What Happened to Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex?

Meghan Markle's journey began as an American actress, most notably for her role as Rachel Zane in the legal drama 'Suits'. Her life took a significant turn when her relationship with Prince Harry, grandson of Queen Elizabeth II, became public. They announced their engagement in November 2017 and married on May 19, 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, at which point she became the Duchess of Sussex.

However, the intense media scrutiny and a desire for greater privacy and financial independence led to the couple's unprecedented decision in January 2020 to 'step back as senior members' of the British royal family, a move widely dubbed 'Megxit'. They officially ceased royal duties on March 31, 2020, and relocated to Los Angeles, California. This period marked a key turning point, as they sought to forge a new path outside the traditional royal framework. The consequences included a strained relationship with certain factions of the Royal Family and a shift in their public image from working royals to independent media figures and philanthropists.

Following their move, Meghan and Harry established Archewell, their non-profit organization, and signed multi-year production deals with major media companies. A significant Netflix deal was announced in September 2020, followed by a Spotify podcasting deal in December 2020, which later ended in 2023. Their tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021 garnered global attention, where they discussed their experiences within the monarchy and the reasons for their departure.

In recent years, Meghan has focused on developing her lifestyle and media portfolio. Her lifestyle and cooking brand, 'As Ever,' officially launched in April 2025, and she debuted her Netflix show 'With Love, Meghan' in March 2025, with a second season and holiday special following. Archewell Productions has also been active, producing documentaries like 'Cookie Queens,' which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2026, and developing scripted projects for Netflix. While an equity partnership between Netflix and 'As Ever' ended in early March 2026, the couple renewed their overall first-look deal with Netflix in August 2025.

CURRENT STATUS as of 2026-08-28: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, and their children, Prince Archie (7) and Princess Lilibet (5), have recently moved back to the United Kingdom for an extended period, arriving on August 26-27, 2026. Their children are expected to begin British schooling in September. While they will continue to maintain their Montecito, California residence and their US-based production company, Archewell, and lifestyle brand, As Ever, Meghan is reportedly considering a major UK-based acting role. King Charles III has reportedly welcomed their return in a private capacity, though their status as non-working royals remains unchanged.