Meghan Markle's college best friend Lindsay Roth reveals secret gushing book dedication to Duchess - and reflects on her 'wonderful' choice to marry Prince Harry

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Meghan Markle's college best friend Lindsay Jill Roth has unveiled a secret tribute to the Duchess in her new book. 

The Duchess of Sussex, 43, and Lindsay have been friends for many years, having met as freshmen at Northwestern University in a Toni Morrison literature class, while Meghan was even the maid of honour at her 2016 wedding. 

Producer and author Lindsay has released her new book - Romances & Practicalities: A Love Story (Maybe Yours!) in 250 Questions - which was published yesterday. 

At the start, she included a tribute to her friend of nearly 25 years, admitting she'd kept it as a 'secret' until the book came out.  

Addressing her pal as 'Meghan Sussex', Lindsay gushed that they are 'sisters by choice' and have an 'unbreakable bond'. 

The pair have much in common, as they both married Brits, with Lindsay additionally telling PEOPLE magazine that she thinks it's 'wonderful' Meghan chose to marry Harry.  

Her dedication read: 'Meghan Sussex, Meg, to be sisters by choice, still thinking the same thing at the same time after all these years - no matter how many miles between us - is my favorite part of our unbreakable bond.

'There for each other always, sharing a deep loyalty and understanding — I could tell you anything, and it would be okay. I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart).'

Meghan Markle's college best friend Lindsay Jill Roth has unveiled a secret tribute to the Duchess in her new book

In an interview with PEOPLE ahead of the book launch, she revealed that the tribute would come as a surprise to the Duchess.

She said: 'She hasn't read her acknowledgement yet. I have saved that as a little token for her to see when the book comes out. 

'I think it's rare to find friends who love you unconditionally, and I've been lucky in my life to have a few who I truly consider family. It's almost like those words aren't enough.

'I often get asked, "Is it really special that you both married Brits?" What I always say is, "It's special that we both married such wonderful people."'

Meghan was the maid of honour at her friend's wedding to Gavin Jordan in 2016, and Lindsay was long expected to be Meghan's own maid of honour at her wedding to Harry in 2018 until she decided against having one.  

The author was inspired by her own relationship with now-husband Gavin Jordan, whom she affectionately nicknamed 'the Brit' in the book 

Throughout the book, Roth offers up 250 thought-provoking questions across twelve chapters, each one touching on important topics like finances, family dynamics, and raising children.

Surprisingly, each question seems to touch on specific moments throughout her close friend's life, from her budding relationship with Prince Harry, to her time spent as a senior working royal, to the couple's subsequent departure from the royal family in 2020.

The Duchess of Sussex (centre), 43, and Lindsay (right) have been close for many years and attended Wimbledon together in 2019

Producer and author Lindsay has released her new book - Romances & Practicalities: A Love Story (Maybe Yours!) in 250 Questions - which was published yesterday

Meghan even served as Lindsay's maid of honour at her 2016 wedding - and Lindsay was long tipped to be Meghan's at her 2018 marriage to Harry

Though Meghan has a reputation for 'markling' her close friends and has reportedly cut contact with former close pals, such as the Beckhams, she and Lindsay appear to have remained close over the years. 

The two have been friends since they met in a Toni Morrison literature class during their freshman year at Northwestern, from which they graduated in 2003.

They remained close as Meghan went on to pursue acting, eventually earning her high-profile role on Suits.

Lindsay also acted for a bit, appearing as an extra in Mona Lisa Smile alongside Julia Roberts and Kirsten Dunst, and Raise Your Voice, with Hilary Duff.

She has since gone on to work as a producer for Larry King Now, The Real Girl's Kitchen, and Queen Boss.

All the while, the two were in each other's lives, with Lindsay regularly posting Meghan to her Instagram page. 

TV producer Roth married Englishman Gavin Jordan in 2016, with Meghan serving as maid of honour.

In 2019, shortly after the birth of Prince Archie, she was joined by Lindsay and Genevieve Hillis at Wimbledon tennis tournament to cheer on Serena Williams. 

In an interview with People Magazine ahead of the book launch, Lindsay evealed that the tribute would come as a surprise to the Duchess

The pair have much in common, as they both married Brits, with Lindsay saying she thinks it's 'wonderful' Meghan chose to marry Harry

Meghan and Lindsay have remained close over the years (pictured together in 2019)

In 2021 Lindsay came to Meghan's defence amid blacklash over claims of bullying. 

'Meg's M.O. has always been kindness; goodwill runs in her bones,' Roth wrote.

'I know this to be true after 22 years of very close friendship. I have seen firsthand how she treats her friends and their families, and her colleagues.'

She posted a defense of Meghan on Instagram as she claimed that 'goodwill runs in her bones' and branded her an 'altruistic, magnanimous friend'. 

'She's more than just a cover story,' Roth argued in the post.  

Her comments came around the time Harry and Meghan conducted their famous interview with Oprah, and after The Times revealed accusations of bullying made against the Duchess. 

Among the claims, it emerged that royal staff say they are members of the 'Sussex Survivors' Club' after working for the couple, with some claiming they have suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety because of their treatment by Harry and Meghan. 

The Sussexes denied the claims made, saying they were based on 'misleading and harmful misinformation'.  

Addressing her pal as 'Meghan Sussex', Lindsay gushed that they are 'sisters by choice' and have an 'unbreakable bond'

Meghan was the maid of honour at her friend's wedding to Gavin Jordan in 2016

Lindsay had been expected to be Meghan's own maid of honour, before she decided not to have one. Meghan and Harry pictured at their wedding in 2018

'She's funny. Like, laugh out loud funny. And smart,' Lindsay's caption continued.

'She was this woman when we were students together at Northwestern University; she was this woman in Los Angeles when her days were spent auditioning; she was this woman living in Toronto as Rachel Zane on Suits.

'She was this woman before you knew she was dating Harry; she was this woman after you knew was dating Harry; she was this woman when she became Duchess of Sussex and she is still - without a doubt - this very same woman today.'

More recently, the Sussexes have faced similar claims in a Vanity Fair article. 

The damning profile in the magazine - headlined ‘American Hustle’ - also stated that the Duchess of Sussex could be ‘really, really awful’ when things did not go her way.

Elsewhere, the profile detailed allegations from former employees of Meghan who reportedly felt mistreated during their time working with her.

The couple later dismissed the allegations as 'distressing', according to claims in The Times.

Romances & Practicalities: A Love Story (Maybe Yours!) in 250 Questions is published by HarperCollins and is on sale now.