with a group of executives and cops.

While many in the crowded restaurant knew who he was—he greeted friends and fellow cops all the time—one topic was firmly off the table: Meghan Markle.

Because while the Duchess of Sussex has moved on with her life, so has her ex-husband Trevor Engelson.

A friend of Engelson’s who saw him recently told the MoS: ‘For a long time things were difficult for Trevor. He’s a good guy, but Meghan crushed on him when she demanded a divorce. When she started dating Prince Harry, he was once again crushed as he was constantly reminded of her due to the publicity surrounding the marriage and then the drama of the Oprah interview. But that is all in the past now.

“When I saw him recently, he kept telling me that he’s the happiest he’s ever been, that he loves being a father, and that he’s never felt so fulfilled.”

That said, his friend commented, “Everyone in Trevor’s life knows not to mention the ‘M’ word. He’s moved on and in some ways you could say he has an even better life than Meghan. He probably has more money than she does now, he’s doing what he loves and not being in the limelight. It’s the ultimate revenge.’

Trevor, 46, has seen his personal and professional fortunes blossom in recent years.

He has been happily married since 2019 to heiress Tracey Kurland, a dietitian whose late father built a fortune of $500 million (£395 million) in the mortgage industry before passing away prematurely due to complications from Covid in 2021. When he died, reports in the US claimed that Tracey inherited $250 million.

Living with their two young daughters on a sprawling estate in a wealthy LA enclave, Trevor and Tracey have co-hosted a golf tournament in memory of her father for the past two years, which has raised more than a million dollars.

“They are a very close family and a great couple,” the friend continued. “Trevor adores his wife and his two little girls. When he’s with them, he never stops smiling.’

He has also had success on a professional level. His Beverly Hills-based management and production company Underground created the hit TV crime drama Snowfall, which ran for six seasons, starring British actor Damson Idris. A spin-off show is in the works.

Engelson represents a roster of rising stars and, unlike many in Hollywood, is a staunch supporter of the current actors and writers’ strike.

The friend said, “Trevor is a fast-talking guy from Great Neck, New York and in some ways he’s a typical agent/manager, always talking about his clients and various projects.

“But he’s also one of the nicest guys in Hollywood. He’d give you the shirt off his back.’ During the Hollywood strike, Engelson has stood on picket lines handing out coffee and donuts to people. “He’s not one to ever be in the limelight and he keeps his generosity quiet,” says his friend.

Trevor’s life is now a far cry from the one he shared with Meghan. The couple met in a Hollywood bar in 2004, quickly fell in love and moved in together.

They dated for seven years before getting married on a Jamaican beach in 2011, an event where guests were given hemp gift bags containing samples of the local potent marijuana strain.

Meghan’s estranged father Thomas Markle, 79, remembers Engelson fondly. “I really liked Trevor,” he said.

“He got to know my mom and he was always so nice and supportive. He was a perfect gentleman to my daughter and treated me with great respect.

“When he asked for Meghan’s hand in marriage, I couldn’t have been happier.”

Unlike Prince Harry, who has never met his father-in-law, Engelson enjoyed a warm relationship with both Thomas and Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland. “He treated Meghan so well and he was always so nice and respectful to Doria and me,” Markle said.

Meghan likes to entertain, so we get invited to meals and special occasions. I enjoyed Trevor’s company very much.’

Throughout most of the marriage, Engelson was the main breadwinner. Meghan struggled to make it as an actress and at one point became a “suitcase girl” on the TV show Deal Or No Deal, something she later said she felt “objectified.”

Still, Engelson was constantly supportive of his wife and found her roles in a low budget movie called The Candidate and then a role in a movie called Remember Me starring a very young pre-Twilight star Robert Pattinson. “Trevor backed Meghan like a rock,” a source told MoS. “He was the one who paid most of the rent, he was constantly building it up.”

When Meghan finally landed a “decent” role, as paralegal Rachel Zane on the TV series Suits, Engelson wholeheartedly supported her move to Toronto to film the show, which would eventually run for nine seasons. “Trevor was always loyal to Meg,” said a friend who knew them as a couple. “When she got Suits, he was her biggest cheerleader.”

Meghan quickly developed her own group of influential friends in the Canadian city, including stylist Jessica Mulroney and Sophie Trudeau (estranged wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau).

“No long-distance relationship is easy, and Meghan started drifting away from Trevor when she was in Canada,” the source told MoS. “When she told Trevor after a few years that she wanted a divorce, he was devastated. He called Meghan’s father in pieces, not knowing where it had gone wrong. He was really blinded.’

According to the hagiographical book about Meghan and Harry, Finding Freedom, Meghan was injured when Engelson was invited to the Oscars and went alone, as he only had one ticket.

The source said, “That comment showed a fundamental lack of knowledge about Hollywood. The Academy Awards are the hardest tickets in town. Unless you’re nominated or have a big name, it’s common for individual tickets to be handed out. It’s great that Trevor has a ticket.

Why Meghan would think she would have the right to accompany him is strange. Even big stars can’t handle everyone they want.’

The couple divorced in 2013 citing “irreconcilable differences.”

According to multiple reports, Meghan has returned her wedding and engagement rings to Engelson in LA.

“Trevor was heartbroken,” says his friend. “He called their mutual friends and said he didn’t know what went wrong?”

As the MoS revealed earlier this summer, some have coined the phrase “You’ve been Markled” to describe how quickly — and some might say coolly — Meghan could ever throw close friends away. David and Victoria Beckham famously became ‘Markled’ when Meghan allegedly suspected Victoria of leaking stories about her to the press.

This is something the Beckhams vehemently deny.

Meghan dumped her childhood best friend Ninaki Priddy for unknown reasons. Some have suggested that Ninaki supported Trevor in the divorce.

“It took Trevor a while to recover from Meghan,” the friend said. He was doing well and in 2016 it was announced that Meghan was in a relationship with Prince Harry.

“Poor Trevor had to go through all of that – he was approached by the media and even friends, asking how he felt. It wasn’t easy.’ At one point, Engelson even considered making a TV series about a man whose ex-wife falls in love with a prince. But that project was ‘quietly shelved’.

By the time he met second wife Tracey, he was ready to settle down. The couple tied the knot in May 2019 at a beachfront five-star hotel — ironically in Montecito, California, a short distance from the £11 million, 16-bathroom house that Meghan and Harry later bought in the exclusive enclave.

One wedding guest said, “It was a joyful occasion. Trevor looked so happy. So relieved. He’s a man who went through the mill. He loved Meghan, but he was very hurt by her. All of us who love him are happy that he is in such a good place.’