The Duchess of Sussex

About The Duchess of Sussex

The Duchess of Sussex, born Rachel Meghan Markle, married Prince Harry at St George's Chapel, Windsor in May 2018. The Duke and Duchess have two children, Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex. 

As announced in January 2020, The Duke and Duchess have stepped back as senior members of The Royal Family. They are balancing their time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour their duty to the Monarch, the Commonwealth, and their patronages. 

The Duchess will continue to support a number of charitable causes and organisations which reflect the issues with which she has long been associated including the arts, access to education, support for women and animal welfare. 

The Duchess’s official titles are The Duchess of Sussex, Countess of Dumbarton and Baroness Kilkeel. 

Biography

Education

The Duchess attended the Hollywood Little Red Schoolhouse from the ages of 2-11 and began her secondary education at Immaculate Heart High School in 1992. She went on to double major in Theatre and International Relations at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois graduating in 2003 with a dual degree.

During her time at university, The Duchess completed an internship at the US Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she learned to speak Spanish. She also studied French for six years.

Career

After university she worked as an actress, appearing in film and television. She most notably played the role of Rachel Zane on the series Suits for seven seasons, completing over 100 episodes. 

Alongside her successful career as an actress, The Duchess also wrote and edited a lifestyle website called The Tig.

Royal Engagements

While living in the UK, The Duchess spent time visiting local communities and organisations both publicly and privately. She also undertook a number of visits to communities across the UK – including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

In January 2019, it was announced that The Duchess had become Patron of four organisations that reflect the causes and issues with which she had long been associated including the arts, access to education, support for women and animal welfare. Two of the patronages - the National Theatre and Association of Commonwealth Universities – were handed down from Queen Elizabeth II. The others were Smart Works and the Mayhew animal welfare charity.

Charitable Work

From a young age, The Duchess had a keen awareness of social issues and actively participated in charitable work. Aged 11 she successfully campaigned for a company to alter their television advert, which had used sexist language to sell washing-up liquid. She also volunteered at a soup kitchen in Skid Row, Los Angeles from the age of 13-17. She continued to volunteer at the soup kitchen when she would return home to Los Angeles until the age of 22. 

These early experiences helped to shape her lifelong commitment to causes such as social justice and women's empowerment. 

While filming in Toronto, The Duchess actively volunteered at a Canadian soup kitchen from 2011-2013. She also established the program at her place of work to ensure that leftover meals from the set were donated to local homeless shelters. 

One Young World

The Duchess became involved with the organisation One Young World in 2014 when she was asked to become a Counsellor for the charity. One Young World is a global forum that gathers together young leaders in order to develop solutions to some of the world's most pressing issues. She attended panels for One Young World in Dublin and Ottawa. 

UN Women

In 2015, The Duchess became the UN Women's Advocate for Women’s Political Participation and Leadership. In this role, she gave a speech on the importance of gender equality on International Women’s Day for UN Women in New York City. Ahead of her appointment to this role, she spent time at the UN's New York office to understand the organisation's day-to-day work before embarking on a learning mission to Rwanda. On this trip The Duchess met female parliamentarian leaders in Kigali and visited Gihembe refugee camp, where women were working on leadership and empowerment at a grassroots level.

 

I am proud to be a woman and a feminist

The Duchess of Sussex, speaking at the UN on International Women's Day 2015

World Vision

In addition to her role with UN Women and One Young World, The Duchess became a Global Ambassador for World Vision in 2016. As part of her work with the charity she visited Rwanda on a clean water campaign that would work to allow young children to continue their education.

 

The Duchess undertook a second learning mission with the organisation when she visited India with World Vision to bring a greater awareness to girls' lack of access to education. In the slum communities of Mumbai, The Duchess witnessed the work of the Myna Mahila Foundation who empower women through access to menstrual hygiene products and employment opportunities. Struck by her experience, she wrote an op-ed for Time Magazine about the stigmatisation of menstrual health management and its long term hindrance to girls’ education.

 

The Myna Mahila Foundation was one of the charities chosen by the couple to benefit from charitable donations made for the Royal Wedding. 

The Arts 

The Duchess is a strong believer in using the arts to bring people from different backgrounds and communities together. Whilst she spent ten years working in television, her training is in theatre. The Duchess was announced as Patron of the National Theatre in January 2019. The late Queen Elizabeth II previously held the role for 45 years.

Access to Education

As a university graduate, The Duchess is a strong advocate of accessible education for all. She wants to ensure that educational opportunities are available for all people, regardless of gender or socioeconomic background. Since becoming Patron of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, The Duchess has met students, academics, and staff from ACU member universities across the Commonwealth to learn more about the vital work they do to address global challenges. This includes announcing new Gender Grants for ACU member universities in the Pacific and South Africa to fund new learning initiatives aimed at empowering female university staff and promoting gender equality. Most recently, The Duchess met with a group of Commonwealth and Chevening scholars from 11 different countries to hear about their commitment to tackling the global challenges we face, before they all attended the Commonwealth Observance Service.

Support for Women

The Duchess has a longstanding track record of working in the space of women’s empowerment both in her local community as well as abroad. She has been involved with several other projects in this sector, including a project whilst at university which provided prom dresses for young women in underprivileged areas. In recent years, The Duchess has travelled to India and Rwanda working on projects to mobilise women in challenging or marginalised situations to see their full potential.

The Duchess was proud to become Patron of Smart Works, which helps long term unemployed and vulnerable women regain the confidence they need to succeed at job interviews, return to employment and transform their lives. The Duchess has regularly conducted private visits to Smart Works and has worked with many women who have benefited from the charity’s support, helping them through coaching and interview preparation.

Animal Welfare

The Duchess has long understood the connection between animals and community welfare and has supported various animal rescue centres in Los Angeles. The Duchess was proud to be announced as Patron of Mayhew in January 2019. 

Mayhew is an animal welfare charity working to improve the lives of dogs, cats and people in communities both in London and internationally and looks for innovative ways to reduce the number of animals in need through pro-active community and educational initiatives and preventative veterinary care. 

Related content

Feature

Remembrance 2019

Members of the Royal Family remember the war dead.
News

World Mental Health Day 2019

10 October 2019

A speech delivered by The Duchess of Sussex at the Creative Industries and Business Reception, Johannesburg

At our visit this earlier this morning I was struck by a small sign that was posted on the wall for the female entrepreneurs – and it said: “visualize your highest self, and...

02 October 2019

Remarks made by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex at the Youth Employment Services, Johannesburg

There’s so much ingenuity here, there’s so much promise here, that given the right level of support and resources that you need, the potential is astronomical, and you can see...

02 October 2019

A speech delivered by The Duchess of Sussex at the visit to The Justice Desk, Nyanga Township, South Africa

You have welcomed us into this community, have been open and honest with us, both about the dangers women and children face, and about how you are addressing them.

23 September 2019

A speech by The Duke of Sussex at a visit to the Justice Desk, Cape Town, South Africa

We are so incredibly grateful to be able to listen and learn from you about the issues that define your daily lives in these communities. And that’s what this is, a community.

23 September 2019

A speech delivered by The Duchess of Sussex at the launch of the Smart Works capsule collection in London

As women, it is one hundred percent our responsibility, I think, to support and uplift each other

12 September 2019
Feature

Prince Archie of Sussex

Find out more about Archie Mountbatten-Windsor
Press release 06 May 2019

The Duchess of Sussex has been delivered of a son

Read more
Press release 06 May 2019

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex: Update

Read more
Press release 08 February 2019

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will visit Morocco

Read more
Press release 10 January 2019

The Duchess of Sussex announces Patronages

Read more

A speech ​by The Duchess of Sussex in New Zealand marking the 125th anniversary of women’s suffrage

Suffrage is not simply about the right to vote but also about what that represents. The basic and fundamental human right of being able to participate in the choices for your...

28 October 2018

A speech by The Duchess of Sussex at the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 Closing Ceremony

​I was able to see the unshakable bonds between service men and women on the ground together, but at the same time to feel the palpable longing for family and friends while...

27 October 2018
Feature

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's visit to Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand

Keep updated with the latest news from Their Royal Highnesses' Tour
Press release 15 October 2018

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expecting a baby

Read more
Press release 10 September 2018

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Autumn Tour

Read more

A speech from the Duke of Sussex at Glencairn

Standing here with you on this beautiful evening, it is easy to see why Ireland has such a special place in the hearts of my family and indeed, all those who come here.

10 July 2018
Press release 19 June 2018

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will visit Ireland

Read more