Meghan Markle can no longer step outside without being photographed to within an inch of her being – but this is something she was used long before she met Prince Harry.
Born 4 August 1981, Meghan grew up in Los Angeles, California.
Her dad worked in the TV circuit, which is why Meghan and after she eventually ended up playing the lead female in US drama Suits for XX.
Its her relationship with Harry which really propelled her to the spotlight.
Meghan and Harrys romance has had the world on tenterhooks since it was first confirmed they were dating in November 2016 with the now infamous statement from Harry.
The pair – Harry, 33, and Meghan, 36 – had been dating since July 2016, keeping things discreet for four months.
One year after they confirmed they were serious, their engagement was then announced on 27 November 2017.
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Meghan and Harry will marry at St Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle on Saturday 19 May this year, with today marking one month until their wedding.
But while Meghan – whose real name is Rachel Meghan Markle – might have given up her role on Suits to move to London to live with her Prince, she was famous in her own right long before he came into her life.
Meghans first appearance on screen was in the background of an episode of General Hospital.
Other small roles for Markle, who, at 5ft 6, Meghan is shorter than her Prince, who is 6ft 1 tall, included in CSI: NY, The War At Home and Century City.
While she was a jobbing actress, she worked as a freelance calligrapher to keep the money coming in. During this time she wrote the wedding invites for Paula Patton and Robin Thickes 2005 nuptials.
Other roles that came included Love, Inc, Knight Rider, Without a Trace, The League, Castle, Get Him To The Greek, Remember Me and Horrible Bosses.
Somewhat more notable roles came when she was filmed in a scene for 90210 in which her character had to give one of the lead characters oral sex, when she was a Deal Or No Deal briefcase girl and then when she was a temporary burger griller for Mens Health.
In 2015, she wrote: I wasnt black enough for the black roles and I wasnt white enough for the white ones, leaving me somewhere in the middle as the ethnic chameleon who couldnt book a job.
It was in 2011 when she landed the role of Rachel Zane in the USA Network show Suits. She stayed on Suits until the end of series seven, which finished filming at the end of 2017, when she quit the show to focus on her work as a royal wife.
Other projects include The Tig, which Markle ran from 2014 to 2017 when it was closed down. It was a lifestyle website and she coined the name from her favourite wine – The Tignanello.
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According to Know Networth, Meghans net worth is around $7million (£5m).
It is, of course, a fraction of Prince Harrys net worth, which is believed to be around £34million.
What will Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's titles be after they marry?
What royal title Meghan Markle will have has been a topic of debate ever since Prince Harry confirmed their engagement in November last year.
Will she be Princess Meghan? What about Duchess Meghan like Kate Middleton? How about Lady Meghan?
One thing's for sure: when Meghan – whose full name is Rachel Meghan Markle – marries Prince Harry, she will no longer simply be known as 'Meghan Markle'.
While the Royal Family are yet to confirm whether Harry will become a Duke upon marriage, historians have speculated what her name will change to when she marries Prince Harry on 19 May this year.
If Harry retains his current rank – His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales – it's believed Meghan will take on the feminine version of his title, becoming known as Her Royal Highness Princess Henry of Wales.
But if Harry becomes a Duke upon marriage, as he is widely expected to, Meghan will therefore become a Duchess, just like Kate Middleton became Catherine, Duchess Of Cambridge upon marriage to Prince William, Duke Of Cambridge.
Royal Historian Marlene Koenig wrote on the blog Royal Musings that Meghan is most likely to become the Meghan, Duchess Of Sussex if, as it is widely believed, Harry takes the vacant rank of Duke Of Sussex.
'Meghan would be HRH the Duchess of Sussex,' Joenig has previously told Royal Contral. 'Her rank would be a princess by marriage of the United Kingdom, Great Britain and Northern Ireland.'
This view is actually shared by a number of experts who previously predicted the title, that has sat vacant since 1843, would be given to Prince William before he became the Duke of Cambridge.
Other titles available are Clarence and Buckingham.
Catherine, Duchess Of Cambridge – who was just known as Kate Middleton before she married Prince William, Duke Of Cambridge in April 2011 – could also go by the name of HRH Princess William of Wales if she wished.
So why won't Meghan be given a Princess title?
While she will become a princess by marriage, for someone to assume the title of Princess, they must be born into the Royal Family, just like Princess Charlotte is a Princess because of her father's status.
However, if Harry and Meghan were to have children, they would not automatically be called Prince or Princess as there's another layer to the Princess rule.
Meghan and Harry's children would be given the title of Lord or Lady, taking the surname Mountbatten-Windsor – a nod to Prince Philip's family name.
In 1960, the Queen passed a ruling which only entitled the children or the grandchildren of the sovereign to take the title of Prince or Princess.
However, for the grandchildren to take the titles, they must be born to the sovereign's son – not daughter.
In the case of Zara and Peter Phillips, for example, they are the children of Princess Anne. Anne is the Queens daughter and as the children of the monarchs daughter, they do not hold a royal title.
All of their cousins are children of the monarchs sons – Charles, Edward and Andrew – so their children do get the royal titles, such as Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
So why are Prince George and Princess Charlotte allowed to carry the coveted titles?
In 2012 – one year after Kate and William married – the Queen allowed all children of William and Kate – her great-grandchildren – to take the Prince or Princess titles too.
The ruling does mean, however, that Princess Charlotte's children are unlikely to be called Prince or Princess, just like Princess Anne's children were not.
Harry and Meghan's prospective children could be upgraded to Prince or Princesses when the line of succession to the throne changes as Prince Charles ascends the throne.
Prince Harry would then likely become HRH The Prince Henry, meaning Meghan would become HRH The Princess Henry.
Of course the Queen may also choose to make an exception for Harry's children, like she did for William.
Meghan was previously married to film producer and talent manager Trevor Engelson. They married in September 2011 but divorced in May 2013.
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Her mother Doria Ragland and father Thomas Markle are both believed to be attending the wedding, although it is not clear if her half-sister Samantha Markle or half-brother Thomas Markle will be.
Kensington Palace statement in full
Since he was young, Prince Harry has been very aware of the warmth that has been extended to him by members of the public. He feels lucky to have so many people supporting him and knows what a fortunate and privileged life he leads.
This weekend's going to be so hot Marathon runners have been told to ditch their costumes
He is also aware that there is significant curiosity about his private life. He has never been comfortable with this, but he has tried to develop a thick skin about the level of media interest that comes with it.
He has rarely taken formal action on the very regular publication of fictional stories that are written about him and he has worked hard to develop a professional relationship with the media, focused on his work and the issues he cares about.
But the past week has seen a line crossed. His girlfriend, Meghan Markle, has been subject to a wave of abuse and harassment.
Some of this has been very public – the smear on the front page of a national newspaper; the racial undertones of comment pieces; and the outright sexism and racism of social media trolls and web article comments.
Some of it has been hidden from the public – the nightly legal battles to keep defamatory stories out of papers; her mother having to struggle past photographers in order to get to her front door; the attempts of reporters and photographers to gain illegal entry to her home and the calls to police that followed; the substantial bribes offered by papers to her ex-boyfriend; the bombardment of nearly every friend, co-worker, and loved one in her life.
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Prince Harry is worried about Ms Markles safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her.
It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms Markle should be subjected to such a storm.
He knows commentators will say this is the price she has to pay and that this is all part of the game. He strongly disagrees. This is not a game – it is her life and his.
He has asked for this statement to be issued in the hopes that those in the press who have been driving this story can pause and reflect before any further damage is done. He knows that it is unusual to issue a statement like this, but hopes that fair-minded people will understand why he has felt it necessary to speak publicly.
MORE: Meghan Markle gets married one month before royal wedding as Suits character ties the knot
MORE: Meghan Markles half brother says shes trying to be the new Diana
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