Meghan Markle has been in the media spotlight since her relationship with Prince Harry was announced in autumn of 2016, and has received a whole new dimension of attention now that their engagement and wedding plans have been set (the wedding will be taking place in May 2018).
Prior to this publicity, however, she was already known to many through her role in Suits, where she plays Rachel Zane, a driven, ambitious, kind and quirky paralegal and lawyer. Prior to Suits, Ms. Markle had various performances in medical dramas and sci-fi series such as Fringe, as well as appearances in Hollywood films such as Remember Me and Horrible Bosses.
Being a successful actress in a well-received TV show would seem to be an all-consuming job, but not for Ms. Markle. She has additionally thrown herself into supporting various philanthropic causes, causes for which she started showing interest early in her life; at the young age of 11 she wrote a letter to then First Lady Hilary Clinton expressing her concern that a soap advert was suggesting women solely belonged in the kitchen. The advert was subsequently changed. Ms. Markle has continued to campaign for the change she wants to see in the world, participating in humanitarian work as part of her role as Global Ambassador at World Vision Canada, a position which included her travelling to Rwanda as part of their Clean Water campaign. As part of her advocacy for gender equality and women’s rights she also gave a speech at the United Nations in 2016, which was attended by Ban-Ki Moon and for which she received a standing ovation. Ms. Markle’s philanthropy does not end there however; she is also the proud owner of two rescue puppies, one of whom will be moving to England with her (the other being too old for such a big move).
The Northwestern University graduate, whose degree saw her interning at the Brazilian Embassy to the United States, was introduced to Prince Harry through a mutual friend. Harry has reportedly stated that as soon as he met her he knew he would have to ‘step up his game’ to keep up with her intelligence and drive. Their relationship has been a reflection of both Ms. Markle and the Prince’s philanthropic endeavors, with their first trip together being to Botswana, and their first public appearance being at the Invictus Games in Toronto, an event honoring wounded veterans. Moreover, the couple’s first public appearance after announcing their engagement to the world was on World AIDS Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness to the stigma of living with HIV/AIDS, educating the public on it, and helping to provide healthcare to those suffering from AIDS.
In a joint interview released after their engagement went public, both Prince Harry and Ms. Markle emphasized their wish to use their new union and platform to advocate for philanthropic causes important to them. Both Ms. Markle’s co-workers at Suits, where she starred for seven years, as well as those working with her in a charitable capacity, have stated that their pleasure in working with her, emphasized her kindness, intelligence and exemplary work ethic. Looking to the future, there is no doubt that Ms. Markle and Prince Harry will make a great team, and work together on achieving the social change they wish to see.