Before becoming the Duchess of Sussex and a member of the British royal family, Meghan Markle was an everyday American, paving her way to stardom in the entertainment industry.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry tied the knot on May 19, 2018, at the St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. Before their royal wedding, the duo dated for almost two years and got engaged in November 2017. Following their marriage, the pair assumed their positions as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. They began their journey as a married couple at the two-centuries-old Frogmore Cottage.
Since their union, Meghan Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, have scaled through notable milestones together, from welcoming their only son, Prince Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, in May 2019, to honoring several life-changing charity commitments.
However, the biggest milestone came in January, when the royal pair went public with their decision to step down from royal duties, thereby relinquishing all royal titles and privileges. The announcement took the world by surprise, sparking a debate about the appropriateness of the decision. Their joint exit later came to be termed “Megxit.”
With the two starting a new life in Canada, along with their son, following Megxit, they seem like a regular family of three without the royal protocols and rules to live by. The independence, which the pair believe would offer their son a chance at a normal life while growing up, just like his mom had, is a luxury Meghan Markle’s husband, Prince Harry, never had as a child.
MEGHAN MARKLE’S LIFE BEFORE ROYALTY
For Meghan Markle, her rise to fame was a long, rocky walk, not without its pitfalls. Growing up in Los Angeles, living through her parent’s divorce when she was just six, and surviving one divorce herself contributed to making her the woman she is today.
The actress was born on August 4, 1981, to Doria Ragland and Thomas Markle Sr. She attended the girls-only private school, Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles. After graduating high school, she proceeded to Northwestern University, where she earned a double major in theater and international studies. Meghan Markle’s father was a stage director, which piqued the icon’s interest in entertainment at an early age. She later joined the industry as an actress.
In addition to her acting gigs, the ambitious 38-year-old took up freelance calligraphy and bookbinding tutoring to secure extra income. She also set up a lifestyle blog called “The Tig” which she managed in her downtime. At some point during the onset of her career, Meghan worked as a briefcase model in the game show, “Deal Or No Deal,” a role she admittedly despised.
In 2004, the “Suits” star married producer Trevor Engelson in Jamaica after dating him for six years. Meghan and Engelson divorced in 2013, citing irreconcilable differences.
MEGHAN’S LIFE AS AN ACTRESS, AND HER NOTABLE ROLES
Meghan Markle delved into acting in 2002, landing a role in the daytime soap opera. “General Hospital” two years later, which marked her on-screen debut. She made appearances in “The War At Home,” “Century City,” “CSI: NY,” “Remember Me,” and “Horrible Bosses,” among others. However, it was her stint on the USA Network show, “Suits,” as the ambitious paralegal-turned-attorney Rachael Zane for seven seasons that garnered her widespread popularity.
In a 2015 blog post, the star opened up about how snagging a role in “Suits” changed her life forever. It gave her the opportunity of moving to a new neighborhood in Manhattan, meeting new friends, and finding a family in the “Suits” cast members. Above all, it transformed her from a girl in an audition into a woman who had a part in “Suits.”
MEGHAN MARKLE’S FAMILY
Since Meghan Markle became part of the royal family, she sacrificed her entertainment success, putting her acting career on hold. She now devotes her time to charity, voluntary engagements, and maintaining a happy family with her two charming princes.
Meghan Markle’s mother, Doria Regland, who raised her as a single mom since she was six, is also part of the actress’s picture-perfect world. The two women share a close-knit relationship, with similar interests. The royal mother of one has a half brother, Thomas Markle, and a half-sister, Samantha, from her father’s other relationships. The Duchess is reportedly estranged from her half-siblings and invited neither of them to her 2018 royal wedding.
Meghan’s rise from a regular Canadian-girl to the grand-daughter-in-law of the British monarch can easily pass for a typical fairytale.