Meghan Markle made history in the royal family when she got married to Prince Harry. Here are all the ways she made it.
An American
Meghan Markle was born in California, and she was the first American to be officially engaged to a member of the royal family. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced that they are engaged in November 2017.
Twice married
Before marrying Prince Harry, Meghan Markle was married to a TV producer Trevor Engelson from 2011 to 2013. The two met back in 2004. A royal biographer, Andrew Morton wrote in his book Meghan: A Hollywood Princess how Meghan’s request for a divorce came “out of the blue” for Engelson. “The marriage ended so abruptly that Meghan sent Trevor her diamond wedding and engagement rings back by registered mail.”
Marrying a divorcee wasn’t allowed for years in the royal family. Arianne Chernock revealed to History, “Historically the Church of England’s position was that divorce was okay, but remarriage was not.” Prince Edward VII had to abdicate the throne in 1936 in order to marry a twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson. Princess Margaret had to end her relationship with Captain Peter Townsend in the 1950s, due to the fact that he was already divorced. “Mindful of the Church’s teaching that Christian marriage is indissoluble, and conscious of my duty to the Commonwealth, I have resolved to put these considerations before any others,” said Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth II’s sister after she ended her relationship with Townsend.
Former actress
Before Markle, Grace Kelly and Rita Hayworth were actresses when they married a member of the royal family. Meghan Markle portrayed Rachel Zoe in Suits. Before her fame, she was one of the models on a game show, Deal or No Deal.
Heritage
Her mother, Doria Ragland is an African American and her father, Thomas Markle is Caucasian. Meghan Markle is the first biracial women to become royalty.
Protestant
Markle went to a Roman Catholic high school, and she is Protestant. Even though she wasn’t requested to convert her religion in order to marry Prince Harry, she opted to do it. She was baptized in 2018, prior to her wedding with Prince Harry.
Source: cheatsheet.com