How Harry played matchmaker to his army friend

PRINCE Harry knows all too well how helpful a friend can be — after all, the royal was introduced to Meghan Markle by a mutual pal.

PRINCE Harry knows all too well how helpful a friend can be.

After all, the royal was introduced to fiancee Meghan Markle by a mutual acquaintance.

Now, an army friend of Harry’s has revealed how the royal helped him secure another date with his future wife.

Corporal Frankie O’Leary, who served with Harry in Afghanistan, recounted how his famous friend helped him make a good impression.

Prince Harry walking out of a tent at the British controlled flight-line at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan in 2012. Picture: John Stillwell/AFP

“He rather kindly helped me get in well with a young lady,” Frankie told UK magazine Hello!.

Frankie was out walking with his date near their army barracks when Harry drove past and decided to lend some star power to the outing.

“He wound the window down and said, ‘See you later, Frank’ and I said, ‘See you later, Sir.’ She was a few steps behind with her jaw on the floor but I played it cool and said, ‘What, doesn’t that happen to you?” he said.

Harry’s good impression helped seal the deal between the pair, with Frankie returning the favour to the royal on May 19.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were introduced by a mutual friend. Picture: Eddie Mulholland/Pool via AP

Frankie will be one of 26 members of the mounted Household Cavalry accompanying the prince and Meghan around Windsor following their wedding.

Meghan and Harry began dating in 2016 after being introduced by a friend, widely reported to be fashion designer Misha Nonoo.

In their engagement interview last December, the couple said they had decided not to reveal who had introduced them for privacy reasons.

“The only thing that I had asked her when she said that she wanted to set us up, was, I had one question. I said, ‘Well is he nice?’ Cause if he wasn’t kind, it just didn’t, it didn’t seem like it would make sense,” Meghan said.

Fashion designer Misha Nonoo is widely reported to have introduced Meghan and Harry. Picture: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images