Meghan Markle is 43% Nigerian, for those who might be intrigued about her ethnicity. This confession came into the light during an episode of her Spotify-exclusive podcast, Archetypes, where the former actress revealed that a genealogy test she got done showed Nigerian ancestry, describing the discovery as “humbling.”
As reported by the Independent, Markle said,
It’s been eye-opening to be able to know more about my heritage.
At the event on women in leadership, co-hosted by Nigerian economist Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Markle said to the audience,
Never in a million years would I understand it as much as I do now. And what has been echoed so much in the past day is, ‘Oh, we are not so surprised when we found out you are Nigerian.’ It is a compliment to you because what they define as a Nigerian woman is brave, resilient, courageous, beautiful.
In the Nigerian capital, Abuja, she also shared what her initial reaction to learning about her Nigerian heritage through a DNA test was. “The first thing I did was call my mom,” she recalled. “Being African American, part of it is really not knowing so much about your lineage and background … and it was exciting for both of us.”
As interesting as this discovery was for her, what’s even more intriguing is that Prince Harry’s wife identifies as mixed race. Here’s a deeper dive into her ethnicity.
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Meghan Markle Identifies as Mixed Race
Meghan Markle in a still from Suits. | Credit: USA Network.
Born at West Park Hospital in Canoga Park, Los Angeles, California, on August 4, 1981, Meghan Markle shared in 2016 that she identifies as mixed race. While talking to Elle UK, she revealed that she’s biracial, with her mother being an African-American and her father being Caucasian. Talking about her roots, she said,
My dad is Caucasian, and my mom is African American. I’m half black and half white.
For those who might not know, Markle is the daughter of former makeup artist Doria Ragland and TV lighting director and director of photography Thomas Markle Sr. The two had separated when she was two years old, and divorced around four years later.
During the interview with Elle, she also opened up about her mixed-race heritage, saying,
Being biracial paints a blurred line that is equal parts staggering and illuminating. While my mixed heritage may have created a grey area surrounding my self-identification, keeping me with a foot on both sides of the fence, I have come to embrace that. To say who I am, to share where I’m from, to voice my pride in being a strong, confident mixed-race woman.
Not to mention, in 2019, a year after she married the Duke of Sussex, Meghan Markle also candidly said while visiting a charity in Nyanga during a trip with her husband to Africa,
Just on a personal note, may I just say that while I am here with my husband as a member of the royal family, I want you to know that for me, I am here with you as a mother, as a wife, as a woman, as a woman of colour, and as your sister.
As a mixed-race individual, with her roots lying deep in different heritages, Markle certainly seems happy and proud of who she is.
Is Meghan Markle Still a Royal?
Meghan Markle in a still from With Love, Meghan. | Credit: Netflix.
Yet another much-asked question about Meghan Markle is whether she is still a royal, being the wife of Prince Harry. It’s worth noting that, back in 2020, around two years after the pair tied the knot, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex left the UK after stepping back from their official royal duties. They moved to California, saying they wanted space to raise Archie.
Apparently, the two were angry about media intrusion and frustrated that Buckingham Palace prevented them from developing their “SussexRoyal” brand. While they have since kept their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles, Harry and Meghan are no longer addressed as His or Her Royal Highness (HRH) publicly. The prince also gave up his military titles.
However, Harry remains a prince and is fifth in line to the throne. Since his father became the King, his two children with Meghan Markle have also earned the titles of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet of Sussex. (Via BBC News.)
What do you think about all this? Got something to say? Drop your thoughts/opinions in the comments below!