Meghan M. Markle
Born 1980s.
Ancestors 
Daughter of Thomas Markle
and Doria Ragland
[sibling(s) unknown]
[children unknown]
Profile managers:
Scott Fulkerson 
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Biography
Meghan Markle is an American member of the British royal family and former actor, best known for her role as Rachel Zane on the TV legal drama Suits." [1][2][3][4]
Rachel Meghan Markle was born in California on 4 August 1981 to Thomas Markle, an Emmy Award winning lighting director, and Doria Ragland, a psychotherapist and yoga instructor with a Masters Degree in social work.[2][5][4] She has half siblings, Tom Markle Junior and Samantha Grant, from her father's earlier relationships.[2]
Meghan grew up in Hollywood and was educated in private schools, including Immaculate Heart Catholic High School in Los Angeles.[2] Despite her parents being divorced, she has fond memories of her life growing up with them, noting the ways her dad worked to make her feel special.[4] Thomas took her to the sets her worked on, exposing her to the industry, as well as helping to work on her school's theatrical productions.[2] She went to Northwestern University and graduated in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in theater and international studies.[2] She returned to Hollywood afterward to begin her career in acting.[1]
Meghan received roles at the beginning of her career on shows like "CSI: Miami", "90210", and "General Hospital"; and supplemented her income with work as a calligrapher and in a restaurant as a hostess.[4][2] She felt that being of mixed racial heritage influenced her being passed over for some of the better roles, as she didn't fit well into either the expected look of a black woman or a white woman.[4]
In 2011, she landed a role in the USA Network drama "Suits", and continued to play the part of Rachel Zane until her marriage.[1] Once she made her way in acting, she saw tables turn and offered to help her father, once her primary support, through tough financial times.[2]
After dating for six years, Meghan married Hollywood producer and manager, Trevor Engelson September 10, 2011 at the Jamaica Inn in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.[1][4] They later divorced in 2013 citing irreconcilable differences.[4] They had no children together.[1]
In 2016, Meghan began dating the UK's Prince Harry.[1] In November 2017, it was announced that she was engaged to the prince. After her announcement regarding her engagement, she indicated that she would retire from acting as well as become a British citizen.[1]
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were married on 19 May 2018 in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. Upon their marriage, Meghan became Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex.[6] The couple have two children, Archie and Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor.
On 18 January 2020, the official announcement was made that Harry was to step back from Royal duties, and the Queen emphasized the fact that Harry, Meghan, and their son would always be 'much loved members of my family'. The Sussexes stopped representing the Queen on 31 March 2020, and wanted to become financially independent. Harry and Meghan bought a house in Riven Rock in Montecito, California, USA. Although they remain the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, they are no longer 'HRH' (His/Her Royal Highness).[1]
Meghan has used her popularity as a platform for activism, working as an United Nations Women's Rights advocate.[3] Other causes she has supported include clean water, pet adoption, gender equality, and the end of modern day slavery.[4]
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Wikipedia contributors, "Meghan Markle," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, Wikipedia:Meghan Markle (accessed November 29, 2017).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Picard, Caroline, "What Is Meghan Markle's Relationship with Her Dad, Thomas Markle", Good Housekeeping online, goodhousekeeping.com, accessed 10 May 2018
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Friedman, Vanessa, "Meghan Markle: The Biggest Influencer of All?", the New York Times online, nytimes.com, 25 Apr 2018. Accessed 10 May 2018.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 France, Lisa Respers, and Judith Vonberg, "Meghan Markle is a royal family's unconventional bride-to-be", CNN.com, 25 Apr 2018. Accessed 10 May 2018.
- ↑ "California Birth Index, 1905-1995," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VGLK-V9T : 27 November 2014), Rachel Meghan Markle, 04 Aug 1981; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Department, Sacramento.
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedding_of_Prince_Harry_and_Meghan_Markle
- U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
- U.S. Public Records Index v1&2
- Wikidata: Item Q3304418, en:Wikipedia
for Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
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Featured National Park champion connections: Meghan is 15 degrees from Theodore Roosevelt, 19 degrees from Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger, 16 degrees from George Catlin, 16 degrees from Marjory Douglas, 25 degrees from Sueko Embrey, 16 degrees from George Grinnell, 22 degrees from Anton Kröller, 17 degrees from Stephen Mather, 22 degrees from Kara McKean, 20 degrees from John Muir, 7 degrees from Victoria Hanover and 29 degrees from Charles Young on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
“It is the lineage of Meghan’s gran that can be traced directly to the Scottish royals and more. Through her ancestor Roger Shaw, Meghan’s trickle of blue blood was transported to America. “The son of a wine merchant in the City of London, Shaw sailed from Plymouth to Massachusetts around 1637. Through Shaw’s family, who originated from Yorkshire, we find the link to royalty. It was the marriage in 1490 of James Shaw to Christina Bruce, the daughter of Sir David Bruce, 6th Baron of Clackmannan, a direct descendant of Robert the Bruce, that sealed the royal connection.” 'Meghan is distantly related to most European royal families thanks to her English kinswoman Margaret Kerdeston, who lived in the 15th century.' James Shaw of Sauchie and Christian Bruce are my 17 x grandparents thru both Helen/Ellen and Janet. At present this site has Meghan and Colin are 21st cousins with 146 common ancestors were found between Meghan and Colin. Has anyone seen the article and the links back to Christian and James?
The online article also has Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan made the same discovery last year after having his DNA traced for the programme. (doesnt say what programme) He met secret family member Linda Jones, a farmer from New Zealand, who revealed the family went back to Robert the Bruce.
edited by Crystal White
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Windsor-74