Who is Meghan Markle's lunch pal? Kimberly Williams-Paisley starred in Father of the Bride alongside Steve Martin and is married to Brad Paisley

Meghan Markle and her lunch pal rocked a picture-perfect casual Californian style as they strolled out of a favourite Montecito haunt on Monday - but the Duchess's friend is actually something of a Southern belle originally.

Actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley, 52, is married to country singer Brad Paisley and the pair share two children, with the family often based in Nashville, Tennessee.

Many will recognise Kimberly's beaming smile and brunette curls from her breakout role in 1991; starring alongside Steve Martin, Diane Keaton and a young Kieran Culkin in Father of the Bride.

She played Martin's daughter Annie, a bundle of energy who bounced around a basketball court with her father while he organised her outlandish wedding after she fell in love while travelling.

The film, which also produced a sequel, proved to be a launchpad for Kimberly's career, leading to starring roles in a number of films throughout the 1990s, including Indian Summer (1993), Coldblooded (1995), and The War at Home (1996).

Meghan's lunch pal Kimberly Williams-Paisley, 52, looked ever the cool California girl as she dined with the Duchess in Montecito on Monday - but she is also something of a Southern Belle

From 2001 she became the co-star of According to Jim for a whopping eight years, even directing three episodes herself.

She then added appearances on show Nashville, Boston Legal and Two and a Half Men after According to Jim wrapped in 2009.

In addition to her acting work, Kimberly published her memoir in 2016 in which she opened up about learning to cope with her mother's dementia. 

Where the Light Gets In: Losing My Mother Only to Find Her Again details the family's struggle as her mother Linda developed an illness called primary progressive aphasia - and slowly lost the ability to 'talk, write and eventually recognize people in her own family'.

Kimberly has been married to country singer Brad Paisley for 20 years and the pair have a base in Nashville, Tennessee, the home of country music

Kimberly made her big break in 1991 family film Father of the Bride, where she played the excitable daughter of Steve Martin, who struggles to let go of his first-born child as she gets married

Kimberly has become an advocate for ending Alzheimer's and campaigns to help find a cure after losing her mother to the illness

Kimberly pictured with her mother, who had been a journalist throughout her career and who died from Alzheimer's in 2016

Reviewers praised the moving book, which in an excerpt described how Kimberly, her father and siblings 'educated themselves, tried to let go of shame and secrecy, made mistakes, and found unexpected humor and grace in the midst of suffering'.

Meanwhile in her personal life, Kimberly has been married to country singer Brad Paisley for more than 20 years and the couple share two children.

The duo are also known for their charity work. The pair have recently founded an initiative called 'The Store' to tackle food insecurity.

On their website, the pair explained that the inspiration for the project, which provides basic groceries for those that need them free of charge, began because they wanted to teach their children about global issues.

'We’ve got to get them into service and get them out of their bubble, and help them understand that there are hungry people in the world,' Kimberly said.

In 2020, The Store opened up in Nashville, only to be forced to tackle the aftermath of a tornado outbreak as well as the COVID-19 pandemic in the same year.

Their website reads: 'The Store distinguishes itself by offering a unique shopping experience that upholds the dignity of its customers. Unlike traditional food pantries, The Store invites shoppers to choose their foods from a variety of fresh, healthy options.

Her big break launched her acting career - which also included a sequel, Father of the Bride II, starring the original cast

Steve Martin and Kimberly Williams at the Golden Globe Awards in the 1990s

'This model ensures that families have access to meat, dairy, and fresh produce—often hard to find in traditional food assistance programs.'

Kimberly also uses her Instagram account to spread messages of causes important to her which include ending gun violence in the US and finding a cure for Alzheimer's.

As reported by PEOPLE, Brad first became smitten with his future wife ten years before he met her, when he watched her Father Of The Bride performance in 2001.

They met in 2001, and and he asked her to star in a music video of his. Before long, sparks were flying, and the couple now have two son together - William, 17, and Jasper, 15.

In 2021, Kimberly told the outlet that and and Brad 'focus on the laughter and keeping a sense of play'.

A lot of married couples would rather do anything but spend the evening together,' Brad also said. 'That's not the case in our house.'

Kimberly had also told PEOPLE how her husband supported her through her mother's illness, admitting that he had 'seen her at her worst and handled it so well'.

'He's just a team player and helps in the ways he can help,' she added.

The pair often gush about each other on social media and last month Kimberly shared a heartwarming photo of Brad with one of their children as she wished him and her own father a happy Father's Day.

She wrote: 'He loves those two boys so much, and they love him right back. Happy Father’s Day [Brad], and to all the great dads out there, including mine and his!'

While Kimberly's - and indeed her husband's - career, saw her spending time in the deep south as she filmed Nashville and played Connie Britton's love rival Peggy Kenter, she and Brad now live in Montecito, where they are part of the exclusive social circle Harry and Meghan run in - which also includes Ellen DeGeneres and Portia di Rossi. 

As she dined with the Duchess, the pair visited an A-list favourite Italian bistro, Tre Lune, in Montecito, where Meghan also enjoyed her 42nd birthday dinner last August.

TV and country music fans may also recognise Kimberly from ABC series Nashville where she played Peggy Kenter

Kimberly's character Peggy ties the knot with Teddy after his split from Rayna (played by Connie Britton) in the show

Kimberly and Brad often feature on each other's social media accounts - with Brad joking about his anniversary recently 

The rustic food spot - which costs around $30 for a main course - is open around the clock for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Unlike some of the more exclusive celebrity hotspots, Tre Lune, which opened its doors in 2003, is open to all members of the public.

Not only does the popular restaurant serve up delicious food for its celebrity guests, but it boasts high standards of wines too, and is a yearly 'Wine Spectator' award winner.

The trendy restaurant is a part of the Montesano Group, originally launched by Gene Montesano who also built more of America's favourite food spots: Lucky Brand Jeans, Lucky's Steakhouse, Bucatini, to name a few.

The unfussy yet tasteful restaurant has a loyal client base with visitors coming back for more of the authentic Italian cuisine.

The restaurant embodies a classic Italian style, with black and white photos of vintage celebrities lining the walls, according to USA Today.

The menu is also said to highlight various regions of Italy, and each meal is accompanied with a wine pairing suggestion.

For brunch, diners can enjoy a wide-ranging menu, which features healthy twists in a true California style, but it'll set you back approximately $20 per dish.