Who are the ancestors of Meghan Markle?

Meghan opens up about her time in the British palace
They allege racism
Meghan Markle's roots
Meghan Markle was linked to the British royal family by birth
Ancestor was Victoria's palace staff
Meghan Markle's paternal ancestors lived on Malta
Leaving for North America
Thomas Markle
Meghan Markle's maternal ancestors were enslaved
Black soldiers in the Civil War
Two completely different worlds
Meghan's mother
Grew up in a divided society
When Meghan Markle married Prince Harry
A breath of fresh air for African-American women
An icon for ethnic minorities
A victim of racism within the highest places
Harry protected his wife:
Harry's words in defense of his wife
Harry and Meghan take a stand against racism
Bridging two continents and societies
Meghan opens up about her time in the British palace

There has been much discussion about the recent documentary series 'Harry & Meghan' and the memoir 'Spare,' in which the former royal couple tells in great detail about their treatment by the British royal family and the (tabloid) press.

They allege racism

Many of the bad experiences they describe had to do with Meghan Markle's ethnicity and her lack of experience with the British aristocratic elite.

Meghan Markle's roots

But did you know that her ancestors were not only (enslaved) African-Americans in the US, but also palace staff in the British royal court? Read on to see where Meghan Markle's roots lie.

Meghan Markle was linked to the British royal family by birth

The family history of Meghan Markle can be traced to the British royal family. In 1856, an ancestor of the American actress worked as a maid for Queen Victoria.

Ancestor was Victoria's palace staff

The maid in question was called Mary Bird. She would eventually marry a soldier with whom she'd have three daughters. One of them, also named Mary, was the great-great-grandmother of Meghan Markle.

Meghan Markle's paternal ancestors lived on Malta

Mary Bird and her husband lived for 20 years on Malta. According to 'The Sun,' Meghan Markle says she feels a bond with the island and even visited Malta to learn more about her heritage.

Leaving for North America

Following the death of her husband, Mary (the daughter of Queen Victoria's servant) decided to leave for Canada with her children. In the end, the family would settle down in New Hampshire, a northern state of the U.S.

Image: Harper's Weekly / U.S. Library of Congress

Thomas Markle

Among the offspring of Mary's family, two generations later, was Thomas Markle, Meghan's father.

Image: 'Harry & Meghan,' Netflix

Meghan Markle's maternal ancestors were enslaved

On her mother's side, Meghan Markle descends from Africans who were enslaved and sent to the United States to work in terrible conditions.

Image: U.S. Library of Congress

 

Black soldiers in the Civil War

Among her maternal ancestors were also African-Americans who fought in the American Civil War with the Union Army of President Abraham Lincoln.

Image: U.S. Library of Congress

Two completely different worlds

All this happened around the same time that Mary Bird worked for the Queen of England.

Image: U.S. Library of Congress

Meghan's mother

Born in September 1956, Doria Loyce Ragland (Meghan's mother) grew up in an African-American family in Cleveland.

 

Grew up in a divided society

In those years, institutional as well as casual racism was present in all aspects of American life.

When Meghan Markle married Prince Harry

A family that descended (partly) from enslaved people in the U.S. would end up marrying into the British royal family.

A breath of fresh air for African-American women

The arrival of Meghan Markle into the British royal family was a breath of fresh air. It represented a step forward in the struggle for equality by women of color and people of African descent.

An icon for ethnic minorities

Over the course of her time with the royal family, Meghan Markle became a reference point for the black population of the U.K. and other minorities who denounced racial inequality in British society.

A victim of racism within the highest places

Meghan reportedly suffered from a racial bias among the British public and the media. It was one of the reasons why she and Harry decided to withdraw from their official duties as senior members of the royal family.

Harry protected his wife: "This is not a game; this is her life."

By the end of their membership in the British royal family, Harry even sent an official statement demanding "respect" for his wife and denouncing all forms of racism. "This is not a game; this is her life."

Harry's words in defense of his wife

"Meghan has been subjected to a wave of abuse, harassment and even racist newspaper articles," Harry added. "I hope that those behind these stories finally stop, and instead begin thinking about the harm they have done."

Harry and Meghan take a stand against racism

Now that the couple is living in California, Harry and Meghan are deeply involved in antiracist and minority rights activism.

 

 

Bridging two continents and societies

In a way, Meghan has returned to the roots of her family, taking a stand against inequality and bridging the cultures of Britain and the U.S.

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