The Best Photos of Meghan Markle's Life in the Spotlight
Meghan Markle didn't grow up royal, but that's just part of what makes her so intriguing. Born in Los Angeles to her mother Doria, a therapist and yoga instructor, and her father Thomas, a TV lighting and photography director, she's always had a passion for women's empowerment. As many fans will know, Meghan penned a letter at age 11 calling for the removal of a sexist dish soap advertisement. Since the genesis of her career, Markle has used her stardom and influence for good. And after she married into the royal family, she's used her ever-growing platform to make a difference. Take a look at the best photos throughout the Duchess of Sussex's remarkable life.
Meghan Markle, born Rachel Meghan Markle, smiles adorably for the camera at around six months old. She grew up in Los Angeles.
Markle's parents separated when she was six years old; here she sits in her bedroom at her mother Doria's home in LA.
What would later become a full-circle moment for the future Duchess of Sussex was, at this time, just a vacation to Europe with her friend Ninaki Priddy.
Markle stood with her boyfriend Trevor Engelson at a Coach party in the Hamptons. The couple dated for years before eventually getting married in 2011.
Meghan landed a gig as a briefcase girl on the show Deal or No Deal and reportedly didn't love it."I was the ill-fated number 26, which for some reason no one would ever choose," Esquire reported her saying.
Another shot from Markle's game show days. She worked as a briefcase girl before she landed her first consistent role on Suits.
Markle strikes a power pose in a promo for the first season of Suits, the popular USA show about lawyers in NYC. The future Duchess played paralegal Rachel Zane.
Newlyweds Markle and Engelson attended an awards show with the Anti Defamation League. The couple was married for two years before their split in 2013.
Markle attended an event with HBO and L'Oreal. One of the things the Duchess is known for her is her gorgeous scripted handwriting–she had a side hustle as a calligraphist for celebrity weddings.
Markle played Rachel Zane for seven seasons of Suits, and got along well with her co-stars. According to Esquire, they often spent late nights playing games and drinking Scotch.
Markle and her co-stars attend a Suits-themed fashion show hosted by USA Networks in New York City.
Meghan poses at the GQ Men of the Year party in Los Angeles.
After shooting in Canada eight months out of the year while filming Suits, Markle naturally became an ice hockey fan. Here she's spotted at a New York Rangers game at Madison Square Garden.
Markle speaks at the USA Network Upfront, which showcases new shows and programs to advertisers. The Duchess has always had a knack for enthralling a crowd.
Markle attends a Max Azria spring fashion preview in NYC with Giuliana Rancic, Monica Rose, and Petra Nemcova.
Meghan played in the DirecTV Beach Bowl game (and won!) with fellow Hollywood A-List celebrities. She also became friends with the legendary Serena Williams at the same event.
Markle is pictured speaking at the One Young World Summit in Ireland, where she discussed the gender pay gap, a topic she's passionate about. Her philanthropy as a Royal focuses on women's rights, especially in impoverished areas.
Markle hosts the Women in Cable Telecommunications Signature Luncheon in Chicago. Around the same time, she spoke about gender equality at the UN Women's 20th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference.
Markle attends ELLE's Women in Television dinner in Hollywood alongside fellow actors Abigail Spencer, Jordana Brewster, and Sarah Hyland.
Meghan speaks at AOL Build, a live interview series. A few weeks prior, she returned from her trip to Rwanda as a Global Ambassador for World Vision.
Markle's first public appearance with boyfriend Prince Harry was at the Invictus Games in Toronto. They met in the summer of 2016 after a friend set them up on a blind date.
MORE: See Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Best Photos Together
The couple was seen a few days later at the Games. Engagement rumors began to fly.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced their engagement on November 27, 2017 at Kensington Palace, though Prince Harry secretly proposed earlier.
The couple attends their first official royal event together at the Terrance Higgins Trust charity fair on World AIDS Day.
Markle and Prince Harry are pictured looking happy as can be during a visit to a radio station that helps to fight local crime.
The couple look cozy during a visit to Wales. They have always been protective of one another–Harry especially being critical of the media portrayal of the Duchess.
Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton share a moment at the Royal Foundation Forum––their first event together––where Markle touched on women's rights and other cultural movements.
The day before the royal wedding, Meghan and her mom Doria Ragland made final preparations. The two are known to have a close bond.
Markle married Prince Harry on May 19, 2019, at Windsor Castle. She officially became Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Sussex.
The Duke and Duchess shared a sweet moment outside the castle as husband and wife. Markle wore a stunning gown by Givenchy.
Shortly after their honeymoon, the newlyweds attended the Queen's birthday party.
Meghan and the rest of the royal family gathered on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to honor the Queen during Trooping the Colour.
Markle and the Queen visited Storyhouse Chester, where they marked its official opening. The two are reportedly very close. “Meghan and the Queen come from two very different backgrounds and generations,” a source told Us Weekly. “But there’s a warmth between the two that is genuine and loving. Whenever they’re together, they always have a giggle."
Meghan and Harry attended the wedding of Charlie van Straubenzee (a friend of Prince Harry's from prep school) and Daisy Jenks.
The Duke and Duchess were invited to a London performance of the musical Hamilton with its creator Lin Manuel Miranda. They met the cast and crew backstage after the performance.
Meghan and Harry had some fun playing dodgeball at the Coach Core Awards. The Duchess always had an athletic streak, and enjoys yoga (taking after her mom) as well as running.
Meghan, her mom Doria, and Prince Harry arrived at a luncheon to mark the launch of a cookbook to raise money for victims of the Grenfell Tower fire in London.
The Duchess arrived to Princess Eugenie's wedding. Three days later, she announced that she and Prince Harry were expecting their first child together.
Meghan and Harry shared a moment at South Bondi Beach during their royal tour of Australia. They participated in different beachside activities with the mental health awareness organization OneWave.
The Cambridges and the Sussexes walked into church together at Sandringham on Christmas.
The couple introduced royal baby Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor to the world in Windsor Castle, two days after his birth on May 6.
The Duchess brought baby Archie to cheer on Prince Harry at the King Power Royal Charity Polo Match, where Prince William was also competing. This was Archie's first informal public appearance.
During the royal tour of South Africa, Meghan laughed and danced during a visit to Nyanga, Cape Town for a Justice Desk initiative. Her speech at the event was impactful: "I want you to know that for me, I am here with you as a mother, as a wife, as a woman, as a woman of color and as your sister. I am here with you, and I am here FOR you,” Meghan said.
In this instantly iconic photo, Markle brought Archie along for the royal tour of South Africa, where he met Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Markle looked breathtaking at the historic Auwal Mosque on Heritage Day during the royal tour of South Africa.
Markle held hands with Graca Machel, widow of the late Nelson Mandela. Machel is an international women's advocate, so the two had plenty to talk about.
Markle attended the Remembrance Sunday Cenotaph Service, alongside Prince Edward's wife, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and Princess Anne's husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.
Just a few days before Harry and Meghan announced their plans to step back from their senior royal roles, the couple visited Canada House in the UK.
The Sussexes kicked off their farewell tour of the UK by attending the Endeavour Fund awards. This picture, taken by Samir Hussein, is now being called iconic and historic, for how it captured the royal couple.
Meghan made a statement in vibrant green at her final public engagement, the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey.
The Best Photos of Meghan Markle's Life in the Spotlight
Meghan Markle didn't grow up royal, but that's just part of what makes her so intriguing. Born in Los Angeles to her mother Doria, a therapist and yoga instructor, and her father Thomas, a TV lighting and photography director, she's always had a passion for women's empowerment. As many fans will know, Meghan penned a letter at age 11 calling for the removal of a sexist dish soap advertisement. Since the genesis of her career, Markle has used her stardom and influence for good. And after she married into the royal family, she's used her ever-growing platform to make a difference. Take a look at the best photos throughout the Duchess of Sussex's remarkable life.
The Duchess's life has been anything but ordinary.
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