Meghan, duchess of Sussex was born Rachel Meghan Markle on August 4, 1981. She is biracial, with an African American mother and a white father. Meghan studied theater and international studies at Northwestern University (B.A., 2003) and then pursued an acting career. She notably played Rachel Zane on the legal drama series Suits.
Meghan was briefly married (2011–13) to producer Trevor Engelson, and in 2016 she was introduced to Prince Harry, by a mutual friend. Two years later the couple married at Windsor Castle, and she became known as Meghan, duchess of Sussex. The couple faced intense media scrutiny, and their relationships with various royals became increasingly strained. Against this background, Meghan and Harry stepped down as working members of the royal family in 2020. They later moved to the United States. In 2026 the couple and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, returned to England.