People just can't stop talking about Meghan Markle right now, and it really shows no sign of slowing down. We're probably going to hear a lot more about Meghan in the future, and she just might be one of the most talked about royals for many years to come. And there's a lot to discuss, really. The media is scrambling to find out ever little piece of information about her life, and there have been some interesting things raised.
Tons of stories have been written about Meghan Markle's past, including her career as an actress. But sometimes, the most interesting stories are not about Meghan Markle herself, but her family. Her brother, sister and parents are actually quite interesting characters, and they're a huge part of the Meghan Markle story. Who knows what will happen with her family in the future.
But while some details about Meghan Markle have been widely publicized, there are still those that very few people know about. These secrets and facts have completely flown under the radar, and Prince Harry is probably one of the few people that actually knows about these facts. But this article sheds some light on everything that Meghan Markle thought she had kept a secret...
15 Her Brother Is Not The Most Savory Character
Some of the most closely held secrets about Meghan Markle are not about herself, but about her family instead. She is considered a "commoner" by the Royal Family, but her family is rather different than that of fellow commoner Kate Middleton. Whereas Kate Middleton was a private schoolgirl from a wealthy family, Meghan Markle came from much humbler beginnings, and her family stands as a testament to that.
Perhaps the most disturbing details about her family revolve around her brother, Thomas Markle Junior. He is actually Meghan's half-brother, and he's not the most savory character. According to multiple references, including Baby Gaga, Thomas was actually taken into custody after an altercation with his wife. This is something that the royal family probably wants nothing to do with.
But to be fair to the royal family, they haven't let such embarrassing things get in the way of Harry and Meghan's union, and that is commendable.
It really shows how far the royal family has come, and this is a progressive move that would never happen in previous decades. Previously, the royal family would never involve themselves with a family that involved such controversies. That being said, Thomas Markle Junior will probably have little to no contact with the royal family.
14 Her Sister Is Also Quite A Strange Character
While Meghan Markle's brother is a detail that has been swept under the rug, for the most part, her relationship with her sister has been much more public, and not in a good way. Her name is Samantha Grant, and again she is only Meghan's half-sibling. And like Thomas, she is also a somewhat strange character who has propelled herself into the headlines in recent times.
Samantha Grant has made a series of outlandish and rather aggressive allegations about her sister, accusing her of all kinds of things. Her main point is that Meghan is obsessed with fame, and has been neglecting her family. Many publications, including the Telegraph, have examined this whole fiasco in detail, and many questions were raised.
Many people are questioning Samantha Grant's motives, and whether or not it is her that is seeking fame and attention as a result of her sister's rise to notoriety, and she was famously accused of just that by Piers Morgan recently. Samantha also claims that she has all kinds of shocking details about her sister that she will publish in a book she has written about Meghan Markle's childhood. One thing's for sure — this is another member of Meghan Markle's family that won't be invited to any royal events anytime soon...
13 Her Mother Comes From A Very Humble Lifestyle
The one member of Meghan Markle's family that seems to be supportive of her is her mother, Doria. The two have a much closer relationship than with other members of the family, and it's clear that this is someone who really cares about Meghan and vice versa. And if you dig a little bit into the lifestyle and history of Doria, it's clear that she comes from a very humble background.
Baby Gaga claims that Doria is no stranger to living below the poverty line, and has filed for bankruptcy before. There are also reports of her dealing with evictions and other problems in her life.
She apparently lives in a very modest home in LA, and currently works as a yoga instructor and a social worker, which means that if she had money problems in the past, those days are now behind her.
It's interesting to note that if Doria comes from a humble background, that means that Meghan experienced those same humble beginnings when she grew up as a child and a young adult. It's clear that her mother has had a very strong influence on her life, and Meghan Markle has spoken in the past about her mother keeping her grounded and reminded about where she came from.
12 She Had A Secret Blog
One of the most interesting details to come out about Meghan Markle was the fact that she once ran a blog called Tig. The blog shared all the details about Meghan Markle's life, including her eating habits, vacations and trips, and points of view about life in general. Meghan Markle has since deleted the blog, leading many to speculate about what sorts of interesting (and potentially controversial) secrets were in it.
As quoted by the Telegraph, she ended the blog with a post that read: “What began as a passion project (my little engine that could) evolved into an amazing community of inspiration, support, fun and frivolity. You've made my days brighter and filled this experience with so much joy. Keep finding those Tig moments of discovery, keep laughing and taking risks, and keep being "the change you wish to see in the world. Above all, don't ever forget your worth — as I've told you time and time again: you, my sweet friend, you are enough.”
These are the little details that are often overlooked, but it's clear that the Royal Family's influence on the ex-actor have caused her to rethink her more public ventures on the internet. She has also deleted her social media accounts.
11 She Was Once A "Briefcase Girl" On Deal Or No Deal
Meghan Markle has had a surprisingly lengthy and varied career in show business, doing everything from Hallmark movies to reality TV. And by Reality TV, we're talking of course about her brief stint as a "briefcase girl" on the hit show Deal Or No Deal.
Obviously, this was far from the pinnacle of Meghan Markle's acting career, and its probably one of those details about her life that she wants to forget.
When asked about the experience in an interview with Esquire, Meghan Markle admitted: "I would put that in the category of things I was doing while I was auditioning to try to make ends meet. I went from working in the U.S. Embassy in Argentina to ending up on Deal. It's run the gamut. Definitely working on Deal or No Deal was a learning experience, and it helped me to understand what I would rather be doing. So if that's a way for me to gloss over that subject, then I will happily shift gears into something else."
This detail, along with many others about Meghan Markle's career, show how unique her situation is with the royal family. Never before has the royal family allowed a marriage with not only a commoner but someone who has been such a public figure for so many years.
10 She Once Interned At The US Embassy
While it was definitely a shock to some that Meghan Markle would soon be rubbing shoulders with some of the most important people in the world, the truth is that she already has some experience in the field. She has talked about her past as an intern at the US Embassy in Argentina, where she spent some of her time as a 20-year-old before going back into acting.
Meghan Markle was quoted by Harper's Bazaar as saying: “By my junior year I had finished most of my credits, and so I applied for an internship at the U.S. Embassy, so I ended up working in the embassy in Buenos Aires for a few months. It was their economic devaluation and our Secretary of the Treasury at the time, Paul O'Neill, was there, so I'm 20 years old, in Buenos Aires, in a motorcade, doing that whole thing. I thought for sure I would still have a career in politics.”
This might explain how Meghan Markle seems so used to the whole routine and spectacle of public appearances, as well as meeting high-ranking and powerful people, such as the queen. Although it wasn't on the same scale during her time in the US Embassy, it must have been a valuable experience that taught her a lot.
9 Meghan Isn't Even Her Real Name
In the movie industry today, a huge amount of actors and performers choose to use stage names, in order to protect their identity. In some cases, they just want to use a more interesting name that they feel has a nice ring to it. In other cases, it might be simply down to convenience, especially if their name is very long, hard to pronounce, or strange sounding.
Some of your favorite celebrities are probably going by false stage names as you read this, although you might never be aware of it. Meghan Markle is one of these celebrities — her name isn't even Meghan at all.
Her real, legal name is actually Rachel, and Meghan is the name she chose when she started her acting career.
But it's not like she just randomly came up with the name Meghan — that's actually her middle name. Most people today have no idea about his fact, as Meghan (or Rachel) continues to go by her stage name publicly.
This is actually pretty common knowledge, and it's been reported on by numerous outlets, including the Telegraph. It really makes you wonder what name was used when she went through her wedding ceremony with Prince Charles. One would assume that in order for it to be legal, she would have been addressed as "Rachel" when the couple was exchanging their vows in the royal ceremony.
8 She's An Amazing Caligrapher
Meghan Markle may be an outsider and an American, but she does have all the trappings of a true royal if you look closely enough. And one example is her amazing skill at handwriting or "cursive" as it's called in England. Meghan Markle's writing is so elegant and perfect that she was at one point hired to handwrite wedding invitations for the highest bidder, as she has revealed in past interviews.
In an interview with Esquire, Meghan Markle talked about her love for cursive writing, a skill which she was allegedly very good at. She explained: "I went to an all-girls Catholic school for like six years during the time when kids actually had handwriting class. I've always had a propensity for getting the cursive down pretty well. What it evolved into was my pseudo-waitressing job when I was auditioning. I didn't wait tables. I did calligraphy for the invitations for, like, Robin Thicke and Paula Patton's wedding. I'm glad that in the land of no one seeming to appreciate a handwritten note anymore that I can try to keep that alive."
Her love and skill when it comes to cursive are probably some of those things about Meghan that not many people know about, and we're sure that Harry was rather impressed when he found out about it!
7 She And Harry Got Engaged While "Trying To Roast A Chicken"
Obviously Harry does know all about the moment when the two became engaged, seeing as it was him that asked the question in the first place. But the intimate details of their engagement might have slipped under the radar for many, and it's actually quite romantic. In an interview posted by Brides.com, which was originally conducted with the BBC, the pair shared some interesting details about their marriage, including the fact that Harry went down on one knee while the two were trying to roast a chicken together.
The event apparently took place on a Sunday evening at Nottingham Cottage, their manor which lies on the grounds of Kensington Palace.
In their first-ever joint interview after announcing their engagement, Meghan Markle recounted the moment when Harry popped the question, reminiscing, as told by ET Online: "It was just an amazing surprise. It was so sweet and natural and very romantic." Harry followed up by quipping: "She didn't even let me finish. She said, 'Can I say yes, can I say yes?' Then there was hugs and I had the ring in my finger. I was like, 'Can I give you the ring?' She was like, 'Oh yes, the ring!' It was a really nice moment, just the two of us. And I think I managed to catch her by surprise as well."
6 She Loves Paris
We've previously mentioned the fact that Meghan Markle was once the writer of an interesting blog called Tig, and on it, she shared some interesting details and facts about her life, as well as her opinions and outlook on life in general. Well, some people have managed to dig up portions of that blog, even though it has been deleted, and the personal details the blog reveals about Meghan are quite telling.
According to the Telegraph, Meghan Markle once revealed on her famous but now deleted blog that she absolutely adores Paris. In an excerpt taken from the blog, the Telegraph quotes Meghan as saying: "The food, the accent, the je ne sais quoi of the women with their inherent chicness – I sigh un petit peu just typing this." It's clear that Paris is one of her famous places.
The Telegraph goes on to claim that Meghan Markle even asked Elettra Wiedermann, daughter of Isabella Rossellini, to do a guide to Paris specifically for her blog, which her readers no doubt enjoyed. While the Telegraph seemed to suggest that Paris would have made a perfect choice for a proposal, we're sure that there will be many more opportunities for romantic trips to Paris in the near future.
5 She Did Not Enjoy Her Twenties
Things are undoubtedly looking up for Meghan Markle, and she has some of the best years of her entire life ahead of her. But if you look in some of the posts from her famous Tig blog, Meghan Markle was less than enthusiastic about her past.
While most people view their 20s as some of the best years of their life, Meghan Markle actually stated that she did not enjoy those years of her life, and viewed them as a "constant battle."
The Telegraph quotes an excerpt from one of Meghan's blog entries, and the media outlet claims it was on her thirtieth birthday. Looking back at the past decade, Meghan Markle was quoted as saying: "My 20s were brutal – a constant battle with myself, judging my weight, my style, my desire to be as cool/as hip/as smart/as 'whatever' as everyone else."
But she also apparently had great optimism for her future years, saying in the same post: "When I close my eyes and think of what I wish for, I come up with a blank. A big old happy blank. I am feeling so incredibly joyful right now, so grateful and content that all I could wish for is more of the same."
4 She's Good Friends With Serena Williams
Fans of Meghan Markle might think they know everything about her, but this woman is actually full of surprises. Fortunately, her blog reveals all kinds of clues about various details about her life, and some of these details include revelations about the actress' closest friends. According to these now deleted blog posts, one of her most recent new friends is none other than the famous tennis player, Serena Williams.
The Telegraph again quoted the ex-actress as explaining the moment when both celebrities met in 2016 during an event. Meghan Markle was quoted by the article as writing: "We hit it off immediately, taking pictures, laughing through the flag football game we were both playing in, and chatting not about tennis or acting, but about all the good old fashioned girly stuff. So began our friendship. She quickly became a confidante I would text when I was traveling, the friend I would rally around for her tennis matches, and the down to earth chick I was able to grab lunch with just a couple weeks ago in Toronto."
It seems like this is one friendship that is bound to continue well into the future, and we wouldn't be surprised to see Serena Williams get a royal invitation to come and hang out at some of the royal palaces and events in the near future!
3 Apparently, She Is Related To Shakespeare
One of the most controversial things about Meghan Markle engagement to Prince Harry was not only the fact that she was a commoner and an actress but also the fact that she was an American. But how much of an outsider is she really? Well, according to an article by the Sun, Meghan Markle might be more closely related to Britain than most people realize.
The article states that after careful examination by the genealogy organization MyHeritage, researchers have discovered that Meghan Markle is actually related to not one but two famous Britons in history. The first is none other than William Shakespeare, the famed British playwright who brought us so many amazing plays and poems.
We're sure that Meghan Markle will be glad to know that acting and performance runs in her blood.
And the researchers also found that Meghan Markle was related to famed wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill, a British hero in many respects.
As quoted by the Sun, Aaron Godfrey, MyHeritage spokesman stated: "When we heard the wonderful news about Harry and Meghan's engagement, we wanted to help Meghan discover some English roots of her own. I'm sure she will be delighted to know that she comes from such prestigious British stock."
2 She Always Travels With Tea Tree Oil
Sometimes, the smallest details are what really help you understand who a person really is on the inside. And in the case of Meghan Markle, there are so many details that most people aren't aware of. But it is the amalgamation of all of these little details which, when viewed as a whole, paint the perfect picture of someone like Meghan Markle, and help us relate to this newlywed royal.
One of the most telling details was one that Meghan Markle revealed years ago in an obscure interview quoted by Harper's Bazaar. In this quote, she talks about the one thing she brings with her on all of her travels: “The one thing that I cannot live without when I'm traveling is a small container of tea tree oil. It's not the most glamorous thing, but if you get a cut, a mosquito bite, a small breakout, no matter what it is, it's my little cure-all. It's inexpensive, it's small enough to carry on, and I bring it with me all the time."
Somehow, this small detail just makes Meghan seem so much more human than many of us had originally viewed her as. And we're sure that Meghan Markle is going to have plenty of opportunities to bring and use her famous tea tree oil when she travels to some exotic location for her upcoming honeymoon!
1 She Met Harry On A Blind Date
One of the most interesting details about this marriage and couple is the circumstances of their first meeting. As the pair themselves reveal, it was actually a blind date!
Neither one had any idea what to expect as they met up that night, but we all know that in the end, they lived happily ever after.
As quoted by Brides.com, Prince Harry revealed that they were actually set up together by a mutual friend: "We were introduced actually by a mutual friend. We met once, then twice — two back-to-back dates in London last July, beginning of July. Then I think it was three, maybe four weeks later that I managed to persuade her to come and join me in Botswana and we camped out with each other under the stars."
And as Meghan Markle revealed in the same interview, she was equally unsure about how the date would go: "Because I'm from the States, you don't grow up with the same understanding of the royal family and so, while I now understand very clearly there's a global interest there, I didn't know much about him. And so the thing that I had asked her when she said she wanted to set us up was, I had one question: 'Well, is he nice?'"
References: babygaga.com, esquire.com, brides.com, theweek.co.uk, harpersbazaar.com, telegraph.co.uk, express.co.uk, mirror.co.uk,
