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01
Her father is white with German, English, Irish, Scottish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, and remote French ancestry, with Colonial American roots in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Her mother is African-American with family lines in Ohio, Georgia and Tennessee.
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02
She attended Northwestern University, majoring in theater and international relations. Her uncle Michael Markle secured her internship at the American Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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03
She shares a birthday with her Suits co-star Abigail Spencer on August 4, 1981.
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04
Cleave and Company created her engagement ring, featuring a main diamond from Botswana set on a yellow gold band, flanked by two diamonds from Princess Diana’s jewelry collection.
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05
For a scene in A Lot Like Love, the second A.D. taught her to drive a stick shift just an hour before filming.
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06
Mutual friend Markus Anderson, a consultant for Soho House, introduced her to Prince Harry.
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07
Her culinary skills became part of her Suits character Rachel Zane’s home skills.
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08
At age 36, she became the oldest royal bride for a first marriage in British history, surpassing Catherine, Princess of Wales, who married at 29.
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09
Prince Harry and Meghan announced their engagement on November 27, 2017. The wedding took place on May 19, 2018 at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.
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10
She traveled to Botswana for three weeks with Prince Harry to celebrate her 36th birthday.
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11
She managed the food blog The Tig from May 2014 until 2017, named after Tignanello wine.
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12
She grew up in View Park-Windsor Hills, known as Black Beverly Hills.
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13
Her half-sister Samantha Markle received a multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2008. She is also half-brother to Thomas Markle Jr.
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14
She has two children: Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor born May 6, 2019 and Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor born June 4, 2021.
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15
She became the first member of the British royal family to vote in a US presidential election.
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16
Her full titles upon marriage: HRH Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Countess of Dumbarton, Baroness Kilkeel.
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17
She is friends with Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Serena Williams.
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18
At age 14, she fangirled over Yasmine Bleeth while working in a frozen yogurt shop, learning how to handle fan encounters.
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19
She spent time on the set of Married… with Children because her father was the director of photography.
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20
Other Americans who married royalty include Rita Hayworth, Grace Kelly, and Queen Noor.
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21
Biographer Andrew Morton, who wrote about Princess Diana, also wrote Meghan: A Hollywood Princess in 2018.
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22
Before marrying Prince Harry, she converted to the Church of England and received baptism and confirmation.
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23
Givenchy designer Clare Waight Keller created her wedding dress, and she wore Queen Mary’s diamond tiara. She changed into a Stella McCartney dress for the reception.
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24
She is the second American to marry into the British royal family and receive a title, following Wallis Simpson, but the first to use the HRH style.
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25
A month before her wedding, she was on the Time 100 list, with a tribute by Priyanka Chopra Jonas.
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26
She considers Bonnie Hammer a major mentor for her career.
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27
She began applying for British citizenship in November 2017 but abandoned the process in 2020 when she moved back to the US.
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28
She is no longer friends with Jessica Mulroney.
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29
She claims she had to quickly learn to curtsy before meeting Queen Elizabeth II in 2017, though she had performed a curtsy on Suits years earlier.
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30
Alexi Lubomirski served as the official photographer of the royal wedding, the first broadcast in Ultra HD 4K.
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31
The Kingdom Choir performed Stand by Me during the ceremony.
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32
Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason performed three classical pieces at the wedding.
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33
She acted alongside Russell Brand in Get Him to the Greek 2010.
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34
She speaks Spanish fluently, having learned it during an internship in Buenos Aires.
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35
The Dean of Windsor, Rev David Conner, supervised the ceremony; the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, oversaw vows.
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36
She is a self-confessed feminist.
