Meet Meghan Markel
Whenever anything happens with the British royal family it’s always BIG NEWS.
And incase you haven’t heard, today PRINCE HARRY GOT ENGAGED!!
Well Accomplished on Her Own Own Right
But just the sheer fact that Prince William, the 33 year old former bachelor, is getting married is not the surprising fact, it’s who he is engaged to…
Prince Harry’s New fiance is 36 year old American actress, model, and humanitarian Meghan Markel.
From a Different Background
This well accomplished actress has over 30 credits listed on her IMDB, with roles ranging from TV to feature films to shorts, with her most notable being the 103 (and counting) episode stint she had on the USA comedy/drama “Suits” as Rachel Zane.
Meghan’s Parents
Meghan Merkel comes from a different walk of life than most of the Royal Family.
Coming from a mixed heritage, Meghan grew up in Crenshaw, California. Her Father is a Caucasian Jew and her mother is African-American.
Meghan is a Divorcee
Her mother, Doria Ragland, has a master's degree in social work from the University of Southern California and works as a psychotherapist and yoga instructor.
Her father, of German, Dutch, English, Irish and Scottish descent, is Emmy award-winning lighting director Thomas W. Markle, whose profession resulted in his young daughter often visiting the set of Married... with Children.
Meghan is Not Her Real Name
Meghan was married to actor and producer Trevor Engelson from 2011 to 2013, after dating from 2004-2011.
The official reason for the divorce was “irreconcilable differences”, but insiders are saying that it was the strain of a long distance relationship. Meghan was working in Toronto on Suits and Trevor lived in Los Angeles and worked as a writer/producer.
Meghan has an Unexpected Ancestry
Surprisingly, Meghan Merkel is actually her stage-name.
Her full name is Rachel Meghan Merkel.
Meghan and Harry are Actually VERY Distant Relatives
Research compiled in 1997 by historians including Markle's great-uncle, Mike Markle, revealed that her paternal great-great-great-grandmother was New Hampshire landowner Mary Hussey Smith (1823–1908), a descendant of nobleman John Hussey, 1st Baron Hussey of Sleaford, who was beheaded in 1537 at the order of King Henry VIII. Through Lord Hussey, Markle is a descendant of King John.
Markle is also a descendant of Captain Christopher Hussey, Esquire (d.1686) who was appointed in 1679 by King Charles II to govern the Royal Province of Hampton, New Hampshire. He was a Founding Father of Nantucket.
Meghan and Henry Met Through an Old School Friend
Markle is a distant relation of Prince Harry.
Their common ancestors are Elizabeth Bowes (1505–c.1572) and her husband, Richard Bowes, son of Sir Ralph Bowes of Streatlam Castle and High Sheriff of County Durham—ancestors of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother (née Bowes-Lyon).
Harry was Crushing on Meghan Years Before They Met
The Suits actress is close friends with designer Misha Nonoo who was married to Alexander Gilkes, one of Harry’s old school friends.
Gilkes has many ties to the Royal Family as he attended Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011 and also employed Princess Eugenie for a time. The two were reportedly introduced and the rest is history.
Their First Public Outing
Royal expert, Katie Nicholl revealed in the Channel 4 documentary "When Harry Met Meghan" that on a night out a couple of years ago, Harry was asked who his ideal woman was.
He answered, “Meghan Markle from Suits”.
Meghan’s Charitable Sensibilities
Although the pair have dated for more than a year, they made their first official outing together in September in Toronto at the Invictus Games, a Paralympic-style competition for wounded or sick members of the military and veterans.
This reflects both Harry’s and Meghan’s charitable sensibilities.
Harry Charitable Sensibilities
Markle is a Global Ambassador for World Vision Canada, traveling to Rwanda for the Clean Water Campaign, the agency's campaign to provide safe, clean drinking water. She has also worked with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women as an Advocate.
Markle was a counsellor for international charity One Young World, speaking at the 2014 annual summit in Dublin on the topics of gender equality and modern-day slavery. She also attended the 2016 One Young World summit in Ottawa.
Harry also has his hand in multiple charities and services for injured, handicapped, and retired servicemen.
Harry has an extensive military record, so this is something that he holds dear to his heart.