Meghan Markle Facts- What You Don't Know About the Royal

Meghan Markle is far more than a drop-dead stunner and the talented actress from Suits. She’s a longtime humanitarian and women’s rights activist, so we sincerely approve of Prince Harry’s choice of wife. From her adorably basic Instagram to her outspokenness on topics she’s passionate about, it’s easy to get a sense for why Harry fell for her. We would, too.

But what don’t you know about the California native who joined the family of the British monarchy? For one, her name isn’t actually Meghan at all! What about the fact that her and Harry are actually distant cousins? Did you know about the beauty trend she helped inspire? SHARE these interesting Meghan Markle facts about the royal with any of your friends who love a princess fairytale!

She Was Born in Los Angeles

Meghan Markle was born in Los Angeles in August 1981, which was only six days after the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana — 5,500 miles away at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.

Her Dad Was Successful in Hollywood, Too

Her dad is Thomas Markle, an Emmy award-winning TV lighting designer originally from Pennsylvania. He worked on such iconic U.S. shows as Married with Children and General Hospital.

Her Mom Was Repeatedly Mistaken for Her Nanny

Markle’s mother, Doria Radlan, was a temporary office worker posted at the same studio as Thomas Markle when they met. Markle has spoken about how people used to assume her mother was her nanny because Radlan is black and Markle has light skin. Also, the Valley area of L.A. in which they lived was largely white.

She and Harry Are Distant Cousins

Following an investigation by the Daily Mail, it was discovered that the couple share a 15th-century ancestor, the high sheriff of County Durham Ralph Bowes, whose family seat was Streatlam Castle. Keepin’ it in the family as always, eh royals?

Her Instagram Reveals Her Politics

Her Instagram feed points to a left-leaning political mind. When anti-Brexit protestors marched in London in July 2016, she posted a picture of this placard.

Her Politics May Have Caused Family Problems

As we established earlier, Meghan has been politically active from a very early age, and remained so throughout her public life, notably criticizing Donald Trump often in the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election. While Meghan has dialed down on political rhetoric since the wedding – due to the royal family’s policy of being politically neutral – some royal-watchers have theorized that her previous statements have not sat well with the family.

Meghan Felt the Pressure

In an October 2019 interview, Meghan opened up about the pressures of being a royal, saying, “I really tried to adopt this British sensibility of a ‘stiff upper lip’—I really tried, but I think that what that does internally is probably really damaging.” She continued, “I never thought that this would be easy, but I thought it would be fair. And that’s the part that’s really hard to reconcile. If things were fair … If I’d done something wrong, I’d be the first one to go, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. I would never do that,’ but when people are saying things that are just untrue, and they are being told they’re untrue but they’re allowed to still say them—I don’t know anybody in the world who would feel like that’s okay.”

She Lost Her Second Pregnancy

The world was alive in May 2019 when Meghan Markle gave birth to her son Archie. In November 2020, Duchess Meghan announced that she was pregnant for the second time—but sadly, she suffered from a miscarriage in July of the same year. In an article for the New York Times, she shared a heartbreaking story of her experience. She spoke out against the societal stigma that she was often surrounded by miscarriages.

She Has Been Sensitive to Social Injustice Since a Young Age

Markle and her mother took trips to such places as Oaxaca in southern Mexico, where Markle was affected by the poverty she saw, such as the young children peddling sweets for a few pesos on the streets.

She Reads Noam Chomsky

This might be a new one for a Royal family member. Markle is a fan of famous linguist and political activist Noam Chomsky, who has spoken out against capitalism and imperialism. Markle once recommended his book Who Rules the World, which critiques the rise of undemocratic elites in the United States.

She Was a Feminist From an Early Age

When Markle was 11 years old, she wrote to the then First Lady Hillary Clinton (who she supported in last year’s election), to complain about a sexist advertisement she saw on TV that aligned only women with household cleaning. The ad was changed, and Markle appeared on Nick News for her strength of action.

She Speaks About Racial Issues, Too

Not only does she rally for feminist causes, but she is outspoken on the question of race. Markle wrote last year in Elle magazine of her own experience of racial stereotyping. “As a biracial woman, I watch in horror as both sides of a culture I define as my own become victims of spin in the media, perpetuating stereotypes and reminding us that the States has perhaps only placed bandages over the problems that have never healed at the root.”

She Has Had Many Acting Roles Besides 'Suits'

Markle is most known for her role as a paralegal in Suits. Markle’s first TV role came in an episode of the medical drama General Hospital in 2002. She went on to play parts in CSI, Without A Trace, and Castle, and then appeared in feature films including Get Him To The Greek, Remember Me, and Horrible Bosses.

She Has Been Married Before

Markle married film producer Trevor Engelson at a four-day wedding party in Jamaica in 2011, but the couple divorced two years later, citing irreconcilable differences.

She Had a Lifestyle Blog

Markle established a lifestyle blog named The Tig, for “those with a hunger for food, travel, fashion and beauty,” a discerning palate at that. It never presented standards as unreachable as Goop, but has since been shut down.

She Likes Her Alone Time

As she explained on The Tig, she doesn’t mind spending time alone, seeing no problem with going to a movie alone or taking herself to dinner. This apparent ease with independence is no doubt helpful when dating a person with as many commitments as Harry.

She Isn't as Scandalous as the Last American in the Royal Family

She will be the first American to enter the royal family since the controversial Wallis Simpson. The would-be King Edward (Prince of Wales) desired to marry Simpson, who had two living ex-husbands, which threatened to cause a constitutional crisis in the United Kingdom, and therefore led to his abdication in December 1936 to marry “the woman I love.”

She Advocates for Children

Markle is the global ambassador for World Vision Canada, which campaigns for better education, food, and healthcare for children around the world. She visited and conducted parliamentary meetings at Gihembe refugee camp in Rwanda as an advocate for UN Women.

Her Heroes Are Very Respectable People

Markle has named her heroes as the former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright (left) and the former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (right). “These are my heroes,” she said. “These are my celebrities.”

She Interned at the U.S. Embassy

Markle worked in the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires because she hated the idea of being the LA-born actress cliché, so while she wanted to do that, she wanted to also pursue her political interests for real meaning in life.

She Has Beautiful Handwriting

A woman of many talents, Markle originally subsidized her acting career with freelance calligraphy work, including writing the invitations for Robin Thicke and Paula Patton’s wedding in 2005.

She Was On 'Deal or No Deal'

For one season, Markle was one of the 26 suitcase-toting models on the Howie Mandel-hosted game show, Deal or No Deal. She has said she took the job at a time when she was trying to make ends meet.

She Inspired a Plastic Surgery Trend

While not a hairstyle, there’s a new “the Rachel” that’s sought after, inspired by Meghan, whose real first name is actually Rachel. According to E! News, the most requested nose job of late is “the Meghan Markle.”

Self-Confidence

Meghan Markle comes from a mixed-race ethnic background, her father was white while her mother was African American. In 2015, Markle wrote an essay for Elle magazine that read in part, “My dad is Caucasian and my mom is African American. I’m half black and half white… While my mixed heritage may have created a grey area surrounding my self-identification, keeping me with a foot on both sides of the fence, I have come to embrace that. To say who I am, to share where I’m from, to voice my pride in being a strong, confident, mixed-race woman.”

Meghan Met Harry on a Blind Date

Harry and Meghan first met in June 2016, when a mutual friend set them up on a blind date. According to Markle, she wasn’t fully aware what she was getting into when she agreed to the date, saying in a 2017 interview, “Because I’m from the States you don’t grow up with the same understanding of the royal family. And so, while I now understand very clearly there is a global interest there, I didn’t know much about him and so the only thing that I had asked her when she said she wanted to set us up was, I have one question- ‘Well, is he nice?’ Because if he wasn’t kind it just didn’t seem like it would make sense.”

She Cooked Her Engagement Roast Chicken

In an earlier interview with Good Housekeeping in 2016, the Duchess stated that they were simply attempting to make Ina Garten’s roasted chicken that one cozy night. She was taken aback when the prince got down on his knees and proposed to her while they were doing it. They claimed that the chicken played an important role on the night of the proposal.

She Grew Up on a Television Set

Duchess Meghan’s father was a lighting director and director of photography for Married…with Children. She was just nine years old at the time when she was a regular on the set of this ’80s sitcom. “Every day after school for ten years, I was on the set of Married…with Children, which is a really funny and perverse place for a little girl in a Catholic school uniform to grow up. The former star Ed O’Neill even claimed he saw her there every day on the set.

She Named Her Blog After a Wine

The Duchess also discovered a passion for wine and used it as a metaphor for discovering her own unique taste when she chose the name The Tig for her lifestyle blog. “I had a sip of it six years ago, and it was my first ‘a-ha’ moment. You spend years going, ‘Oh, I’ll just have red or white. I don’t really know what the difference is.’ But then one day you take a sip of something and you’re like, I get it. So the Tig became this personal idea of getting it—fashion, travel, beauty, all of it.” Sadly, she had to close her blog as she became part of the royal family.

She is a Certified Yoga Instructor

Meghan Markle began practicing yoga several years ago and has been a certified yoga instructor for two years. She teaches yoga at a studio in London. Meghan Markle is a certified yoga instructor, which means she is qualified to teach yoga classes. She is frequently seen practicing yoga, and she has stated that it helps her relax and de-stress. She also enjoys the physical benefits of yoga, such as increased flexibility and strength.

She is an Animal Lover

Meghan Markle has always been fond of animals. She has stated that she would like to have a menagerie of animals one day. She has two dogs, Guy and Bogart, as well as a rescue chicken, Potato. Meghan Markle is a big fan of animals because they make her happy. She enjoys spending time with them and has a close relationship with them. Animals, according to Meghan, can teach us a lot about life, love, and compassion. She considers them to be our best teachers in these matters.

She Had Her Engagement Ring Redesigned

Meghan Markle’s engagement ring was redesigned by a jeweler in London. The new design features a large diamond in the center and smaller diamonds on the sides. Meghan Markle’s engagement ring is said to be more modern and sleek than the previous model. The large center diamond is said to represent Meghan’s love for Prince Harry, while the smaller diamonds on the sides are said to represent their future children.

She is a Trained Calligrapher

Meghan Markle is a trained calligrapher, which means she is skilled in the art of calligraphy. She started practicing calligraphy because she loves the art form and enjoys the creative outlet it provides. She was trained in calligraphy by a professional calligrapher in London. She often uses her calligraphy skills to write letters, cards, and invitations. Meghan Markle started practicing calligraphy several years ago.

She Has Been Mom-Shamed

Some people have criticized Meghan Markle for being a mother who is not married. They believe that Meghan Markle is not doing enough to be a mother figure, citing her lack of marriage to Prince Harry as proof. It is not known how Meghan Markle feels about being mom-shamed, but it is likely that she does not appreciate the criticism. As far as we know, Meghan Markle has not publicly spoken about the mom-shaming she has received.

She Loves Carrot Cake

Carrot cake has long been a favorite of Meghan Markle’s. In a London cafe, she had her first bite of carrot cake. She appreciates carrot cake because it’s a classic and reassuring dessert. She even had it at one of her birthday celebrations. The sweetness of the cake complements the creaminess of the frosting perfectly. Carrot cake is also high in nutrients such as Vitamin A and fiber.

She is an Avid Reader

She often reads books in her free time, and she has even said that reading is one of her favorite hobbies. She likes reading books because they allow her to escape into another world and learn new things. She also enjoys the challenge of reading complex books. Meghan Markle enjoys reading books of all genres, but she particularly enjoys historical fiction and biographies. Meghan Markle’s favorite book is “The Book of Life” by Paulo Coelho.

Learning on the Job

On the set of the 2005 film A Lot Like Love – a 2005 romantic comedy which starred Ashton Kutcher and Amanda Peet as a couple whose relationship slowly evolves from lust to friendship to romance over the course of several years – Markle (who briefly appeared in the film) had to learn how to drive stick shift. In fact, she was taught to do so by the films assistant director just hours before filming of the scene.

College Grad

After graduating high school, Marble enrolled in Northwestern University (NU) in Evanston, Illinois for the 1999/2000 school year. While in college, she joined Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, did volunteer work with the Glass Slipper Project, interned as a junior press officer at the American embassy in Buenos Aires, and studied abroad in Madrid. Markle graduated in 2003, earning a bachelor’s degree with a double major in theater and international studies from Northwestern’s School of Communication.

Real Life Bleeds In

As we’ve mentioned a few times over the course of this gallery Meghan is a bit of a goodie, having run The Tig and cooking her own engagement meal. Therefore, it likely shouldn’t come as too much of a shock that these real life culinary interests were folded some of her on-screen characters, most notably in elements of Rachel Zane on Suits. Specifically, the character is shown to love “experiencing new tastes.”

Wedding Dress

For her wedding dress, Meghan wore a Givenchy dressed designed by designer Clare Waight Keller, whom Markle chose because she “wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent who has now served as the creative head of three globally influential fashion houses — Pringle of Scotland, Chloé, and now Givenchy.” The dress, which was described as conveying modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts” was paired with Queen Mary’s diamond tiara courtesy of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Oldest Royal Bride

When Meghan married Harry, she became the oldest royal bride ever at the age of 36. That surpassed her sister-in-law Catherine Princess of Wales, who was 29 when she married Prince William of Wales. Of course to be fair, this less a commentary on the women’s ages and more a testament to how marriage and specifically the ages people get married – even royals – have evolved over the centuries.

Pioneering American

Meghan was technically the second American to ever marry into the British Royal Family and receive a title – following Wallis Simpson (pictured), who obtained who married Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor aka the man formerly known as King Edward Vlll who abdicated the throne to marry the divorced Simpson. However, unlike Simpson who only attained the title Duchess of Windsor, Meghan was granted the status of a British princess, which allowed her to use the style “Her Royal Highness”, becoming the first American to use the style. However, Meghan isn’t the only American to marry into a royal family…

Royal Company

Meghan Markle isn’ the only American – or even the only famous American actress – to marry into royalty. Her company includes Rita Hayworth, Grace Kelly (pictured), Queen Noor, Kristin J. White, Kendra Spears, Crown Princess Marie-Chantal, Alexandra Miller, Lee Radziwill, Kelly Rondestvedt, Hope Cooke, Sarah Butler, Alison Kay, Alana C. Bunte, Olivia Wilde, Christopher O’Neill and Elizabeth Hoag.

Voter

In 2020, Meghan became the first British royal to vote in an election, specifically the United States Presidential Election pitting Donald Trump against Joe Biden. This caused a bot of controversy in Britain, as royals are technically forbidden by royal protocol from voting in British elections to maintain political neutrality. however, there is no rule, unwritten or otherwise, discussing the elections of other nations. As for why Meghan was allowed to vote in the U.S., well…

Citizenship

Following her engagement to Prince Harry in 2017, Meghan began working towards applying for British citizenship. However after her and Harry left England and moved back to the United States in 2020 – hold on, we’re getting there – Meghan abandoned the process and remains solely a citizen of the USA.

The Big Split

In 2020, an event that the press would come to call the “Megxit” occurred. This revolved around and announcement that Harry and Meghan would be “stepping back” from their royal duties after consultation and agreement with the royal family. The terms of these agreements included- “-The couple will no longer represent the Queen. This was in contrast to the couple’s earlier statement on their sussexroyal.com website that they would carry out future duties for the Queen.-They will retain the Royal Highness style but will not use it, and will be called Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.They will be financially independent of the British taxpayer/exchequer (and will repay the £2.4 million renovation costs of Frogmore Cottage).-Harry would cease duties for all British military appointments (including Captain General Royal Marines), and would no longer officially represent the royal family at military ceremonies.-The couple will spend most of their time in North America.-Frogmore Cottage would continue to function as their British home, but they would pay a “commercial rent” for it.-The couple would retain their private patronages and associations (e.g. Invictus Games), but not royal ones (e.g. Commonwealth Youth Ambassador).-Prince Charles would continue to provide financial support.”

Oprah

For months, rumors and conjecture argued about why Harry and Meghan left the royal family. They controversially cleared the air with an interview with Oprah Winfrey. During the interview, Harry said he “history repeating itself” when comparing the way Megan was treated to how his mother Princess Diana was treated by the British press. In addition, both talked about instances of racism and institutional issues they had with members of the royal family. According to Harry, the couple “did what they had to do.”

Archewell

Following the so-called Megxit, Harry and Meghan founded Archewell, a “Beverly Hills-based public organization registered in Delaware and founded in 2020 by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. The group includes the couple’s nonprofit charitable foundation, as well as business divisions focusing on media production, Archewell Audio and Archewell Productions.”

Netlfix

Archewell’s first major project is going to be Harry & Meghan, a docuseries scheduled to debut on Netflix in late 2022. The streaming giant describes the series as- “At its core, their relationship looks like many others- They met, had a whirlwind romance, fell in love, got married, had children, and built a life based on shared values and mutual support of each other’s work and ambitions. But the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are no ordinary couple. Theirs is one of the most high-profile love stories in history, and even the most plugged-in fans and followers of their story have never heard it told like this before. Harry & Meghan is an unprecedented six-part documentary series that explores the span of their relationship, from the early days of the couple’s courtship to the challenges and controversies that prompted them to step back from the royal family. The series includes interviews with family and friends who’ve never spoken publicly about the couple’s relationship before, as well as historians and journalists who dissect how media influenced Harry and Meghan’s relationship with the royal family and the Commonwealth at large.”

Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor

In the midst of all the controversy regarding Harry and Meghan’s departure from the royal family, the couple had their second child. Meghan gave birth to Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor on June 4, 2021. Her name is inspired by her paternal great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, who was called “Lilibet” by her family. Young Lilibet met her namesake in 2022 when Harry and Meghan returned to the U.K. for the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II that June.

Reunited (?) by Tragedy

In 2022 Harry and Meghan reunited with the royal family, including William and Kate, under the sad circumstances of Queen Elizabeth II’s death. The two couples in particular had been confirmed to had drifted apart, so the photos of them spending time together make worldwide news. It remains to be seen however if relations will cool once again following the aforementioned Netflix documentary and the scheduled release of Harry’s hotly anticipated memoir.