GettyAn inspiring teacher can have a profound impact on a person’s life, instilling a love of their subject which can last a lifetime.
How proud drama teacher Gigi Perreau must have been, looking up at the young girl she once taught; now a world famous actress, humanitarian and princess.
Standing in the excited crowds lining the streets of Windsor, it was unlikely the royal, formerly known as Meghan Markle, would pick her out.
However, the dedicated teacher was still on hand to show support on Meghan’s special day. Gigi was beaming from ear to ear as she gazed at her former student, and the brand new Duchess of Sussex also looked happy to see her old mentor as she rode by in her fairytale carriage, looking genuinely surprised and delighted as she met Gigi’s eye.
@AlexBeresfordTV/TwitterThe poignant moment was captured by ITV journalist Alex Beresford, who’d – luckily – been standing right beside an ecstatic Gigi as the carriage passed.
It was a deeply humanising moment, slap bang in the middle of the pomp and pageantry ceremony, which is part and parcel of a British royal wedding.
We were reminded – just for a moment – how this glamorous princess was once an American schoolgirl, with a flair for acting and no inkling of just how far her dreams would take her.
Beresford shared the emotional footage on Twitter, with the following caption:
‘Oh my God’ screams Meghan as her old drama teacher Gigi Perreau manages to catch her eye in the crowd!
Two seconds before I said do you think she’d recognise you! She was right!
“Oh my God” screams Meghan as her old drama teacher Gigi Perreau manages to catch her eye in the crowd! Two seconds before I said do you think she’d recognise you! She was right! @itv @itvnews pic.twitter.com/6QMqLV1lp3
— Alex Beresford (@alexberesfordTV) May 19, 2018
Gigi herself is an impressive Hollywood actor in her own right, and has even been granted a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
She began acting way back in the 1940s, getting her first film role in Madame Curie at just two-years-old. She later worked on beloved shows such as The Donna Reid Show and The Betty Hutton Show as well as movies including Shadow on the Wall and, The Cool and the Crazy.
Gigi then turned her talents to training the next generation of actors, working as an acting coach – no doubt the young Meghan would’ve found her to be a strong role model as she set out shaping her own career.
Although Meghan is now swapping Suits for tiaras, certainly the confidence she gained through her drama education will surely prove to be invaluable as she begins her royal duties.
Fans of the regal bride were delighted at this sweet moment, which gave an insight into Meghan’s life, long before Prince Harry popped the question.
One person enthused:
I love that she saw her teacher! Teachers are special people to a lot of people. I have some teachers I’ll never forget and love dearly. That’s awesome.
Another said:
Gigi is an awesome lady & drama teacher. A credit to the Catholic school system of Los Angeles!!!!
Gigi is an awesome lady & drama teacher. A credit to the Catholic school system of Los Angeles!!!!
— David Sanders Ragsdale (@FestivalBuilder) May 20, 2018
I love that she saw her teacher! Teachers are special people to a lot of people. I have some teachers I'll never forget and love dearly. That's awesome @ITVnewsdesk
— Shara Dixon (@sharadixonwisd) May 20, 2018
Yay Gigi! #MeganMarkle #teacher
— David Ankrum (@DavidAnkrum1) May 19, 2018
I met Gigi perreau today on my tour bus. Lovely lady
— robert owen Bloomfie (@robbloomfield38) May 20, 2018
That’s amazing and thank you for your part in making our nation’s day so special and to Gigi for her part in helping our new princess become so very graceful ?
— Robbo (@robbo750) May 20, 2018
To be able to recognise a face in a shopping crowd is difficult never mind differentiate a face in a crowd of tens of thousands. To do it in the glare of not only the brilliant sunshine but the massed ranks of the World's media shows a woman at ease with the limelight I.e. a ?!
— Gordi (@GordonHotson) May 19, 2018
It’s great to see Meghan won’t be forgetting her non-palace-dwelling friends as she begins her new life as a princess.
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Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.