Overview
Timelines
Overview and main events
Acting Career
Charity and Humanitarian Work
Family Background and Influences
Public Appearances and Engagements
Early Life and Education
International Experiences and Education
Career Aspirations and Diversified Interests
Personal Life and Relationships
Media and Public Perception
Royal Life and Duties
Chronicle
Articles
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Overview and main events
Overview and main events
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, born Rachel Meghan Markle on August 4, 1981, is an American member of the British royal family and a former actress, model, and humanitarian. Her life has been marked by a diverse career in acting, significant personal milestones, and her integration into the British royal family.
August 4, 1981
Birth
Rachel Meghan Markle was born at West Park Hospital in Canoga Park, Los Angeles, California, to Thomas Markle, an Emmy Award-winning lighting director, and Doria Ragland, a former social worker and yoga instructor. Her parents divorced when she was two years old.
1999-2003
Education at Northwestern University
Meghan attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where she double-majored in theater and international studies. She was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and volunteered with the Glass Slipper Project. During her junior year, she secured an internship as a junior press officer at the American embassy in Buenos Aires.
2011-2013
First Marriage and Early Acting Career
Meghan married American film producer Trevor Engelson in 2011, but they divorced in 2013. She began her acting career, notably playing the role of Amy Jessup in the Fox science fiction-drama "Fringe" and later landing the role of Rachel Zane in the TV legal drama "Suits", a role she held for seven seasons from 2011 to 2018.
2014-2017
Lifestyle Blog and Charity Work
Meghan launched "The Tig", a lifestyle blog, which she ran until 2017. During this period, she became involved in charity work, focusing on women's issues and social justice.
June 2016
Dating Prince Harry
Meghan began dating Prince Harry of Wales in June 2016. Their relationship led to significant media attention and marked the beginning of her integration into the British royal family.
November 2017
Engagement to Prince Harry
Meghan and Prince Harry announced their engagement in November 2017. In preparation for their wedding, Meghan was baptized and confirmed into the Church of England on March 6, 2018.
May 19, 2018
Marriage to Prince Harry
Meghan and Prince Harry married at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Following the wedding, they became the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
May 6, 2019
Birth of Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor
The Duchess gave birth to their first child, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, marking a significant milestone in their family life.
Present
Royal Duties and Personal Life
As the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan continues to engage in royal duties and humanitarian work. She and Prince Harry have since welcomed another child, Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor, and have stepped back from their senior royal roles to pursue a more private life.
