From television stewardess to Duchess of Sussex: Meghan Markle's 40 years, in pictures

1Meghan Markle began her media career not as an actress, but as a television hostess.

In this case, in a kind of version of 'The right price' in the United States called 'Deal or no deal'.

Here, in September 2006, at the premiere of the show's second season.

He had just turned 25 years old.

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2 Little by little Markle began to be seen in events with more famous North Americans;

here at an exhibition in East Hampton, New York, in August 2006. Billy Farrell / Patrick McMullan GETTY IMAGES

Since 2002, Meghan Markle began to do small roles, almost all of a single episode, in television series such as 'General Hospital', 'CSI', 'The fantastic car' or 'Castle'.

Here at a beauty line launch at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles in August 2010. Charley Gallay GETTY IMAGES

4There are few images of Markle's private life before joining the British royal family.

Here in the center, dressed in white, celebrating her first wedding, to producer Trevor Engelson, in August 2011. GTRESONLINE

5After years of efforts to gain a foothold and small roles, luck smiled on Markle in 2011. Then she became one of the protagonists of 'Suits', a series of lawyers in which she played Rachel Zane for more than 100 episodes of six seasons.

A role that launched her to fame, especially in the United States.

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6Markle and Engelson were married for less than three years, between the summer of 2011 and March 2014, when they divorced.

Here together at an awards show in Beverly Hills, California, in October 2011. GETTY IMAGES

7Markle's public exposure multiplied when, throughout the summer of 2017, she began to be associated with Prince Henry, grandson of Elizabeth II, youngest son of Charles of England and then fifth in line to the British throne.

The couple were seen together in public for the first time in September 2017, and then Markle became a global celebrity.

Here, in that first time before the media, at the Invictus Games held in Toronto.

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8In November 2017, the betrothal arrived.

Harry and Meghan announced their impending wedding by posing together in the gardens of Kensington Palace in central London.

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The love story of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry soon became a global icon.

The couple posed together for photos after their engagement, taken by fashion and celebrity photographer Alexi Lubomirski, which contributed to the myth around them about the prince marrying the Hollywood actress.

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10 Quickly Meghan Markle seemed to integrate into the British royal family.

Even before her wedding, she already attended some events, especially with her brothers-in-law.

The quartet was called the 'Fab Four'.

Here at a February 2018 mental health event in London with Henry and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Kate and William.

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11Meghan Markle is the daughter of Thomas Markle, a lighting technician, and Doria Ragland, a former makeup artist and yoga teacher.

Her parents have been divorced since 1987, when she was six years old, and her mother is one of her main supports.

Here in London, the day before Meghan's wedding to Harry.

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12On May 19, 2018, the big wedding arrived.

Meghan Markle became the most watched bride on the planet in a grand ceremony held at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

She then became the Duchess of Sussex and a permanent member of the British royal family, a status that would last for just under two years.

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13From day one, Markle was involved in the duties of the royal household, participating in events, presentations, receptions, galas and award ceremonies.

On this occasion, just a month after their wedding, Markle went with Elizabeth II to a ceremony in Cheshire, traveling with the sovereign on the so-called Royal Train, a privilege few members of the British royal family have had.

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14For a time, Markle was fully involved in the public and private activities of the royal family.

Here in June 2018 at the Ascot Races, one of the Windsors' favorite annual events.

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15The Duke and Duchess of Sussex embarked on a grand official tour of Oceania in October 2018. Then they announced that they were expecting their first child, news that was greeted with great joy by those around them.

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16Markle's seemed to be a picture of happiness and fulfillment next to Enrique in the royal family.

But as she explained later, this gala in which she went with an elegant long sequin dress was one of her worst moments in the family, where she had suicidal thoughts.

She was pregnant with her son Archie.

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17Archie was born on June 6, 2019. His parents presented him hours later to the media and also to his great-grandmother, Elizabeth II, but except on some special occasion they have decided not to show the child to the cameras.

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18The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said "enough" on Christmas 2019, when they decided to separate themselves from the royal family for a few weeks and go to Canada.

But when they returned, in January 2020, they made the decision to step back from the British royal family and leave.

His last official act within the Windsors was this, a Commonwealth act in March 2020. GTRESONLINE

19After his departure from the British royal family, Markle and Enrique moved to live in California, in the town of Montecito.

From there they work for big companies like Netflix and Spotify, with whom they have a podcast.

Additionally, Markle has written a children's book and dubbed a documentary for Disney.

They hardly make statements or public acts.

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20 Since their departure from the royal family, the dukes have made few public appearances, but one of the most notorious was the great interview they gave Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, with Meghan already pregnant with her second daughter, a girl who would be born on June 4 and would be called Lilibet Diana. The confessions that Markle made regarding her situation with the Windsors has ended up distancing her even more from her in-laws. At the moment, a reunion is not foreseen. GTRESONLINE