There is no simple way to describe or talk about two of the most famous people in recent times, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Their embattled yet firm and assertive love, which has weathered several storms and keeps thriving, makes for an enviable story.
It is like something straight out of a Nora Roberts offering. The more adversity they face, the stronger they prove to be, and the more famous they become. All of these, coupled with their relentless love for humanitarian work, have contributed to them being named among Time’s World’s 100 most influential people.
After meeting on a blind date courtesy of a mutual friend in 2016 and literally hitting it off immediately, the couple began dating in less than two months. They kept it under wraps for four months before sharing the news with the world. Since the news became public knowledge in October of 2016, their business has been all our businesses.
With so much to know about the power couple both as a unit and as individuals, it will be impossible to do justice in just an article. But, who says one can’t try anyway? Come with us as we look deeper into the lives of arguably the world’s most famous couple. Here are ten interesting facts about Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, to whet your appetite.
10 facts about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
- Harry and Meghan are not their first names; though popularly known as Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex was actually born, Prince Henry Charles Albert David, and in the same vein, his wife Meghan was born, Rachel Meghan Markle.
- Meghan’s parents didn’t have enough to cover her college tuition, but that didn’t spell doom for her education as she helped fund her tuition through work-study and scholarships.
- Prince Harry served in the armed forces and fought in Afghanistan, he did two tours and flew an Apache Helicopter during the second.
- At the age of 12, Meghan complained about a sexist advert, she wrote a letter to the producers of Ivory Clear washing soap whose advert said “women” in the US were battling greasy pots and pans, instead of “people”; the ad was adjusted to that effect.
- Prince Harry loves and feels a deep connection with Africa, he’s been visiting the continent from a young age, and Africa was his first call after the death of his mother.
- Through the help of her uncle, a retired diplomat, Meghan did an internship at the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires as a 20-year-old.
- Their wedding was graced by iconic singer, Sir Elton John who played “Your Song” on the Piano at their wedding reception lunch in St George’s Hall.
- For a brief period in his teens, Harry was into drinking and smoking Cannabis, he was made to speak to recovering addicts at a rehab center in Peckham.
- Through her bridal train which was woven with the flowers of each Commonwealth nation, Meghan paid tribute to all 54 countries from Britain’s former Empire.
- Harry and Meghan became the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their wedding day as a gift from the Queen.
Related article: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry name daughter after his mother.
Prince Harry (wiki)
Born 15 September 1984, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, KCVO, ADC, is a member of the British royal family. As the younger son of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales, he is sixth in the line of succession to the British throne. He had his education at Wetherby School, Ludgrove School, and Eton College. Harry underwent officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was commissioned as a cornet into the Blues and Royals. There, he served temporarily with his brother William and completed training as a troop leader.
Harry did two tours in Afghanistan, the first was from 2007 to 2008 where he served for over ten weeks. In 2012, he returned for a 20-week deployment with the Army Air Corps. Finally, in June 2015, he resigned from the army. Harry gives patronage to several other organizations, including the HALO Trust and Walking With The Wounded.
He was made the Duke of Sussex in 2018 on getting married to Meghan Markle. In 2020, he and his wife stepped down as senior members of the royal family and moved to Southern California. Harry is a proud father of two children, Archie and Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor.
Meghan Markle - Duchess of Sussex
Born Rachel Meghan Markle on 4 August 1981, Meghan is an American member of the British royal family and a former actress. Her acting career began while at Northwestern University, and her last and most significant on-screen role was that of Rachel Zane for seven seasons (2011-2018) in the American TV legal drama Suits. She retired from acting after getting married to Prince Harry in 2018 and becoming the Duchess of Sussex.
Meghan also ran a lifestyle blog - The Tig - from 2014 to 2017. Her fashion sense made the blog popular, and she resultantly released two clothing lines. While the blog blossomed, Meghan became involved in charity work focused primarily on women’s issues and social justice. Long before meeting Prince Harry, Meghan was once married. She was married to film producer Trevor Engelson from 2011 to 2013.
In 2018, she got married to Prince Harry and became the Duchess of Sussex. She now lives in California with her husband and two children, where she and her husband pursue business and Charity work.
Thomas Markle Sr. and Doria Ragland (Meghan Markle mom)
Born 18 July 1944, Thomas Wayne Markle Sr. is a retired American television lighting director and director of photography. His family is of German, English, and Irish descent. He has two brothers, Frederick and Michael. He received a Chicago/Midwest Emmy Award for work on the television program Made in Chicago in 1975. Thomas was also a co-recipient of two Daytime Emmy Awards for work on the television soap opera General Hospital in 1982 and 2011. He is the father of the Duchess of Sussex, who is his youngest child. Thomas was previously married to Roslyn Markle (née Loveless). Together, they had two children: Thomas Markle Jr. and Samantha Markle (born Yvonne Marie Markle).
He married Doria Ragland in December 1979, and together, they had Meghan Markle before they divorced in 1987. Due to health issues, Thomas could not walk his daughter down the aisle in 2018 as he intended.
Meanwhile, Meghan Markle mother Doria Loyce Ragland was born on 2 September 1956. She was a makeup artist when she met Meghan’s father and later worked as a travel agent. In the early to mid-2000s, she was a small business owner but ended up filing for Bankruptcy. Doria pursued her education and bagged a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and worked as an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW). In 2018, she left her position at a mental health clinic to enter private practice working with elderly patients. Doria was the only family member present at her daughter’s royal wedding in May 2018.
Harry and Meghan’s relationship
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex met each other for the first time on a blind date in mid-2016. They were introduced by a mutual friend who some sources claim to be Prince Harry’s friend, Violet von Westenholz, while others say it was fashion designer Mischa Nonoo. Harry and Meghan hit it off on the spot, and in a later interview, Harry said he knew from that first date that Meghan was “the one”. A month after their first meeting, Meghan accompanied Harry to Africa, where they got to bond more deeply.
They managed to keep their relationship a secret for about four months until the news broke in October. Then, in November 2016, it was reported that Prince Harry had introduced Meghan to his father, Prince Charles. Their struggles with the media commenced around the same time, and Harry had to implore the public to desist from trolling and bashing his girlfriend. The Royal Family seemed to be in support of the relationship, as per reports. Prince Williams even weighed in at some point, debunking reports that he wasn’t supporting the relationship.
Meghan was introduced to Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte in early 2017, and according to US Weekly, they got along quite well. Both Harry and Meghan commented on how supportive William and his wife had been. Things progressively changed for Meghan, and she had to close her lifestyle blog, which she had run for three years. The couple made their first public appearance as an item at the annual Audi Polo Challenge in Ascot, England on 7 May 2017.
