Meghan Markle has now been happily married to Prince Harry for six years, during which they’ve welcomed two children, left the Royal Family, and settled in the United States. But before Harry, Meghan was married once before.
In 2011, she wed film producer Trevor Engelson after seven years of dating. Their wedding in Jamaica was a lively three-day celebration with about 100 guests. Just two years later, however, the couple divorced, citing irreconcilable differences. The real reasons for their split remain unclear, though some accounts suggest Meghan ended the marriage unexpectedly.
Meghan was born on August 4, 1981, in Los Angeles, where her Emmy-winning father, Thomas Markle, introduced her to the world of entertainment. She attended Immaculate Heart High School and later studied at Northwestern University, double-majoring in theater and international relations. After an internship in Argentina, she considered politics but pursued acting instead, starting with small TV and film roles and a stint as a briefcase model on Deal or No Deal.
In 2011, Meghan’s career took off when she landed the role of Rachel Zane on Suits, which filmed in Toronto. This long-distance arrangement strained her marriage to Engelson, as they often went weeks without seeing each other. Biographer Andrew Morton writes that Meghan, once deeply devoted to Trevor, gradually built a new life and circle of friends in Toronto, becoming more independent.
Friends claim Trevor adored Meghan, but she grew apart from him, reportedly even mailing her engagement and wedding rings to signal the end. Former acquaintances suggest she began to see her husband as a poor fit for her evolving public image.
While Meghan has never publicly discussed their breakup, royal biographer Tom Bower is reportedly preparing a book that will include new interviews with Trevor Engelson, potentially offering fresh insight into their relationship and its sudden end.