MEGHAN Markle is a former US TV actress turned royal, who married Prince Harry in a fairytale wedding last year.
Meghan and Harry welcomed their first child on May 6, 2019, – here's the story of the Duchess of Success and how she ended falling in love with her very own Prince Charming.
Who is Meghan Markle and how old is she?
Meghan is currently 37, and was born on August 4, 1981.
The actress was born and raised in California but in later life lived in Toronto, Canada, where the TV show Suits is filmed.
As a child, Meghan spent a lot of time on the set of US TV show Married… with Children because her dad was a photography director on it.
Meghan was "discovered" at a party but while her career was starting out she worked as a freelance calligrapher.
Her mother, Doria Ragland, is a yoga instructor and social worker.
And her father, Thomas W Markle, won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Direction for a Drama Series.
Doria is African-American, while Meghan's father is Dutch-Irish – the family were victims of racial abuse when Meghan was younger.
Meghan is 5ft 6in compared to her husband's 6ft 1in frame.
When did Meghan Markle and Prince Harry meet?
The couple met on a blind date in July 2016, which was arranged by "a mutual friend," Harry revealed in a BBC interview.
In November 2016, Kensington Palace confirmed the Suits actress was the Prince's girlfriend, with a statement adding that Harry was concerned for her safety due to high media attention.
Harry and Meghan were spotted hand-in-hand for the first time in February 2017, while out on a date in London.
The couple cemented their relationship even further when Harry was reported to have gained the blessing of Meghan's dad, Thomas.
On May 6, 2017, Meghan made her first public appearance as a royal girlfriend when she proudly watched Prince Harry playing polo in Berkshire and both Harry and Meghan attended the wedding of Pippa Middleton and James Matthews in May.
On November 27, 2017, it was revealed the happy couple would get married in the spring of 2018.
When did Prince Harry and Meghan Markle get married?
The highly-anticipated wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on May 19, 2018.
The couple tied the knot at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, where Harry was christened when he was three months old.
During the ceremony, Harry told his blushing bride "you look amazing" and whispered "I've missed you" in a union that brought a measure of modern Hollywood glamour into the 1,000-year-old monarchy.
In a service that combined modernity and the ancient rituals of a royal house that dates back to 1066, Prince Charles, heir to the throne and Harry's father, accompanied Markle to the altar from the middle of the chapel.
Royal experts have hailed the ceremony as "ground-breaking", saying the couple have thrown the royals into the 21st century.
When did Meghan Markle give birth?
Meghan Markle gave birth on May 6, 2019, to a healthy baby boy in Windsor.
The baby weighed 7lbs 3oz and was born at 5.26am, it was noted on the couple's official Instagram.
The full announcement via their page reads: "We are pleased to announce that Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed their firstborn child in the early morning on May 6th, 2019.
"Their Royal Highnesses’ son weighs 7lbs. 3oz. ‘The Duchess and baby are both healthy and well, and the couple thank members of the public for their shared excitement and support during this very special time in their lives. More details will be shared in the forthcoming days".
Is Meghan really feuding with Kate Middleton?
In November 2018, it was reported that Meghan left sister-in-law Kate in tears over her demands for Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress.
Rumours of a rift between the duchesses swirled after royal sources revealed emotional Kate, 37, ended up weeping.
An insider claimed the incident followed a “stressful” dress fitting — just weeks before Meghan, 37, married Prince Harry.
Royal aides did not deny the incident had taken place, amid claims that the duchesses are “very different people”.
Further rumours of a rift were sparked after The Sun revealed Meghan and Harry were moving away from his brother and Kate in London.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex lived for a short while at Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace, where William and Kate also live.
But earlier this year, the pair moved to Frogmore Cottage in the grounds of Windsor Castle in Berkshire.
However, in March 2019, body language expert Judi James revealed that the two Duchesses may have put their feud behind them.
The pair were pictured kissing each other warmly on the cheeks at Westminster Abbey for a Commonwealth Day service.
Speaking exclusively to Fabulous Online, Judi said: "It was clear Kate and Meghan were keen to signal bonds of warm friendship, rather than the either distant or over-congruent displays from the last couple of outings."
Royal watchers also remarked on the news that the Royal Foundation – the charity set up by Prince William and Prince Harry – would be separated as the Sussex and Cambridge households focus on their own charitable endeavours.
What about Meghan's love life before Prince Harry?
Meghan began dating Trevor Engelson, who has a production company, in 2004, and the pair married on September 10, 2011.
They exchanged vows in Jamaica but divorced in 2013.
Pals of the couple said they split after Meghan developed a "close friendship" with Canadian ice hockey star, Michael Del Zotto.
Meghan has spoken about what she likes in a guy in the past, revealing she dislikes anyone who is "catty" and loves it when a man makes an effort to impress.
"If the guy is going to write a girl a letter, whether it looks like a doctor’s note, if he takes time to put pen to paper and not type something, there’s something so romantic and beautiful about that," she said.
What TV shows and films has Meghan starred in?
Meghan's biggest role has been in TV show Suits, where she played Rachel Zane.
She also starred as FBI special agent Amy Jessup in sci-fi thriller Fringe and had parts in CSI: Miami.
On the big screen, Meghan has appeared in Horrible Bosses, Get Him to the Greek and Remember Me.
In a non-acting role, she also had a brief stint on Deal Or No Deal in 2006 as a briefcase model.
What else is Meghan Markle involved in?
Meghan is devoted to charity work, much like her husband Prince Harry.
She is the Global Ambassador for World Vision Canada and has been to Rwanda to promote the organisation's Clean Water Campaign.
The Duchess of Sussex has also visited Afghanistan to support US forces and their families.
In 2014 she was involved in a UN campaign for gender equality.
Most recently she has spoken out about period taboos in a powerful essay and she travelled to Delhi and Mumbai in January “to meet girls and women directly impacted by the stigmatisation of menstrual health”.
The Suits star also joined Prince Harry at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto – the sporting competition which the Prince founded.
And she was again by his side at the 2018 Sydney Invictus Games in Australia, while on a royal tour Down Under with her husband.
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