Jump directly to the content

MEGHAN Markle became a member of the Royal Family following her marriage to Prince Harry in 2018.

Meghan and Harry ditched the UK for the States in 2020 but what was Meghan's life like before she met Harry and where in America was she raised?

 Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced that they would be stepping down as senior members of the Royal Family
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced that they would be stepping down as senior members of the Royal FamilyCredit: AFP

Where did Meghan Markle grow up?

Meghan, 37, was born on August 4, 1981.

Her full name was actually Rachel Meghan Markle - interestingly Rachel was also the name of her character on TV series Suits.

She was born and raised in Los Angeles, California.

From age five, she was educated at private schools - first at Hollywood Little Red Schoolhouse and later at Immaculate Heart High School, an all-girl, private Catholic school in Los Angeles.

 Meghan Markle studied at an all-girls private catholic school
Meghan Markle studied at an all-girls private catholic schoolCredit: Splash News

What nationality are her parents Doria Ragland and Thomas Markle?

Meghan's mother Doria Ragland , a yoga instructor and social worker, and father Thomas divorced when the future princess was six.

Thomas worked as a television lighting director.

 Meghan in her childhood bedroom at her mother Doria's Los Angeles home
3
Meghan in her childhood bedroom at her mother Doria's Los Angeles homeCredit: Splash News

He worked on iconic American shows including Married With Children and General Hospital.

Meghan describes her parents as "coming from little" but they were able to privately educate her in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles.

 Meghan Markle as a baby with her dad Thomas
3
Meghan Markle as a baby with her dad Thomas

Doria is African-American, while Meghan's father is Dutch-Irish, and their difference in skin tone led to the family receiving racial abuse when she was younger.

Thomas is now retired and living in Rosarito, Mexico.

 Meghan Markle pictured with her mum Doria at a graduation ceremony
3
Meghan Markle pictured with her mum Doria at a graduation ceremonyCredit: Pix supplied as a technical service by Tim Stewart News Limited 07932745508. No inferred o

What has Meghan said about her ethnicity?

In an article for , Meghan wrote: “Being biracial paints a blurred line that is equal parts staggering and illuminating.”

“While my mixed heritage may have created a grey area surrounding my self-identification, keeping me with a foot on both sides of the fence, I have come to embrace that.

"To say who I am, to share where I’m from, to voice my pride in being a strong, confident mixed-race woman."

In her interview with Oprah, she shared her experience of being mixed race within the royal family, revealing her son Archie wasn't made a prince after "concerns and conversations" about "how dark" his skin would be when he was born.

The Duchess of Sussex said there had been conversations with Prince Harry and a 'family' member about their unborn son and what colour his skin would be - and "what that would mean or look like".

She declined to say who had started those conversations, saying it would be "damaging" to them.

Meghan flees back to Canada after bombshell royal exit while Harry holds crisis talks with Queen
Topics