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Rachel Meghan Markle (1981)

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Meghan Markle was born 4 August 1981 in Los Angeles, California, United States to Thomas Wayne Markle (1944) and Doria Loyce Ragland (1956) . She married Trevor Engelson (1976-) 10 September 2011 in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. She married Henry Windsor (1984) 19 May 2018 in Windsor, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom.


Rachel Meghan Markle (born August 4, 1981) is an American actress, model, and humanitarian.[1][2][3] Since 2011, Markle has portrayed Rachel Zane on the legal drama series Suits. She is also known for her role as special agent Amy Jessup in the sci-fi thriller Fringe. She had previously worked as a freelance calligrapher.



Siblings


Offspring of Thomas Wayne Markle (1944) and Roslyn Loveless (c1945)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Yvonne Samantha Markle (c1965)
Thomas Markle Jr (c1966)


Offspring of Thomas Wayne Markle (1944) and Doria Loyce Ragland (1956)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Rachel Meghan Markle (1981) 4 August 1981 Los Angeles, California, United States Trevor Engelson (1976-)
Henry Windsor (1984)




Children



Offspring of Henry Windsor (1984) and Meghan Markle
Name Birth Death Joined with
Archie Mountbatten-Windsor (2019) 6 May 2019 Portland Hospital, London, England, United Kingdom


Second (and world-famous) marriage

She married Prince Harry of the British royal family.[4] Their engagement was announced on November 27, 2017, and they married in May 2018 at St George's Chapel in Windsor.[5] Following her engagement, she plans to retire from acting and devote her time to humanitarian causes.[6]

Ancestry

Through her early colonial New England immigrant ancestor Rev William Skepper, Meghan is a direct descendant of European Royalty, including King Edward III of England and Charlemagne (747-814).

Research compiled in 1997 by historians including Markle's great-uncle, Mike Markle,[7] found that a paternal great-great-great-grandmother was New Hampshire landowner Mary Hussey Smith (1823–1908),[8][9][10] a descendant of nobleman John Hussey, 1st Baron Hussey of Sleaford, who was beheaded in 1537 at the order of King Henry VIII.[11][12][13]

Through Lord Hussey, Markle is a descendant of King John.[14][13] 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.[15][16][17]

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 Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon).[18][19][20][21]

“What is clear now,” says Gary Boyd Roberts, “is that she has a well-documented lineage from medieval kings through the Skipper family of Boston and that Prince Harry is her 17th cousin.”

One of Markle's maternal great-great-great-grandfathers was a slave on Georgia plantations before being emancipated with the abolition of slavery in 1865.[22][23]

Early life

Markle was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in theater and international studies.

Rachel Meghan Markle[24][25] was born on August 4, 1981, in Los Angeles.[26] Describing her parents, she has said, "My dad is Caucasian and my mom is African American ... I have come to embrace [this and] say who I am, to share where I'm from, to voice my pride in being a strong, confident, mixed-race woman."[27] Her mother, Doria Ragland, has a master's degree in social work from the University of Southern California, lives in View Park-Windsor Hills,[28] and works as a psychotherapist and yoga instructor.[26][29] Her father, Thomas W. Markle, who lives in Mexico,[30] is an Emmy Award-winning lighting director whose profession resulted in his young daughter often visiting the set of Married... with Children.[31][32][33] Markle is of Dutch and Irish descent through her father.[34][35]

For more biography, see the 'biography/ subpage.

Personal life

Markle is a self-proclaimed foodie, which was incorporated into her Suits character Rachel Zane.[31] Markle is friends with a number of celebrities including Serena Williams,[36] Jessica Mulroney,[37] and Ben Mulroney.[38]

Markle was in a relationship with actor and producer Trevor Engelson from 2004 until 2011. They married on September 10, 2011,[39] and divorced in August 2013.[40]

File:HRH Prince Henry of Wales.jpg

Prince Harry in 2017

Residences

Footnotes (including sources)

‡ General
₪ Wedding
  • Divorced in August 2013, citing "irreconcilable differences".




Robin Patterson, MainTour

References

  1. ^ "Meet Meghan Markle: Prince Harry’s Feminist, Philanthropist, Actress Girlfriend" (in en). Vogue. November 18, 2016. Archived from the original on September 15, 2017. http://www.vogue.com/article/meghan-markle-prince-harry-girlfriend. 
  2. ^ Blair, Olivia (October 31, 2016). "Who is Meghan Markle: The 'Suits' actress, humanitarian, activist and gender equality campaigner" (in en-GB). The Independent. Archived from the original on September 15, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170915160726/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/meghan-markle-who-is-she-prince-harry-rumours-suits-actress-campaign-work-a7389571.html. 
  3. ^ Willgress, Lydia. "Who is Meghan Markle and how long has she been Prince Harry's girlfriend? Everything we know about the royal relationship". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on September 22, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170922063335/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/0/who-is-meghan-markle-everything-we-know-about-the-suits-actress/. Retrieved October 21, 2017. 
  4. ^ "The Duke of Cambridge approved Prince Harry's plea to trolls to leave Meghan Markle alone". Archived from the original on September 12, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170912063947/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/11/26/duke-cambridge-approved-prince-harrys-plea-trolls-leave-meghan/. 
  5. ^ Michael Holden; Guy Faulconbridge (November 27, 2017). "From blind date to Botswana's stars, Prince Harry charts love for U.S. actress Meghan Markle". Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-royals-harry-love/from-blind-date-to-botswanas-stars-prince-harry-charts-love-for-u-s-actress-meghan-markle-idUSKBN1DR2AF?feedType=RSS&feedName=newsOne. Retrieved November 27, 2017. 
  6. ^ "Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: Seven Things We Learned About the Royal Couple". BBC. November 27, 2017. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-42138942. Retrieved 2017-11-27. 
  7. ^ Furness, Hannah (November 19, 2017). "King Henry VIII ordered for Meghan Markle's ancestor to be beheaded". Daily Telegraph (UK). Archived from the original on November 18, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171118213639/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11/18/king-henry-viii-ordered-meghan-markles-ancestor-beheaded/. Retrieved November 19, 2017. "Curiously, he believes the Markle family may already be aware of the connections, after coming across independent research by a Mike Markle, understood to be the actress’ great-uncle, online from 20 years ago." 
  8. ^ Furness, Hannah (November 19, 2017). "King Henry VIII ordered for Meghan Markle's ancestor to be beheaded". Daily Telegraph (UK). Archived from the original on November 18, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171118213639/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11/18/king-henry-viii-ordered-meghan-markles-ancestor-beheaded/. Retrieved November 19, 2017. "Markle's ties to the royalty of Tudor England: Lord Hussey, 1st Baron Hussey of Sleaford m. (married) Dame Margaret Barr (nee Blount) – down a further 5 generations down to Capt. Christopher Hussey, Esq. – down a further 6 generations to Mary Hussey Smith (1823–1908) married Jacob Lee Merrill – down a further 5 generations to Rachel Meghan Markle, born 1981." 
  9. ^ Fletcher, N. (November 27, 2017). "Prince Harry's bride-to-be Meghan Markle has links to Lincolnshire". LinconshireLive. http://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/shes-yellowbelly-well-almost-prince-840582. Retrieved November 28, 2017. "...her (Markle's) paternal great great great grandmother Mary Hussey Smith (1823-1908) is a direct descendant of the Lincolnshire nobleman..." 
  10. ^ Reslen, E. (November 21, 2017). "Town and Country Magazine". Hearst Communications, Inc.. Archived from the original on November 20, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171120222239/http://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a13810014/prince-harry-meghan-markle-ancestor-execution-study/. Retrieved November 21, 2017. "Markle's ties to the royalty of Tudor England – Lord Hussey, 1st Baron Hussey of Sleaford m. (married) Dame Margaret Barr nee Blount...further generations down to Mary Hussey Smith (1823–1908) married Jacob Lee Merrill...(Mary Hussey Smith was the grt grt grt grandmother of Rachel Meghan Markle, born 1981)" 
  11. ^ Furness, Hannah (November 19, 2017). "King Henry VIII ordered for Meghan Markle's ancestor to be beheaded". Daily Telegraph (UK). Archived from the original on November 18, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171118213639/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11/18/king-henry-viii-ordered-meghan-markles-ancestor-beheaded/. Retrieved November 19, 2017. 
  12. ^ Little, B.. "Henry VIII Beheaded Meghan Markle’s Ancestor". © 2017, A&E Television Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved. http://www.history.com/news/henry-viii-beheaded-meghan-markles-ancestor. Retrieved November 28, 2017. "....the relation to Lord Hussey comes from her father, Thomas W. Markle. He is descended from Captain Christopher Hussey, the great-great-great-grandson of Lord Hussey, who is also one of the English colonists who founded Nantucket in the 1600s. The Telegraph suggests Markle and Prince Harry may actually be very distant cousins through a shared ancestor: High Sheriff of County Durham Ralph Bowes, born in the late 15th century" 
  13. ^ a b Dean, Bailee (November 19, 2017). "Meghan Markle’s ancestral tie to the Royal Family dates back centuries". News Limited. Archived from the original on November 23, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171123162550/http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/meghan-markles-ancestral-tie-to-the-royal-family-dates-back-centuries/news-story/458838be8d1ee512bd269cc05c27ae5b. Retrieved November 24, 2017. "During his research, Reed stumbled upon the King of England, John Plantagenet who lived from 1166 to 1216 in a line which included John Hussey, 1st Baron Hussey of Sleaford, born in 1465." 
  14. ^ Furness, Hannah (November 19, 2017). "King Henry VIII ordered for Meghan Markle's ancestor to be beheaded". Daily Telegraph. UK. Archived from the original on November 18, 2017. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11/18/king-henry-viii-ordered-meghan-markles-ancestor-beheaded/. Retrieved November 19, 2017. "Meghan Markle ancestral path to royalty – John Plantagenet, King of England (mistress) Adela de Warenne..." 
  15. ^ Robertson, William (1834). A General History of North and South America: Including the Celebrated Work by Robertson. Mayhew, Isaac, and Company. p. 424. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. https://books.google.com.au/books?id=2ywuAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA424&dq=1679++christopher+Hussey+Acts+Privy+Council&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjIuIqB76nXAhXCyLwKHcBLClAQ6AEIMzAC#v=onepage&q=1679%20%20christopher%20Hussey%20Acts%20Privy%20Council&f=false. Retrieved November 6, 2017. "18th September 1679....The king was represented by a president and council of his own appointment....to govern the provence of New Hampshire.....Christopher Hussey of Hampton, Esquire...to be of the council..." 
  16. ^ Huffman, J. (2017). Starbuck, Waldschmidt, & Huffman Family of Bangor, Michigan. Lulu.com. p. 61. ISBN 1387103202. Archived from the original on November 27, 2017. https://books.google.com.au/books?id=MdItDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA61&dq=founding+fathers++nantucket++christopher+hussey&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj-mY2-is3XAhUHFJQKHTLKDJIQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=founding%20fathers%20%20nantucket%20%20christopher%20hussey&f=false. Retrieved November 20, 2017. "The Founder's Burial Ground commemorates the other Founding Fathers of Nantucket..." 
  17. ^ Furness, Hannah (November 19, 2017). "King Henry VIII ordered for Meghan Markle's ancestor to be beheaded". Daily Telegraph (UK). Archived from the original on November 18, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171118213639/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11/18/king-henry-viii-ordered-meghan-markles-ancestor-beheaded/. Retrieved November 19, 2017. "...he (Captain Christopher Hussey) left England in the 1630s to become a Founding Father of Nantucket." 
  18. ^ Furness, Hannah (November 19, 2017). "King Henry VIII ordered for Meghan Markle's ancestor to be beheaded". Daily Telegraph (UK). Archived from the original on November 18, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171118213639/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11/18/king-henry-viii-ordered-meghan-markles-ancestor-beheaded/. Retrieved November 19, 2017. "Ms Markle and the Prince are, it is claimed, distant cousins through a mutual ancestor: High Sheriff of County Durham Ralph Bowes..." 
  19. ^ "Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are actually cousins". Metro UK. October 30, 2017. Archived from the original on November 19, 2017. http://metro.co.uk/2017/10/30/prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-are-actually-cousins-7038073/. Retrieved November 20, 2017. "Despite growing up on different sides of the Atlantic, a study has found they are distantly related thanks to a 15th-century ancestor of the Queen Mother. Ralph was a High Sheriff of County Durham whose family seat was Streatlam Castle..." 
  20. ^ "Prince William Ancestry". FamousKin.com. 2017. https://famouskin.com/family-group.php?name=6104+prince+william&ahnum=22593. Retrieved November 20, 2017. "15th Generation — 12th Great-grandmother of Prince William – Elizabeth Bowes (nee Aske) – wife of Richard Bowes" 
  21. ^ Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 2nd Edition. Douglas Richardson. 2011. p. 447. ISBN 9781461045205. https://books.google.com.au/books?id=8JcbV309c5UC&pg=RA1-PA447&lpg=RA1-PA447&dq=Richard++Aske+Bowes&source=bl&ots=kwiDHUJTd5&sig=3gMLW7CDQNXIrT3w-x3aSvDUYiI&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwituffX48vXAhULtJQKHUZ5AxYQ6AEITDAD#v=onepage&q=Richard%20%20Aske%20Bowes&f=false. Retrieved November 20, 2017. "Richard Bowes, Esq. (who was son of Sir Ralph Bowes of Streatlam Castle who was high sheriff of Durham) married Elizabeth Aske after 8 July, 1571...they had five sons (including) George (Knighted)....and seven daughters (including) Bridget, wife of Thomas Hussey, Esq." 
  22. ^ Furness, Hannah (November 19, 2017). "King Henry VIII ordered for Meghan Markle's ancestor to be beheaded". Daily Telegraph (UK). Archived from the original on November 18, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171118213639/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11/18/king-henry-viii-ordered-meghan-markles-ancestor-beheaded/. Retrieved November 19, 2017. "Her (Markle's) mother’s forebears were traced to a slave forced to work on Georgia plantations before being emancipated with the abolition of slavery in 1865....Markle's great-great-great maternal grandfather was a slave" 
  23. ^ Markle, Meghan. "Meghan Markle: I'm More Than An 'Other'". © 2017 Hearst Magazines UK (December 22, 2016) – Originally written in July 2015 published in ELLE Magazine in 2015.. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017. http://www.elleuk.com/life-and-culture/news/a26855/more-than-an-other/. Retrieved November 26, 2017. "Because in 1865 (which is so shatteringly recent), when slavery was abolished in the United States, former slaves had to choose a name. A surname, to be exact....the commonality that links me to my bloodline, is the choice that my great-great-great grandfather made to start anew. He chose the last name Wisdom. He drew his own box." 
  24. ^ Griffiths, Emmy. "Will Meghan Markle use her first name Rachel if she marries Prince Harry?". http://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2017090842230/meghan-markle-princess-rachel-of-wales-engaged/. Retrieved September 8, 2017. 
  25. ^ UKTV (February 21, 2016). "Meghan Markle Rapid Fire Questions | Suits Season 5 | Dave". YouTube. Archived from the original on June 7, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6LOQnO6lyo. Retrieved September 15, 2017. 
  26. ^ a b Boyle, Danny (November 8, 2016). "Who is Meghan Markle? Everything we know about Prince Harry's girlfriend". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on November 12, 2016. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/31/who-is-meghan-markle-everything-we-know-about-the-suits-actress/. Retrieved November 12, 2016. 
  27. ^ Markle, Meghan (August 17, 2015). "I'm More Than An 'Other'". Elle UK. Archived from the original on November 4, 2016. http://www.elleuk.com/life-and-culture/news/a26855/more-than-an-other/. Retrieved November 4, 2016. 
  28. ^ Morris, Regan (September 27, 2017). "'Meghan who?' LA shrugs over Harry's hometown girlfriend". BBC News. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41391607. Retrieved 28 November 2017. "But Markle's mother lives in the View Park-Windsor Hills neighbourhood, which is one of the wealthiest, primarily African American areas in the US." 
  29. ^ Melas, Chloe (November 3, 2016). "Meghan Markle: 5 things to know Prince Harry's rumored love interest". CNN. Archived from the original on November 4, 2016. http://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/02/entertainment/meghan-markle-prince-harry-dating/. Retrieved November 3, 2016. "This is when (my mother) graduated from USC with a masters in social work...." 
  30. ^ Humphries, Will (November 27, 2017). "Meghan Markle’s family tree". The Times. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/meghan-markle-s-family-tree-kvlzmz82s. Retrieved November 28, 2017. 
  31. ^ a b Goulet, Matt (July 13, 2013). "Q&A:The Beautiful Meghan Markle on Suits, Canada Day, and Handwriting". Esquire. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. http://www.esquire.com/blogs/culture/meghan-markle-interview. Retrieved January 14, 2014. 
  32. ^ Hicks, Tony (November 1, 2016). "Prince Harry ready to meet Meghan Markle’s father". Mercury News. Archived from the original on November 12, 2016. http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/11/11/prince-harry-ready-to-meet-meghan-markles-father/. Retrieved November 12, 2016. "Her father, Thomas W. Markle, is an Emmy Award-winning cinematographer." 
  33. ^ Goulet, Matt (July 13, 2013). "Q&A: The Beautiful Meghan Markle on Suits, Canada Day, and Handwriting". Esquire. Hearst Communications, Inc.. Archived from the original on November 14, 2016. http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/interviews/a23925/meghan-markle-interview/. Retrieved November 12, 2016. "She (Markle) spent time growing up on the set of Married... with Children" 
  34. ^ "Meghan Markle: Six things you didn't know about Prince Harry's girlfriend". The Week. November 8, 2016. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016. http://www.theweek.co.uk/78126/meghan-markle-six-things-you-didnt-know-about-prince-harrys-girlfriend. 
  35. ^ Dewan, Angela; Isaac, Lindsay (November 8, 2016). "Meghan Markle: Prince Harry warns press about harassing girlfriend". CNN. Archived from the original on November 8, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161108112925/http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/08/europe/uk-prince-harry-meghan-markle/index.html. 
  36. ^ "Inside Meghan Markle and Serena Williams' Friendship: Why She Credits the Tennis Star as Her Closest Friend and Confidante" (in en-CA). E! News. http://www.eonline.com/ca/news/837484/inside-meghan-markle-and-serena-williams-friendship-why-she-credits-the-tennis-star-as-her-closest-friend-and-confidante. 
  37. ^ "How Meghan Markle and Princess Kate’s Styles Differ — and How to Get Meghan’s Best Looks" (in en-US). PEOPLE.com. April 1, 2017. http://people.com/royals/how-meghan-markle-and-princess-kates-styles-differ-and-how-to-get-meghans-best-looks/. 
  38. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Inside Meghan Markle's Life in Toronto: From Prince Harry's Low-Key Visits to Cozy Yoga Classes". December 15, 2016. http://www.etonline.com/news/205207_exclusive_inside_meghan_markle_life_toronto_including_prince_harry_visits/. Retrieved May 23, 2017. 
  39. ^ "Hitched, Hatched, Hired". The Hollywood Reporter. September 27, 2011. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hitched-hatched-hired-240470. Retrieved February 2, 2013. 
  40. ^ "36 things we've learnt about Meghan Markle in the past year". Archived from the original on August 18, 2017. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/36-things-learnt-meghan-markle-past-year/. 

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