Meghan Markle, born Rachel Meghan Markle on August 4, 1981, in Los Angeles, California, is an American member of the British royal family, known formally as the Duchess of Sussex.
She rose to prominence as an actress before marrying Prince Harry in 2018, becoming a global figure in media, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship.
Raised by her mother, Doria Ragland, a clinical therapist and yoga instructor, and her father, Thomas Markle Sr., a retired lighting director, Meghan pursued education at Northwestern University, where she studied theater and international studies.
Her advocacy for women’s rights, gender equity, and humanitarian causes has been a consistent thread throughout her life, evolving from her early career to her current role as a public figure alongside her husband.
Siblings
Meghan has two half-siblings from her father’s previous marriage, namely Samantha Markle and Thomas Markle Jr.
Samantha, born in 1964, is the eldest and has worked as a former actress and model, though she has been involved in public disputes with Meghan, including legal actions and media interviews criticizing her half-sister.
Thomas Markle Jr., born in 1966, is Meghan’s half-brother and has also been estranged from her, occasionally appearing in the media to discuss family dynamics and personal struggles.
Both half-siblings share Thomas Markle Sr. as their father but have had limited contact with Meghan, who is the youngest of the three.
Career
Markle’s career began in acting after graduating from Northwestern University, where she honed her skills in theater.
She made her television debut with a small role on the soap opera General Hospital in 2002, followed by guest appearances on shows like Century City, Cuts, and CSI: NY.
Also Read: Malu Mader Siblings: Meet Patricia and Luis Felipe Mäder
Early in her career, she also worked as a briefcase model on the game show Deal or No Deal and appeared in films such as Get Him to the Greek and Horrible Bosses.
Her breakthrough came in 2011 when she landed the role of Rachel Zane on the USA Network legal drama Suits, portraying a paralegal-turned-attorney for seven seasons until 2018, which significantly boosted her profile as an actress and advocate for women’s issues.
Beyond Suits, Meghan starred in Hallmark Channel movies like Dater’s Handbook and When Sparks Fly, and had roles in series such as Fringe and 90210.
After stepping back from royal duties in 2020, she transitioned into media production, co-founding Archewell Productions with Prince Harry, which produced the Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan in 2022 and other projects focused on social issues.
Recently, in 2025, Meghan made a acting comeback with a small role in the film Close to Home alongside stars like Lily Collins and Brie Larson, marking her return to Hollywood after an eight-year hiatus.
Her career has also included lifestyle blogging with The Tig and ongoing podcasting ventures.
Accolades
In 2022, she won the NAACP Image Award’s President’s Award alongside Prince Harry for their advocacy work, and they were also honored with the Ripple of Hope Award from the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization for efforts in racial justice and mental health.
Meghan’s podcast Archetypes earned her the Gracie Award in 2023 from the Alliance for Women in Media, celebrating her exploration of stereotypes affecting women.
In 2025, she and Harry were named Humanitarians of the Year at the Project Healthy Minds Gala for their mental health initiatives, and they received recognition from the Concordia Annual Summit for building a safer digital world through their Archewell Foundation.
Additionally, her new podcast with Lemonada Media won a gold accolade at the 4th Annual Signal Awards in 2025, highlighting her continued impact in audio storytelling.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
