The Inspiring Story of Meghan Markle: More Than Just a Duchess
When Meghan Markle married Prince Harry in 2018, the world took notice. Despite her already established acting career, she was thrust into the spotlight as a member of the British royal family. But there is so much more to Meghan than just being a duchess.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Meghan grew up with a passion for acting and humanitarian work. Her parents divorced when she was young, and she has spoken openly about growing up biracial and how that shaped her identity.
After attending Northwestern University where she double-majored in theater and international relations, Meghan pursued an acting career. She landed small roles on TV shows like “General Hospital” and “CSI: NY” before getting her big break on the legal drama “Suits.” For seven seasons, she played Rachel Zane – a smart, ambitious paralegal who falls in love with one of the lawyers at her firm.
But even as her acting career took off, Meghan never lost sight of her passion for humanitarian work. In 2016, she became a global ambassador for World Vision Canada – an organization dedicated to improving children’s lives around the world. She also worked as an advocate for UN Women – speaking out about gender equality issues and working to empower women globally.
It was through her humanitarian work that Meghan met Prince Harry in 2016. They were set up on a blind date by a mutual friend and hit it off immediately. They spent several months traveling back-and-forth between London (where Harry lived) and Toronto (where Suits filmed), all while keeping their relationship private from the media.
In November 2017, after over a year of dating secretly, they announced their engagement to the world with an official statement from Kensington Palace:
“His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince Harry to Ms. Meghan Markle.”
The couple tied the knot on May 19, 2018 in a stunning ceremony at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. Millions of people around the world tuned in to watch as Meghan walked down the aisle in a breathtaking Givenchy gown designed by Clare Waight Keller.
Since becoming a member of the royal family, Meghan has continued her philanthropic work – focusing on issues like education, women’s empowerment, and animal welfare. She also made headlines for her fashion choices – often wearing sustainable and ethical brands that aligned with her values.
But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for Meghan as a duchess. She has faced intense scrutiny from the British tabloids – with some outlets printing outright lies about her character and behavior. This culminated in an emotional interview she gave during their tour of Africa in 2019 where she spoke candidly about how difficult it had been to adjust to life under such intense public scrutiny.
In January 2020, Harry and Meghan announced that they were stepping back from their roles as senior members of the royal family. They cited wanting more privacy and financial independence as reasons for their decision.
Since then, they have relocated to California (where Meghan is originally from) and launched several new ventures together – including Archewell (a non-profit organization focused on social impact), a production company called Archewell Productions (which signed an exclusive deal with Netflix), and even a podcast series called “Archewell Audio” which debuted on Spotify in December 2020.
Through it all, Meghan has remained true to herself – using her platform to elevate important causes and stand up against injustice. As one of the most influential women in the world today, she serves as a role model for countless young girls who look up to her strength, grace, and compassion.