Meghan Markle

Rachel Meghan Markle, born August 4, 1981, started her acting career in small roles on a wide variety of television shows. Eventually, she got her big break in the U.S.A. Network legal drama “Suits” — but that’s not all the future had in store for her. After meeting him on a blind date, she began a relationship with Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and ended up becoming royalty herself after marrying him in a widely televised ceremony. She has retired from acting and has also stepped back from her role as a senior member of the royal family alongside her husband. We’ll help you celebrate her special day right here.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Rachel Meghan Markle

Nickname:

Meg, M&M

Birth date:

August 4, 1981

Age:

42

Zodiac Sign:

Leo

Height:

5' 6"

Relationship Status:

Married

Net Worth:

$60 million

Background

Meghan Markle has won the hearts of thousands around the world. She is widely known for her sense of style, kindness, generosity, and beauty, and continues to be a role model for women everywhere. Markle was born on August 4, 1981, in Los Angeles, California. Her zodiac sign is Leo and her ethnicity is mixed race. She is the daughter of Thomas Markle Sr. and Doria Ragland, and she has two half-siblings on her father’s side. Markle’s first introduction to the television industry was visiting the sets of “Married… with Children,” where her father worked as a director of photography and lighting, as a child. Before acting, she was an intern junior press officer at the American embassy in Argentina and considered a career in politics, but she was unable to proceed with her career and focused on acting, graduating from Northwestern University with a double major in theater and international studies.

Early in her career, Markle faced difficulties in getting roles due to her ethnic ambiguity and worked other jobs between acting jobs to support herself. Markle was mostly cast in small roles in both film and T.V. until 2011 when she landed the role of Rachel Zane in the legal drama “Suits,” which marked her breakthrough. She left the show after seven seasons, in 2017. During this time, she also founded and ran “The Tig,” a lifestyle website and blog, which allowed her to release two fashion collections with Reitmans, a Canadian clothing company.

In 2016, one of Markle’s friends set her up on a blind date with another friend, who turned out to be Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. The two hit it off and their relationship was confirmed in November of the same year. The following year, the couple announced that they were engaged, and Markle announced that she would retire from acting. Her first official public appearance with the British royal family was in December of the same year, during a World AIDS Day walkabout event in Nottingham. In total, she appeared at 26 public engagements as Prince Harry’s fiancé. The couple got married in March 2018, in a ceremony that was broadcasted live on television. Through her marriage to Prince Harry, Markle is now known as the Duchess of Sussex. After their wedding, Markle’s first official appearance as the Duchess of Sussex was in May 2018, celebrating the charity work of Prince Charles. That same year, Markle had her first official trip abroad as a royal to Dublin, Ireland, alongside her husband. The couple also traveled to Sydney, Australia for the 2018 Invictus Games, as part of a Pacific tour that included Australia, Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand. They were greeted warmly by crowds and announced Markle’s pregnancy. She has also participated in her husband’s work as youth ambassador to the Commonwealth, which included overseas tours. The Duke and Duchess created an Instagram social media account, which broke the record for the fastest account to date to reach a million followers.

In May 2019, Markle gave birth to a son named Archie, who is seventh in line to the British throne. That same year, Markle, Harry, and Archie embarked on a Southern African tour that included Malawi, Angola, South Africa, and Botswana, which marked their first official tour as a family. However, in January 2020, the couple announced that they were stepping back from their role as senior members of the royal family, and would balance their time between the United Kingdom and North America. They were to cease to undertake royal duties, would no longer receive the relevant financial support, and would retain their H.R.H. stylings but not use them. Markle’s final solo engagement as a senior royal was a visit to Robert Clack School on March 7, 2020, ahead of International Women’s Day. In September of that same year, the couple signed a private commercial deal with the streaming company Netflix to develop content for the platform. The following month, Markle and Harry signed a multi-year deal with audio streaming company Spotify to produce and host their own programs through Archewell Audio, their audio producing company. A holiday special was released by the couple on the service in December of that same year. In 2021, Oprah Winfrey conducted an interview with the couple on a television special titled “Oprah with Meghan and Harry,” where Markle opened up about her negative experience being a member of the British Royal Family, including contemplating suicide and a perceived lack of protection for her and her son. Markle’s podcast, “Archetypes,” is set to premiere in the summer of 2022.

Career timeline

2002
Markle’s Television Debut

She lands a small role on the daytime soap opera “General Hospital.”

2003
Markle Graduates From College

She earns her bachelor’s degree with a double major in theatre and international studies from Northwestern University.

2011
Her Acting Breakthrough

Markle joins the cast of the legal drama “Suits,” and the stint lasts seven seasons.

2016
Markle Dates Prince Harry

She begins a relationship with the British prince after being set up with him on a blind date.

2018
She Marries and Becomes Royalty

Markle marries Prince Harry and they become the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

2019
Fastest Million on Instagram

Markle and Harry create a joint Instagram account, and it becomes the fastest account to reach a million followers.

2020
Markle Steps Back

She and her husband announce that they are stepping back from their positions as senior members of the royal family.

Why We Love Meghan Markle

  1. Markle is resilient

    Her life may be glamorous, but she is no stranger to challenge. From not getting roles due to her racial identity to feeling alone and pressured in her royal life, she has had to withstand many difficulties. However, she stood her ground and came out the winner.

  2. She is a role model

    Markle’s life story is inspiring to women and girls everywhere. She also leads by example and makes good on her strong values of kindness and generosity.

  3. Markle has always fought for what’s right

    When she was 11, Markle and some of her classmates teamed up and wrote to Procter & Gamble, among others, urging them to change an advertisement they found to be sexist, and the commercial was changed. She has continued to speak up about important causes, work for charitable organizations, and donate millions.

5 Surprising Facts

  1. Markle goes by her middle name

    While we all know her as Meghan Markle, her first name is Rachel.

  2. Tea-tree oil is her go-to

    Markle says she doesn’t travel without tea-tree oil, as she finds it to be a very effective cure.

  3. Markle’s skilled at calligraphy

    When her acting career was just starting, she offered her penmanship services as a way to support herself financially.

  4. She loves yoga

    Her mother is a yoga instructor and taught Markle how to practice it when she was a child, and she still does to this day.

  5. Markle is a globe-trotter

    She has said that she has always loved to travel and be adventurous on her trips.

Meghan Markle FAQs

Who is Meghan Markle's daughter?

Markle gave birth to her second child, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, in 2021.

Does Meghan Markle have curly hair?

Yes! Markle’s hair is naturally curly but she prefers to wear it straight.

Did Meghan and Harry marry three days before?

While not a legally recognized marriage, Markle and Prince Harry did exchange vows in a private ceremony three days before their official wedding.

Meghan Markle’s birthday dates

YearDateDay
2024August 4Sunday
2025August 4Monday
2026August 4Tuesday
2027August 4Wednesday
2028August 4Friday

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