The Making Of A Modern Princess

WINDSOR CASTLE AWAITS, AND AS PRINCE HARRY PREPARES TO USHER IN A NEW, MODERN ERA FOR THE ROYAL FAMILY, ALL EYES ARE ON HIS GLAMOROUS BRIDE-TO-BE. ANDREW MORTON, THE FAMED BIOGRAPHER OF DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES, REVEALS THE LIFE STORY OF MEGHAN MARKLE – FROM HOLLYWOOD TO HER ROYAL HIGHNESS

- Andrew Morton

On 6 September 1997, Meghan Markle, 16, and her friends watched the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, tears coursing down their cheeks at the poignant moment when the camera zoomed in on the royal coffin. Perched among the white flowers was an envelope bearing the word ‘Mummy’, containing Prince Harry’s last note to his mother.

Diana’s death was a topic of debate during a philosophy class at Meghan’s high school, Immaculate Heart, in Los Angeles. The discussion centred on the paradox of a young mother, a glamorous humanitarian in the prime of life, dying in the cruel banality of a car accident. 

After the discussion, Meghan and her friend, Suzy Ardakani, sat and watched old videos of the 1981wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. According to family friends, Meghan was intrigued by Diana not just for her style but also for her independent humanitarian mission. She saw her as a role model. Inspired by the Princess, she and Suzy collected clothes and toys for less privileged children. In fact, such was Meghan’s interest that Suzy’s mother Sonia even gave her a copy of my biography, Diana: Her True Story, which remained on her bookshelves for the next few years. As her childhood friend Ninaki Priddy observed: ‘She was always fascinated by the royal family. She wants to be Princess Diana 2.0.’

Meghan was born on 4 August 1981. Her parents, Tom Markle and Doria Ragland, met on the set of the ABC drama General Hospital, where Doria was training as a make-up artist and Tom was well established as the show’s lighting director. Tom had been married once before and had two children, Tom Jnr and Yvonne. And in spite of the 12-year age gap – Doria was closer in age to his daughter than she was to him – the pair quickly fell for one another.