As Meghan Markle is a hit on Pornhub, will Prince Harry's love crack under media microscope?

Meghan Markle, the rumoured girlfriend of Prince Harry, has become the centre of a media storm since news of their romance broke this week. The attention has become so alarming for the Suits actress – with paparazzi camped outside her Toronto home since Sunday 30 October – that she has already acquired a police guard, according to reports.

Amid the claustrophobic bombardment from the press, it is inevitable that as a potential princess or duchess of the British Royal family, every tiny little fragment, embellishment and detail will be dug up from Markle's past.

Her half-sister, Samantha Grant, has already come out barking about her "narcissistic" and "social-climbing" sibling, and her past relationships and divorce have been examined. Most recently, her steamy scenes as Rachel Zane on the US legal drama Suits has made her a big hit on Pornhub.

But hold your horses before you start comparing Markle – a university educated, businesswoman and humanitarian – to Kim Kardashian. The 35-year-old actress was just doing her job while starring in the pretty tame "sex scene" in question. It is not a regular occurrence in her role as the fictional paralegal and part-time associate in the hit show. The scene features her stripping off and straddling co-star Patrick J Adams in lacy lingerie. It has been viewed more than 40,000 times on the X-rated site.

At this point, it is uncertain as to whether the savvy business-minded all-rounder – who happened to launch her fashion range this week – is revelling in the media attention or beginning to get Cressida Bonas-style cold feet. Will she be a waity-Kate or do a runner like Cressie? It will be interesting to behold this royal romance as it unfolds.

Who is Meghan Markle? Read more here

She has, however, emerged from hiding once and for all. Markle, who is said to have already met Prince Charles and Harry's cousin Princess Eugenie, was photographed smiling as she left her house in Toronto – but it's likely she was putting on a brave face as she scrambled into a waiting minivan and skedaddled. There was also marked police car outside her home emblazoned with the poignant words: "To serve and to protect".

Looking incognito in a black tie-up coat and navy beanie hat with dark glasses as she fled her two-story house in an upmarket suburb of the Canadian city, it was later reported that Markle had called the Toronto Police to her home, according to the Daily Mail. She also has a separate security guard with Avonte Security – but the individual from the corporation told reporters that he was only there to protect the property. Prince Harry admirers will be queuing up to egg the house, no doubt.

One thing that can be acknowledged about the blossoming romance is that up until now, Markle has been surreptitious about the relationship for several months. Though an avid user of social media, particularly Instagram, she keeps her private life away from the lens. This is a must in any royal relationship. Harry was desperate to keep the romance under wraps for as long as possible, but may have been aware that it was about to break to press when he jetted to see his lover on Thursday (27 October), just hours after he completed his royal engagements in Nottingham.

The couple are said to have spent the entire week in Markle's luxury home, spending Halloween together trick-or-treating behind masks and partying in the grandiose Toronto branch of Soho House.

Relatively unknown to the masses, Markle will either flourish or crack under this sudden explosion of worldwide media attention. But as the relationship has has said to have grown stronger since August this year, she has no doubt mentally prepared for it.

Her 51-year-old sister's harsh interviews to several publications must have felt like a sharp blow to the stomach – particularly as she claimed that the Royal family "would be appalled" by what she has done to her own family – apparently not supporting her bankrupt parents and driven by her personal desire to succeed. Is she using Harry for her own personal gain? Highly unlikely, but it takes a very special type of "normal" person to marry into a royal family – especially the British Royal family.