Meghan Markle Duchess of Sussex is a member of the British royal family and a former actress on television and films.
Who is Meghan Markle?
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Meghan Markle is an actress, a health blogger and she runs various charity campaigns. In 2018, Meghan married Prince Harry and became the Duchess of Sussex, as an American member of the Royal British family. As an actress, Meghan is best known for her role in a US drama named Suits playing lawyer Rachel Zane.
After her marriage with Prince Harry, Meghan had to depart from her profession as an actress. However, Meghan was in the spotlight for a long time. She then began using her popularity for good causes like charity work and running campaigns.
But in 2020 January, the couple decided to step back from their roles in the royal family and begin a new life in North America.
Early life and childhood
Meghan Markle in short for Rachel Meghan Markle was born on 4 August 1981. She was born and grew up in Los Angeles, California. Meghan Markle’s mother is a clinical therapist, Doria, and her father is a photography director Thomas. She is of mixed-race heritage. At the age of 11, Meghan wrote a letter to several people including the first lady “Hillary Clinton” about a TV advertisement where women were bogged down by greasy cookware.
The ad was sexist and people started saying that women belong in the kitchen. After Meghan’s protest, the manufacturers changed the word “women” to “people”. At this moment, she realized that even one’s small action can have a great impact on others.
For studies, Meghan then went to study international relations and theater at the Northwestern University School of Communication.
Meghan graduated in 2003 but she started her career as an actress before her graduation. In 2002, she starred in her first TV role in ‘General Hospital’ as a guest spot. Then she continued to appear in other series like Cuts, SCI: NY, The War at Home, and 90210.
Meghan Markle on suits
In 2011, Meghan made her breakthrough in her career after she landed in the role of ‘Rachel Zane’ on a USA series ‘Suits’. The show starred other famous actors like Gabriel Macht, Gine Torres, and Patrick J. Adams. The drama centered around intrigues inside the Manhattan corporate law firm where Racheal Zane is shown attending Columbia Law School aiming to become an attorney.
The show caught the interest of many and became a massive hit. The show continued airing till the seventh season in 2017. The show had to come to an end after Meghan announced that she would be leaving the show due to her engagement to Prince Harry.
Meghan appeared in several other shows and movies as well like Get Him to the Greek(2010), Horrible Boses(2011), When Sparks Fly(2014), Anti-Social(2015), and Dater’s Handbook(2016).
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry
In 2016, Meghan was internationally famous when it was revealed that she was dating Prince Harry. They two met in Toronto where Meghan was filming suits and Prince Harry was attending the Invictus Games. Because of the news of their relationship, Meghan Markle became the most googled actress in 2016.
In 2017, the couple revealed that they got engaged secretly. After few weeks of their engagement, Kensington Palace announced their royal wedding to take place on May 19 of 2018 in St. George’s Chapel. After the news of their engagement and marriage, Meghan simultaneously topped twice as the most googled actress.
In 2018, according to royal tradition, Meghan Markle had to shut down her social media like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts. She even stated that she was grateful to all of her followers throughout the years.
In February of the same year, the royal wedding was planned. The ceremony was scheduled at 12 pm in U.K time and they would ride in a carriage through Windsor Town and then enter the Window Castle through a long walk. And in the evening, Prince Charles hosted a private reception ceremony.
In March, it was said that Meghan and her family would be granted a special designer coat from the Kensington Palace before marriage. However, to receive the gift, Meghan’s father needed to prove that one of his ancestors was a part of the crown.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry got married on May 19, 2018, at St. George‘s Chapel at the Windsor Castle. Meghan wore a beautiful dress which was designed by Clare Waight Keller. Queen Elizabeth granted her with the title “Duchess of Sussex” shortly before the wedding.
Drama before the wedding
Few days before the wedding, Meghan’s family created a drama among the families. Meghan has a half-brother Thomas Markle Jr. Thomas wrote a letter to Prince Harry warning about how Meghan is a jaded woman and will make jokes about his royal family. After this offense, Thomas Markle was not invited to the wedding. The warning letter was even published in ‘In Touch’.
Aside from that Meghan’s father was reported to be staging photos of himself preparing for the big day. Meghan’s half-sister Samantha stood up to her father’s defense saying that she was behind staging the photos. After these incidents, Meghan Markle’s father Thomas Markle had to undergo heart surgery and couldn’t attend the royal wedding.
Meghan Markle baby Archie
After marriage, the couple announced that they were expecting their first child in 2019. On May 6, 2019, Meghan gave birth to a baby boy, Archie Harrison Mountbatten Windsor. The baby was kept at Windsor Castle for two months for baptism.
Royal tours and life as a Princess
After the wedding, the couple attended Prince Charle’s birthday party. Form here her formal activities started. Later Kensington Palace announced the couple’s first royal tour to visit Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and the Kingdom of tonga.
In September 2019, after having baby Archie, the family headed to Africa. It was the baby’s first royal tour. Their journey was made into a documentary where Meghan’s struggle as a new mother and a royal wife was clearly shown.
Becoming independent
On January 8, 2020, Meghan and Harry had people shook after delivering an announcement that they plan to ‘step back’ from senior royal duties in the royal family. They took this decision to become financially independent.
After a few days of the announcement, Buckingham Palace announced a statement where they confirmed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will no longer receive any funds or duties from the Royal Highness. Queen Elizabeth supported the couple and was delighted with their decision.
Meghan Markle first marriage and personal life
Before Prince Harry, Meghan Markle dated a producer Trevor Engelson. They dated for several years and married in 2011. However, the couple got divorced two years later.
Meghan has a great passion for calligraphy, yoga, and cuisine as well. She also wrote blogs about lifestyle in ‘The Tig’ from 2014- 2017. She was also appointed as U.N Women’s Advocate and ran a campaign of World Vision Clean Water.
Conclusion
Throughout Meghan’s life, there were many ups and downs. However, she managed to control it and led her to where she is today.
