A Filipino expatriate was pleasantly surprised when Prince Harry’s fiancé Meghan Markle blurted out a Tagalog phrase during a walkabout in Edinburgh.
The rare interaction was caught in a video that Jenny Ulay posted on Facebook last week. In the footage that has gone viral, Meghan was seen mingling with the crowds at the Scottish capital.
Markle was on a tour with Harry in Scotland last week and on the first day, fans had the chance to greet the royal couple in person.
When Markle passed in front of Ulay and her husband, the Filipina had the opportunity to shake hands with Harry’s soon-to-be bride. “Hello, I’m from the Philippines. It’s our wedding anniversary today,” the Filipino expatriate told Markle.
“Oh, happy anniversary,” Markle answered. “It’s sweet of you to come [by] here.”
And as she was walking away to greet other fans, Meghan turned back to Ulay and said “salamat po,” which means “thank you” in the vernacular.
"Oh my God. I'm gonna faint," exclaimed Ulay, who was completely shocked by what had just transpired
She later told Gulf News that meeting Markle was one of the “most memorable moments” of her life. “I was ecstatic. I was out of for words. I forgot to congratulate them on the upcoming wedding because of the Filipino word she said,” Ulay said.
It’s not only Ulay and her husband who have been thrilled by Markle’s ability to speak some Tagalog words. As news quickly spread of the chance royal encounter, the Filipino community exploded in excitement on social media.
“I love Markle even more,” said one of Ulay's friends, reacting to the viral video on Facebook. “The way she said ‘salamat po’ makes me giggle,” said a fan.
"What a lovely lady and so humble as well. No wonder Prince Harry wants to marry her," said another.
The “Suits” actress isn’t a stranger to Filipinos, having grown up in Los Angeles, home to some of the largest communities of migrants from the Philippines.
She even confessed about her love for the popular Filipino dish chicken adobo (marinated chicken) in an article she had written for Today.
“I enjoy making slow-cooked food on Sunday, like Filipino-style chicken adobo. It’s so easy – combine garlic, soy, vinegar, maybe some lemon and let the chicken swim in that sauce until it falls off the bone in a Crock Pot,” Markle wrote.
Watch the whole video here:
