A Close Bond Between Father And Daughter
Megan grew up being very close with her dad, Tom Markle. Some say that she got into acting because her father was once in the movie industry as well. He received an Emmy award for his work as a lighting director in films.
A Close Bond Between Father And Daughter
A Tight Family Unit
By looking at this photo you can see that Meghan was very close to her family. It’s no wonder that when she received so much media attention because she was involved with Prince Harry they were concerned for her.
A Tight Family Unit
Changing The World At A Young Age
Meghan had strong beliefs from a young age and wasn’t afraid to speak out. Meghan wrote a complaint letter about a sexist phrase in a Proctor & Gamble commercial. Her letter was taken seriously, and the advertisement was changed! This photo was taken during the interview with Linda Ellerbee from Nick News about her letter.
Changing The World At A Young Age
A Beautiful Homecoming Queen
Meghan attended Immaculate High School, which was an all-girl school. Boys were allowed to accompany the girls to their homecoming dance where she was crowned Prom Queen. Who knew that one day she’d become a real royal!
A Beautiful Homecoming Queen
A Happy Child
Even though Meghan’s parents divorced when she was six, she lived a charmed life and was always a focused child. Meghan’s dad won $750,000 in the lottery, and that was why she was able to go to the best school.
A Happy Child
Baby Meghan With Her Half-Sister
Meghan has a half-sister, Samantha, from her father’s previous marriage, and they are 17 years apart. They were never very close, in fact, now they’re quite estranged. Samantha is apparently working on a book about Meghan titled “The Diary of Princess Pushy’s Sister”.
Baby Meghan With Her Half Sister
Exposed To Charitable Examples
As a young girl, Meghan’s mom would take her to hospices to visit patients and to take meals for them. She was also taught to donate food on Thanksgiving to the less fortunate. It’s no wonder she’s so charitable now.
Exposed To Charitable Examples
Never Too Far Away
Even though her dad now lives in Baja, California, they may be far apart in distance but their bond is still as strong. Both he and Meghan’s mom were extremely happy for her when her engagement to Harry was announced.
Never Too Far Away
Not Always So Glam
Here we see just how normal a childhood Meghan had. We’re used to seeing her all glammed up, even during her acting days before becoming a princess. Here she looks like a regular kid enjoying some popcorn at the zoo.
Not Always So Glam
College Days
Meghan attended Northwest University and graduated in 2003. She double majored in theater and international studies and was part of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She was always very involved with her school and thoroughly enjoyed the theater programs.
College Days
Friends Speak Highly Of Her
Meghan’s friends from high school speak very highly of her whenever they get the chance. Some have even spoken to People magazine saying how she was a great role model to other girls and how she inspired other students because of her tenacity and go-getter attitude.
Friends Speak Highly Of Her
The Best Mother-Daughter Bond
Meghan and her mom Doria are extremely close. So much so that even though the public only found out about the engagement to Harry weeks after he actually proposed, her mom knew right from the start. Apparently Harry asked for her permission before proposing.
The Best Mother Daughter Bond
Loved By Everyone She Met
Meghan had a way about her that she was loved by everyone she met. This is a photo taken with her sorority sisters, and it just shows how loved she was loved. Even her professors had only good things to say about her.
Loved By Everyone She Met
An Activist At Heart
Just like when she was a kid, in college Meghan spoke out about gender equality and women’s rights. She was also very vocal about being mindful of all people but especially those in the minority who are biracial or of color.
An Activist At Heart
Visiting Her Future Home Without Even Knowing
When Meghan was 15 years old, she traveled around Europe with a friend. While in England, one of the places they visited was Buckingham Palace. Little did she know back then that she would be part of that royal family many years later.
Visiting Her Future Home Without Even Knowing
Spending Time With Her Half-Brother
Apart from having a half-sister, Meghan also has a half-brother named Tom Jr. The two used to spend a lot of time together and still have a good relationship. He was also pleased to hear about her engagement to Harry.
Spending Time With Her Half Brother
Daddy’s Girl
Meghan was always a daddy’s girl, but at the age of 18, they apparently went through a bad patch and had a rift. Thank goodness they were able to work things out and the pair are now just as close as ever.
Daddy’s Girl
Loved The Arts From A Young Age
Meghan loved to perform from a young age and loved being on a stage. This photo was taken at one of Meghan’s school productions. She carried her love for acting into adulthood and with hard work and perseverance she became an accomplished actress.
Loved The Arts From A Young Age
Small Screen Days
Before hitting big in 2011 when she was cast as Rachel Adams on the hit show Suits, Meghan was a suitcase girl on game show Deal Or No Deal. She told Esquire that she did jobs like that to make ends meet while auditioning for bigger roles.
Small Screen Days
College Acting
When she was in college, Meghan was always part of the theater productions. In this particular one, she was cast as Sleeping Beauty. All these acting opportunities she got in college helped her get the experience that she needed to make it big.
College Acting
Small Roles
Meghan landed a small role in a 2005 movie called A Lot Like Love, starring alongside Ashton Kutcher and Amanda Peet. Her role was very brief but she was a real shining star in those few moments she had on screen.
Small Roles
Embracing Her Heritage
If you didn’t already know, Meghan comes from a mixed-race family. Her father is white with Irish descent and her mother is African American. Meghan is proud of her heritage and has embraced her unique ethnicity. She said: “My dad is Caucasian and my mom is African American. I’m half black and half white …. While my mixed heritage may have created a grey area surrounding my self-identification, keeping me with a foot on both sides of the fence, I have come to embrace that. To say who I am, to share where I’m from, to voice my pride in being a strong, confident mixed-race woman.”
Embracing Her Heritage
All For Racial Equality
Not only is she proud of her heritage, but she also advocates racial equality. She gets upset when her ethnic features are airbrushed in photos so she looks less African American. She’s proud of who she is and is not ashamed of any ethnic feature.
All For Racial Equality
Freelance Calligraphy
Meghan seems to have many hidden talents, one being calligraphy. She really enjoys calligraphy and had at one point used her skill to earn a living while waiting for her big break in Hollywood. She was a freelance calligraphist for a short while.
Freelance Calligraphy
Entrepreneurial Talents
Meghan was determined to be successful in life and tried many different ways to achieve her goal. She didn’t sit around and wait for her next big break, she made things happen. She even launched her own stylish yet affordable fashion line.
Entrepreneurial Talents
A Feminist Through and Through
Not only does Meghan advocate for racial equality, but for gender equality too. It’s no surprise to find out that she is a strong feminist and has spoken at length about this subject that she feels so strongly about.
A Feminist Through And Through
Strong Women Belong In Politics
Together with her strong belief that women should be independent and treated equally, Meghan believes that women belong in politics. There are not enough women in politics these days and they should be invited to be part of global decision making.
Strong Women Belong In Politics
Not The First American Princess
You may not know, but Meghan is not the first American actress to become a princess after marrying into royalty. American actress Grace Kelly became the princess of Monaco in the 1950s when she married the Prince of Monaco.
Not The First American Princess
Using Fame To Do Good
Meghan feels blessed to be in a position where she is known worldwide not only for her acting but now because she married into the British Royal family. She sees this as an opportunity to use her fame to do good in the world.
Using Fame To Do Good
A Name That Rolls Off The Tongue
Not many people know that Meghan is actually her middle name, and her first name is Rachel. When she became famous she decided to drop Rachel and only keep Meghan so her name would roll off the tongue easier.
A Name That Rolls Off The Tongue
A True American
Meghan describes herself as a ‘brash’ American. Unfortunately, that has been the cause of some friction with the royal family because they’re all about perfect appearances. It’s unlikely that Harry will ever become king, but if he did, many British people wouldn’t likely accept Meghan as queen.
A True American
A Scandal She Didn’t See Coming
It’s as if when someone is about to become part of the royal family, suddenly a nude photo scandal surfaces. This is exactly what happened to Meghan before the wedding, as well as to Kate a few years back. Thankfully the scandal was swiftly dealt with.
A Scandal She Didn’t See Coming
Doubts Because Of Her Past
In 2011 Meghan married her long-time boyfriend, Trevor Engelsen who was an actor and a producer. The marriage wasn’t meant to be and the pair divorced in 2013. The fact that she was a divorcee was yet another reason for concern for the royal family.
Doubts Because Of Her Past
Nothing Stopped Them
Regardless of his family’s concerns, Harry proposed to Meghan in 2017. They were so in love that nothing from her past mattered. All that was important was that they loved each other and that was enough.
Nothing Stopped Them
A Meaningful Ring
When Harry had the ring made for Meghan he included diamonds from his mother’s own engagement ring. Harry chose to design the ring himself so it was more personal. His choice was very different from what his brother had chosen for Kate.
A Meaningful Ring
Mad Love For Her Dogs
Back home in Los Angeles, Meghan had two dogs. One was a Beagle named Guy and the other is a Labrador named Bogart. Sadly, when she moved to London she could only take the Beagle with because the Labrador was too old to make the trip.
Mad Love For Her Dogs
Best Friends With Other Celebrities
Being in the Hollywood scene, Meghan met a lot of different people and formed some real friendships. She became good friends with actress Priyanka Chopra. Meghan also became close with tennis superstar Serena Williams.
Best Friends With Other Celebrities
Yoga As A Means To Say Fit
Doria, Meghan’s mother has been a yoga instructor for years so it’s no wonder that Meghan loves it too. She claims it’s in her blood. During an interview with Best Health, Meghan shared that she does yoga to stay fit and grounded.
Yoga As A Means To Say Fit
Selfless Giving
Meghan has always loved giving to the less fortunate, even before she met Harry. Now she enjoys it more than ever because she gets to share it with him. Despite everyone’s doubts, Meghan and Harry are here to stay because they’re perfect for each other.
Selfless Giving
Stunning In Blue
Meghan’s fashion sense was always on point. Here she is rocking a strappy navy blue dress and accessorizing with a beautiful blue clutch in 2006 with then boyfriend Trevor Engelson. The two got married in 2011 and by 2013 were divorced.
Stunning In Blue
Presenter Days
Here we see Meghan in full TV presenter mode during her time as a briefcase girl on Deal or No Deal. She did not enjoy this role, and she shared with Esquire that “I was the ill-fated number 26, which for some reason no one would ever choose.”
Presenter Days
Suits Promo
Here Meghan is striking a power pose in a Suits promo photoshoot. She played paralegal Rachel Zane, a role that would propel her into fame. The show lasted until 2019, but Markle left after the show’s seventh season in order to focus on royal life.
Suits Promo
Beach Bowl Game
In February 2014, Meghan joined several other Hollywood A-listers like Chrissy Teigen in the DirecTV Beach Bowl game. She ended up winning and ended up making friends with Serena Williams.
Beach Bowl Game
Women’s Rights Advocate
In October 2014, Markle spoke at the One Young World Summit in Ireland. During her speech, she spoke about the gender pay gap, an issue that she has always been passionately vocal about. She focuses a lot of her philanthropy work in women’s rights.
Women’s Rights Advocate
Women In Television
In January 2016 Meghan joined fellow actors Abigail Spencer, Jordana Brewster, and Sarah Highland at the Women in Television dinner hosted by Elle. The women all looked absolutely stunning.
Women In Television
First Appearance Together
In September 2017, Meghan and Harry made their first public appearance as a couple together while attending the Invictus Games in Toronto. They had met earlier in the summer of 2016. A friend set them up on a blind date, and sparks flew.
First Appearance Together
First Royal Event
Shortly after their first public appearance together, the couple attended their first royal event together in December 2017. They showed up together at the Terrance Higgins Trust charity fair on World AIDS Day.
First Royal Event
Always Together
Here we see Harry and Meghan together sharing a happy moment while visiting Wales in January 2018. The two are super close and protective of one another. In fact, Harry always stood beside her, especially when the media was overly critical of Meghan.
Always Together
Wedding Prep
In May 2018, Meghan and Harry officially tied the knot. The day before the wedding, Meghan spent the day preparing with her mom Doria Ragland. Meghan is very close with her mother, and reportedly now lives within close proximity to her so Doria can spend time with her grandson Archie.
Wedding Prep
Behind The Scenes
Meghan and Harry were invited to a performance of hit Broadway musical Hamilton in August 2018. Lin Manuel Miranda, the creator of the show, invited them to the performance and also backstage after the show in order to meet the cast and crew.
Behind The Scenes
Australian Beach Day
Harry and Meghan took a royal tour of Australia where they got to spend time at the gorgeous South Bondi Beach. They joined forces with OneWave, a mental health awareness organization and they participated in several beachside activities.
Australian Beach Day
Baby Archie
Harry and Meghan welcomes their firstborn son, Archie, into the world in May 2019. His full name is Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. While he was born to the formerly royal couple, he is not a prince.
Baby Archie
Royal Tour of South Africa
While on a visit to South Africa, Meghan spent time dancing and laughing while visiting Nyanga, Cape Town at a Justice Desk event. In her speech she said: “I want you to know that for me, I am here with you as a mother, as a wife, as a woman, as a woman of color and as your sister. I am here with you, and I am here FOR you.”
Royal Tour Of South Africa
Strong Women Stick Together
While on the tour in South Africa, Meghan had the opportunity to spend time with Graça Machel, former first lady and widow of the late Nelson Mandela. The two women are both humanitarians and champions of women’s rights. Machel said to Markle: “It’s wonderful meeting you. I’m sure we’re going to be working together in the future. I can feel the vibe.”
Strong Women Stick Together
Subtle Differences
Before she became a royal, Markle was free to do whatever she pleased, including crossing her legs while out in public. Here she is with Petra Nemcova at Fashion Week in 2013. So what’s the problem here?
Subtle Differences
Duchess Slant
As a Duchess, Markle was expected to sit with the “duchess slant,” a term coined by Beaumont Etiquette. This seated position involves keeping ankles and knees together while slanting the legs to the side.
Duchess Slant
No More Bold Nails
There are a lot of rules when it comes to joining the royal family, and some are quite unexpected. As a member of the royal crew, women are not permitted to have nail polish that is not a neutral color, as the Queen does not permit it.
No More Bold Nails
Kicking Back
Here we see Meghan sipping on a cocktail while enjoying the DirecTV Beach Bowl event at the Gansevoort Hotel in New York City in 2014. While royals are expected to be a part of formal toasts, we’re pretty sure photos like this one, with a fun margarita are a royal no-no.
Kicking Back
Shopping Spree
Markle was once just like us, enjoying a fun shopping spree every once in a while. Here she was in Los Angeles in 2010, enjoying time at the Some Kind-a Gorgeous Style and Beauty Lounge at the Chateau Marmont.
Shopping Spree