Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, remains one of the most talked-about women in the world in 2026. The American actress who married into the British royal family, stepped away from royal duties, and rebuilt her career in California continues to make headlines — this time for her As Ever lifestyle brand, her evolving Netflix relationship, and a long-awaited thaw with King Charles III.
Few public figures divide opinion quite like Meghan Markle. To her supporters, she is a self-made woman who challenged an outdated institution. To her critics, she walked away from privilege while continuing to profit from it. This article sets out the verifiable facts: her biography, achievements, awards, controversies, personal life, and the latest news from 2025 and 2026, followed by direct answers to the questions people ask most.
Who Is Meghan Markle? Early Life and Biography
Meghan Markle was born Rachel Meghan Markle on August 4, 1981, in Los Angeles, California. Her father, Thomas Markle, was an Emmy-winning television lighting director; her mother, Doria Ragland, is a social worker and yoga instructor. Her parents divorced when she was young, and Meghan grew up close to her mother in the View Park and Hollywood areas of LA.
Education: Immaculate Heart and Northwestern University
Meghan attended Immaculate Heart High School, an all-girls Catholic school in Los Angeles, where she was active in theater and community service. She then studied at Northwestern University, graduating in 2003 with a double major in theater and international studies. During college she completed an internship at the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, an early sign of her interest in public service and diplomacy.
Acting Career and the Road to Suits
Like many working actors, Meghan Markle spent years in small roles before her breakthrough. She appeared briefly on General Hospital, worked as a briefcase model on Deal or No Deal, and took guest parts on shows such as CSI, 90210, and Fringe, along with supporting film roles in Remember Me and Horrible Bosses.
Her big break came in 2011, when she was cast as paralegal-turned-lawyer Rachel Zane on the USA Network legal drama Suits. She played the role for seven seasons, from 2011 to 2018, leaving only when she married Prince Harry. During this period she also ran a popular lifestyle blog, The Tig, from 2014 to 2017 — an early template for the wellness-and-lifestyle brand she would later build with As Ever.
What Are Meghan Markle’s Biggest Achievements?
Meghan Markle’s achievements span television, royal duties, media production, publishing, and consumer brands.
Suits and Its Streaming Resurgence
Suits made Meghan a familiar face on television, but the show’s second life made her more visible than ever: when Suits arrived on Netflix in 2023, it shattered streaming viewership records, introducing Rachel Zane to a new generation of viewers.
Royal Role as Duchess of Sussex
After marrying Prince Harry in May 2018, Meghan became the Duchess of Sussex and carried out royal engagements in the UK and abroad, including a major tour of southern Africa in 2019. She championed causes such as women’s empowerment and community support, and in 2018 she led the charity cookbook Together: Our Community Cookbook with women affected by the Grenfell Tower fire, which became a UK bestseller.
Archewell, Netflix, and Spotify Ventures
After stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Meghan and Prince Harry founded the Archewell Foundation and its production arms. Their reported multi-year Netflix deal produced the 2022 docuseries Harry & Meghan, which set a record for a documentary debut on the platform. A separate Spotify partnership yielded her interview podcast Archetypes in 2022; the Spotify deal ended by mutual agreement in 2023, and she later launched the podcast Confessions of a Female Founder with Lemonada Media in 2025.
In 2025 she returned to screens as host of the Netflix lifestyle series With Love, Meghan, filmed near her Montecito home, which ran for two seasons plus a holiday special.
The As Ever Lifestyle Brand
Meghan launched her lifestyle brand As Ever in 2025 (initially announced as American Riviera Orchard), selling products such as fruit spreads, teas, honey, baking mixes, flower sprinkles, and a rosé wine. Backed at launch by Netflix, the brand’s debut collections sold out quickly, and in 2026 As Ever transitioned to operating independently — more on that in the latest-news section below.
Writing and Activism
Meghan’s children’s book The Bench (2021) became a New York Times bestseller. Her activism dates back well before her royal years: she served as a UN Women advocate and a World Vision global ambassador in the mid-2010s, and famously spoke out at age 11 to get a sexist television commercial changed. More recently she has advocated for paid family leave in the United States, online safety for families through the Archewell Foundation’s parents’ network, and support for women re-entering the workforce.
Meghan Markle’s Awards and Recognition
Meghan Markle’s honors reflect both her media work and her advocacy. Notable recognition includes:
- Time 100: Named among the world’s most influential people in 2018, and later featured alongside Prince Harry.
- NAACP President’s Award (2022): Awarded jointly to Meghan and Harry for public service.
- Robert F. Kennedy Ripple of Hope Award (2022): Honoring the couple’s work on social causes.
- Ms. Foundation Woman of Vision Award (2023): Presented by Gloria Steinem for her advocacy for women and girls.
- People’s Choice Award (2022): Archetypes was voted favorite pop podcast.
- Emmy nomination (2026): With Love, Meghan received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lifestyle Series.
What Controversies Has Meghan Markle Faced?
Meghan Markle is a polarizing figure, and any honest account has to address the disputes that have followed her — presented here factually, with both sides noted.
“Megxit”: Stepping Back from Royal Duties
In January 2020, Meghan and Harry announced they would step back as senior working royals, a decision the press dubbed “Megxit.” They cited intense media intrusion and a lack of institutional support; critics argued they wanted the benefits of royal status without its obligations. The couple relinquished their royal patronages, stopped using their HRH styles in public life, and relocated to Montecito, California.
The Oprah Interview
In March 2021, the couple’s interview with Oprah Winfrey drew a global audience. Meghan said she had experienced suicidal thoughts during her royal years and alleged that an unnamed member of the royal family had raised “concerns” about how dark their unborn son’s skin might be. Buckingham Palace responded that “recollections may vary” and said the issues raised would be addressed privately. The specific claims have never been independently verified, and the palace has not publicly detailed its own account.
Bullying Allegations — Which She Denied
In 2021, The Times of London reported that former palace staff had accused Meghan of bullying aides during her time as a working royal. Her representatives strongly denied the allegations, calling them a “calculated smear campaign.” Buckingham Palace commissioned an internal review, but its findings were never made public, leaving the matter unresolved on the record.
Family Estrangement
Meghan has been estranged from her father, Thomas Markle, since the days before her 2018 wedding, when he staged paparazzi photos and then missed the ceremony after a heart attack. Her half-siblings have been publicly critical of her; a defamation lawsuit brought by her half-sister Samantha Markle was dismissed in 2023. Meghan has said the ongoing public commentary from estranged relatives has been painful, while her father has said he wishes to reconcile.
Media Battles and Lawsuits
Meghan’s relationship with the British tabloid press has been openly adversarial. She sued Associated Newspapers, publisher of The Mail on Sunday, for printing a private letter she wrote to her father — and won, with the Court of Appeal upholding her privacy and copyright victory in December 2021. The paper was required to print a front-page statement acknowledging her win. Supporters view the case as vindication against press intrusion; critics note the couple continue to share personal details through their own media projects.
Meghan Markle’s Relationships and Personal Life
First Marriage to Trevor Engelson
Meghan married film producer Trevor Engelson in Jamaica in September 2011, after seven years together. The marriage ended in divorce in 2013, reportedly strained by long-distance demands while she filmed Suits in Toronto.
Marriage to Prince Harry
Meghan met Prince Harry on a blind date in London in July 2016, arranged by a mutual friend. They announced their engagement in November 2017 and married on May 19, 2018, at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in a ceremony watched by tens of millions worldwide. The couple have consistently described their bond as the anchor of their post-royal life, and they now live in Montecito, California.
Children: Archie and Lilibet
Meghan and Harry have two children: Prince Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, born May 6, 2019, and Princess Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, born June 4, 2021, named in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II’s family nickname and Princess Diana. The children hold prince and princess titles following King Charles III’s accession, and the family has kept them largely out of the public eye.
Meghan Markle Latest News: 2025–2026
The past year has brought major shifts in Meghan Markle’s business and family life.
- Netflix exits As Ever (March 2026): Netflix ended its investment partnership with the As Ever brand roughly a year after its launch, with Meghan continuing to run the lifestyle business independently. Reports in mid-2026 indicated the brand’s website traffic fell about 46 percent in the first half of the year, though products including jams, teas, honey, and wine remain on sale.
- With Love, Meghan winds down: Season 2 premiered in August 2025 with guests including Chrissy Teigen and Tan France, followed by a holiday special. Reports say the show will not return for a third season, though the series earned a 2026 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lifestyle Series, and holiday specials remain under discussion.
- A new first-look Netflix deal: The Sussexes’ original mega-deal was replaced with a first-look arrangement, meaning Netflix gets first option on Archewell Productions projects — including a planned adaptation of Carley Fortune’s novel Meet Me at the Lake.
- Royal reconciliation gathers pace: After Prince Harry’s private tea with King Charles III in September 2025 — their first meeting in 19 months — the King hosted Harry, Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet in July 2026, reportedly at Highgrove, the family’s first joint visit in four years. The rift between Harry and Prince William, however, is widely reported to remain unresolved.
Frequently Asked Questions About Meghan Markle
How old is Meghan Markle?
Meghan Markle is 44 years old as of July 2026. She was born on August 4, 1981, in Los Angeles, California, and turns 45 in August 2026.
What is Meghan Markle’s net worth?
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have an estimated combined net worth of around $60 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, with some 2026 estimates ranging up to $70 million. Their wealth comes from Netflix and past Spotify deals, Harry’s memoir Spare, Meghan’s acting earnings, and the As Ever brand.
Is Meghan Markle still a duchess?
Yes. Meghan remains the Duchess of Sussex, a title she received on marriage in 2018. She and Harry no longer use their HRH styles in public or commercial life, but the titles themselves were never removed.
How many children does Meghan Markle have?
Meghan Markle has two children with Prince Harry: Prince Archie, born in 2019, and Princess Lilibet, born in 2021. The family lives in Montecito, California.
What is Meghan Markle’s As Ever brand?
As Ever is Meghan Markle’s lifestyle brand, launched in 2025, selling fruit spreads, teas, honey, baking mixes, flower sprinkles, and rosé wine. Originally backed by Netflix, it has operated independently since the partnership ended in March 2026.
Was Meghan Markle on Suits?
Yes. Meghan Markle played Rachel Zane on Suits for seven seasons, from 2011 to 2018, leaving the show shortly before her wedding to Prince Harry. The series later broke streaming records on Netflix in 2023.
Conclusion
Meghan Markle’s story is still being written. In 2026 she is no longer simply a former actress or a former working royal: she is an entrepreneur navigating the ups and downs of a young brand, a producer with an Emmy-nominated series, and a mother of two edging toward reconciliation with the royal family she left. Whether As Ever thrives independently and whether the family rift fully heals are open questions — but the Duchess of Sussex has shown, repeatedly, that she intends to define her next chapter on her own terms.