Before she was the Duchess of Sussex, she was Rachel Zane. A high-powered, pencil-skirt-wearing paralegal at Pearson Hardman who didn't take any of Mike Ross's nonsense. But for many fans—and apparently, Prince Harry—the most memorable moment of her seven-season run wasn't a legal win. It was the Meghan Markle Suits sex scene.
If you’ve watched the show, you know the one. It’s Season 2, Episode 16, titled "He's Back." It’s the culmination of two seasons of tension. Honestly, it changed the trajectory of the show's romance. But why are we still talking about it years later? Part of it is the sheer awkwardness of a future Royal having a "steamy" history on Netflix. The other part is the bizarre behind-the-scenes reality of filming intimate moments in a literal office building.
The Infamous Filing Room Encounter
Let's get the facts straight. The scene happens after Rachel finds out Mike's massive secret—that he never actually went to Harvard Law. They’re in the file room. It’s cramped. There’s a lot of paper.
Basically, the anger turns into passion. It’s a classic TV trope, but Meghan and co-star Patrick J. Adams had such intense chemistry that it felt more "real" than your average legal drama hookup. They weren’t just actors hitting marks; they were playing two people whose lives had just been upended.
Why Prince Harry Regrets Googling It
In his memoir Spare, Prince Harry didn't hold back about his curiosity. He admitted to making the "mistake" of searching for his then-girlfriend's love scenes online.
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Bad idea.
He described seeing her and a castmate "mauling each other" in an office. He even joked that he needed "electric-shock therapy" to get the images out of his head. It’s a reminder that while we see polished entertainment, for the people actually involved, it’s a weird mix of professional work and personal discomfort.
Interestingly, William and Kate were reportedly "religious" viewers of Suits. Imagine the Christmas dinner conversation when they realized their brother was dating the girl from the filing room.
The Reality of Filming "The Scene"
Filming something like the Meghan Markle Suits sex scene is about as unromantic as it gets. You’ve got a camera crew of 20 people watching you. There’s someone holding a boom mic three feet from your head.
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- The Space: The "file room" was a set, but it was narrow.
- The Choreography: Every hand placement is directed.
- The Laughter: Patrick J. Adams has mentioned in interviews that he and Meghan were like brother and sister.
Can you imagine how weird that is? You’re basically family, and then the director yells "action" and you have to pretend to be lost in lust. Meghan once described the filming of these scenes as "awkward," which is probably the understatement of the century.
Did the Palace Try to Censor Suits?
There have been long-standing rumors that as Meghan’s relationship with Harry became serious, the Royal Family started weighing in on the scripts. Suits creator Aaron Korsh actually confirmed this.
He noted that the Palace occasionally gave feedback on dialogue. They even allegedly forbid Meghan from saying the word "poppycock" (a British slang term) because they didn't want it edited into something suggestive. While they couldn't erase the existing Meghan Markle Suits sex scene, they certainly made sure her final seasons were a bit more "refined."
Why the Scene Still Trends Today
The show had a massive resurgence on Netflix recently. It broke streaming records. Suddenly, a whole new generation was discovering Rachel Zane.
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People weren't just watching for the legal jargon. They were looking for the "Royal connection." Seeing the Duchess in a high-intensity romantic scene is a jarring contrast to her current life in Montecito. It reminds us that she was a self-made woman with a successful career long before the titles.
Key Takeaways for Fans
If you're revisiting the show or just curious about the hype, keep these points in mind:
- Context is everything. The scene wasn't just for "shock value." It was the emotional breaking point for Rachel and Mike.
- Professionalism matters. Both actors have spoken about the mutual respect they had on set, which made the "awkward" scenes possible.
- The Royal "Filter." Knowing that the Palace was watching adds a hilarious layer of tension to the later seasons.
If you want to understand the full evolution of the character, don't just skip to the "hot" parts. Watch the buildup in Season 1. Look at the way Meghan plays Rachel's ambition. The intimacy in Season 2 only works because the character development was so strong beforehand. You should check out the Season 2 finale for yourself to see how the show balanced the "steamy" stuff with actual plot progression.