cnn
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Here's a look at the life of the Duchess of Sussex, former actress Meghan Markle.
Birthdate: August 4, 1981
Place of birth: Los Angeles California
Birth name: Rachel Meghan Markle
Father: Thomas Markle, Hollywood lighting director
Mother: Doria Ragland, social worker and yoga instructor
Marriages: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (May 19, 2018-present); Trevor Engelson (2011-2013, divorced)
Children: with Prince Harry: Archie Harrison and Lilibet 'Lili' Diana
Education: Northwestern University, BA, 2003
First American to marry a British royal since Wallis Simpson, whom Edward VIII abdicated the throne to marry in 1936.
Her engagement ring was designed by Prince Harry and includes a larger diamond from Botswana and two smaller diamonds from his mother, Princess Diana's collection.
She has been a Global Ambassador for World Vision Canada.
She worked with One Young World, helping the UK charity with its mission to encourage young leaders around the world to make lasting connections and initiate positive change.
She is the first person to hold the title of Duchess of Sussex.
2002 – He works at the United States embassy in Argentina.
2011-2018 – She plays “Rachel Zane” in the USA Network legal drama “Suits.”
March 23, 2015 – She speaks about gender equality at the 20th anniversary of the UN Women's Fourth World Conference in Beijing and explains how she became an activist at age 11 writing letters to help create change.
July 2015 – She writes an essay, “I Am More Than an 'Other',” for Elle UK about her biracial ethnicity.
February 2016 – Travel to Rwanda as a World Vision Global Ambassador.
Summer 2016 – She begins dating Prince Harry after the two meet for drinks on a blind date, set up by a mutual friend.
November 8, 2016 – Prince Harry releases statement about his relationship with Markle, calling for negativity and harassment to stop.
March 8, 2017 – Markle writes an article for Time magazine about menstruation in poverty-stricken nations, saying that to “break the cycle of poverty and achieve economic growth and sustainability in developing countries, young women need access to education.” .
September 25, 2017 – Markle and Prince Harry make their first public appearance as a couple at the Invictus Games in Toronto.
November 27, 2017 – Prince Charles announces the couple's engagement.
December 1, 2017 – Markle and Prince Harry attend their first official royal event together at a fair organized by the Terrence Higgins Trust HIV/AIDS charity on World AIDS Day.
December 15, 2017 – Kensington Palace announces that Prince Harry and Markle will marry on May 19, 2018.
February 28, 2018 – She attends the Royal Foundation's “Make a Difference Together” forum in her first appearance alongside Prince William, Duchess Catherine and Prince Harry.
March 12, 2018 – He makes his first appearance with Queen Elizabeth II for the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey.
March 14, 2018 – Queen Elizabeth II issues the declaration of consent to the marriage of Prince Harry and Markle.
May 18, 2018 – It is announced that Meghan Markle will walk down the aisle alone. She will be the first royal bride from the UK to do so.
May 19, 2018 – She marries Prince Harry at St. George's Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle and becomes HRH the Duchess of Sussex.
May 25, 2018 – The Shield created for the Duchess is released.
January 10, 2019 – She announces the four charities she will support as a patron: the National Theatre, whose aim is to make theater accessible to everyone; the Association of Commonwealth Universities, the world's first and oldest international university network; Smart Works, which helps vulnerable and long-term unemployed women find work; and Mayhew, who works to improve animal welfare. The patronages of the National Theater and the Association of Commonwealth Universities have passed to the Duchess thanks to Queen Elizabeth II.
March 8, 2019 – The Duchess is announced to become vice-president of the Queen's Commonwealth Trust. A statement from Kensington Palace reads: “In this new role, the Duchess will highlight the Trust's partnerships with young people across the Commonwealth and, in particular, its work supporting women and girls.”
May 6, 2019 – She gives birth to the couple's first child, a boy weighing 7 pounds, 3 ounces. The baby's name is Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.
October 1, 2019 – It is announced that the Duchess is suing the Mail on Sunday newspaper, alleging it illegally published a private letter to her father, while Harry denounces British media 'bullying' via an online statement, accusing the Mail on Sunday of selective editing the letter. to disguise “lies” the newspaper had told about the duchess, a claim the tabloid specifically denies. In February 2021, the judge in the case handed down summary judgment in favor of Meghan.
January 8, 2020 – Harry and Meghan announce they are stepping down from their roles as senior members of the British royal family and plan to work on becoming “financially independent” and split their time between the United Kingdom and North America.
January 18, 2020 – The Queen issues a statement announcing that Harry and Meghan will no longer be active members of the royal family. As well as stepping back from official royal duties and stopping using public funds, the couple will no longer use the titles of His and Her Royal Highnesses.
March 9, 2020 – Harry and Meghan attend the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey. This is their last engagement as senior members of the royal family.
March 26, 2020 – Disneynature announces that Meghan will be the narrator of the documentary “Elephants.” This will be Meghan's first role since she stepped away from the royal family.
July 23, 2020 – It is announced that Harry and Meghan are suing over paparazzi photos of their son, Archie. “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are bringing this lawsuit to protect their young son's right to privacy in their home without the intrusion of photographers,” attorney Michael Kump said in a statement. In October, they receive an apology and X17, the agency responsible, agrees to pay a portion of their legal fees.
September 2, 2020 – Harry and Meghan sign multi-year production deal with Netflix.
February 17, 2021 – Buckingham Palace announces that Harry and Meghan have agreed with Queen Elizabeth II that they will not return as active members of the British royal family.
March 7, 2021 – Meghan and Harry's highly anticipated interview with Oprah Winfrey airs. Over the course of the two-hour special, the couple intensely criticizes the way they were treated by the British royal institution and says the couple had no choice but to leave royal life.
June 4, 2021 – She gives birth to a daughter, the second child of the marriage. The baby is called Lilibet 'Lili' Diana Mountbatten-Windsor and she was born at 11.40am, weighing 7lb 11oz.
June 8, 2021 – Meghan's children's book “The Bench” is published, inspired by her husband and son Archie.
August 4, 2021 – Launches 40×40, a mentoring program to help women return to the workforce after the pandemic.
December 2, 2021 – A British appeals court awards Meghan one pound sterling, upholding the lower court's 2021 ruling in favor of Meghan in her privacy lawsuit against the Mail on Sunday newspaper that published a letter from the duchess to her father. She also receives an unspecified amount for copyright infringement.
August 23, 2022 – Meghan’s podcast, “Archetypes,” debuts on Spotify. Her first guest on her podcast is Serena Williams.
June 16, 2023 – A joint statement is released announcing the end of a multi-year partnership between Spotify and Harry and Meghan's company, Archewell Audio.
February 13, 2024 – Lemonada Media issues a press release revealing that Meghan will be launching a new yet-to-be-announced podcast. Lemonada will also stream “Archetypes,” Meghan’s podcast that debuted in 2022 on Spotify.
