Mystery of Meghan Markle's missing mates from UK reality star to royal pal

Jessica Mulroney was once at the heart of Meghan Markle's Sussex Squad, but years after their friendship crumbled, rumours began to swirl about the former best pal's plan to author a "tell-all" book about their relationship.

Influencer Jessica is not the only friend to be seemingly cast aside by thethe Duchess of Sussex, with her friendship group massively changing over the past decade.

The 44-year-oldmum-of-two's current friends include actress Mindy Kaling, singer Katherine McPhee and her former Suits co-star Abigail Spencer, but what happened to the old ones? We take a closer look at five well known "casualties"...

READ MORE: Netflix boss' unlikely verdict on Meghan and Harry's documentary after heavy criticism

Jessica Mulroney

The 45-year-old Canadian fashion stylist was the first friend Meghan, who lives in California, called when Harry proposed, and her daughter Ivy was a bridesmaid on the big day. But when Jessica was later accused by a Black fashion influencer of using her white privilege to try to derail her career, her best pal was seemingly quick to distance herself.

Mother-of-three Jessica apologised to Sasha Exeter but it was too late - she was cut adrift by her former friend and their relationship has seemingly never recovered. But with an advance of more than £750,000 reportedly being offered to the star to dish the dirt on her famous friend, the Duchess of Sussex can seemingly rest easy as Jessica says she is "absolutely not" working on a memoir.

Millie Mackintosh

TV star Meghan spent time in England before she found her prince and she became pals with Made in Chelsea's Millie Mackintosh. The women first met at a hotel event in Turkey, with Millie introducing her new friend to contacts back in her home city, London.

The pals were pictured together during a girls' weekend at Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire in 2016, with Millie saying they had bonded over relationship woes - the Duchess of Sussex had split from her first husband Trevor Engelson, while Millie parted from her first husband, rapper Professor Green, the same year.

But when Meghan began dating Harry, Millie was seemingly snubbed. The star later explained that when she sent a message offering her well-wishes, she received an "abrupt" response.

"I never heard from her again," said Millie matter of factly. "I felt like she'd basically told me to f*** off in that message. So I did."

Priyanka Chopra

In a true sign of friendship for any celebrity, actress Priyanka regularly appeared on Meghan's Instagram feed after the women met at an Elle Women in Television event in January 2016. They went onto watch the popular musical Hamilton on Broadway together.

"You know when you meet someone and you just click?" said Meghan. "We try to see each other whenever we're both in the same town."

But while the 42-year-old was a guest at her friend's wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018, the friends appeared to have parted ways soon after. Priyanka was noticeably absent from Meghan's baby shower in New York in February 2019.

Violet von Westenholz

Former Olympic skier Baron Piers von Westenholz is a close personal friend of King Charles and his daughter befriended Meghan when she was working as press relations director for Ralph Lauren. The PR director, who has been pals with Prince Harry since she was a teenager, got to know the Duchess when she organised a publicity day for the clothing brand at Wimbledon tennis tournament.

Violet, 42, is even rumoured to have played matchmaker for Harry and Meghan, speculation she has refused to confirm or deny. "I am just happy they are really happy," she told The Daily Telegraph. "They are great together."

Intriguingly, the two women haven't referenced each other since that interview, which took place six years ago.

Stassi Schroeder

More of a "Sussex Supporter" rather than a full blown member of the Sussex Squad, Stassi first shot to fame on hit reality TV show Vanderpump Rules. The mum-of-two gained a large social media following as a result and went onto describe herself as Meghan's "number one fan".

While the Duchess's Netflix lifestyle show With Love Meghan was lampooned by some critics, Stassi defended it on Instagram. "Anyone complaining about this like they're expecting this to be something they can relate to, that's not the point," she said.

But Stassi, 37, was subsequently left off the list when it came to receiving PR gifts from Meghan's lifestyle brand As ever, unlike other lifestyle influencers she knew. Safe to say, she didn't take it well.

"I literally defended her when no one else did," said Stassi. "I think that she is stuck in 2017 and she just thinks I'm a lowly reality TV person and I am furious." In the ultimate diss, the star went onto unfollow her former idol on Instagram.