On May 19, 2018, Meghan Markle married Prince Harry at St. George’s Chapel in London, England. The couple first met on a blind date in July 2016. After a whirlwind romance, they announced their royal engagement to the world on November 27, 2017. Before becoming part of the royal family, Markle was an actress as well as a passionate advocate for causes close to her heart. As a royal, Markle is sure to continue her important philanthropic work.
Markle was born Rachel Meghan Markle on August 4, 1981, in Los Angeles, CA. At a young age, Markle became interested in acting while also exhibiting a feminist spirit. When she was 11 years old, she successfully got Ivory Dish Soap to change their sexist tagline (“Women all over America are fighting greasy pots and pans”) by writing letters to the soap company as well as to then-first lady Hillary Clinton. In an interview, she shared what she learned from her campaign:”It was at that moment that I realized the magnitude of my actions.”
In 2003, Markle graduated from Northwestern University with degrees in theatre and international studies. She returned to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. However, as a biracial actress, she had difficulty getting parts. In a 2015 Elle UK interview she reflected on her initial struggle: “I wasn’t black enough for the black roles and I wasn’t white enough for the white ones, leaving me somewhere in the middle as the ethnic chameleon who couldn’t book a job.”
Her breakthrough role came in 2011, as a paralegal in the TV drama “Suits.” Her character was often the moral compass on the show, who also knew how to rock a classy pencil skirt. During her seven-year run on “Suits,” she also launched her lifestyle blog, “The Tig.” Additionally, she used her high-profile position to work on many philanthropic causes.
Markle began secretly dating Prince Harry during the summer of 2016. They were introduced by a mutual friend. After a few back-to-back dates in London, Prince Harry convinced Markle, who was living in Toronto at the time, to join him in Botswana for some camping under the stars.
Prince Harry proposed to Markle on a cozy night when they were roasting a chicken in at his Kensington Palace apartment. Prince Harry sourced the diamond himself from Botswana. He also included small diamonds from his late mother’s jewelry collection “to make sure that she’s with us on this crazy journey together.” Upon announcing her engagement to Prince Harry, Markle retired from her acting career. She is sure to integrate her passion for helping others in her new role as the Duchess of Sussex.