Meghan Markle Is Frequently Likened To Grace Kelly

Princess Grace and Prince Rainier in 1959; Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in 2019. Victor Blackman/Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images; Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Grace Kelly was born on November 12, 1929, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her father was a distinguished Olympic rower, while her mother was a pioneering coach for women’s sports at the University of Pennsylvania.

Meghan Markle was born on August 4, 1981, in Los Angeles, California. Her mother was a clinical therapist and yoga instructor, and her father worked in television as a lighting and photography director.

Both Meghan Markle and Grace Kelly gained fame as actresses before transitioning into royalty.

Grace Kelly began her acting career with the film “Fourteen Hours” at age 22, but her breakthrough came in 1952 with “High Noon.” She continued to rise in prominence with roles in films such as “Mogambo,” earning her first Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1954 for her performance in “The Country Girl.”

In 2002, Meghan Markle made her television debut in a small role on “General Hospital,” but she gained widespread recognition for her role as Rachel Zane on “Suits,” where she appeared from 2011 to 2018.

Princess Grace met Prince Rainier during a photo shoot, while Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were introduced on a blind date arranged by a mutual friend.

Grace Kelly was invited to the Cannes Film Festival in 1955, where she met Prince Rainier III of Monaco. They married a year later.

In July 2016, Meghan Markle was introduced to Prince Harry on a blind date at Soho House in New York City. Markle later mentioned in a 2017 interview that her knowledge of Prince Harry and the royal family was minimal prior to the date.

Both Grace Kelly and Meghan Markle chose to leave their acting careers after their engagements.

Grace Kelly continued acting briefly after her engagement to Prince Rainier to fulfill her MGM contract. Her final film, “High Society,” featured her wearing one of her engagement rings. It was later revealed that Kelly’s retirement from acting was influenced by Prince Rainier.

After Meghan Markle’s engagement was announced in November 2017, it was confirmed that she would leave “Suits” after its seventh season. Her character, Rachel Zane, concluded her storyline with a marriage to Patrick J. Adams’s character.

Unlike Grace Kelly, Meghan Markle did not have to relinquish her personal wealth as part of her transition into royalty. Grace Kelly had to use much of her fortune to pay a dowry, leaving her with very little by the time of her death.

Both Grace Kelly and Meghan Markle’s marriages were widely celebrated as fairy-tale romances.

The weddings of both Grace Kelly and Meghan Markle received extensive media coverage and were described as modern fairy tales. Grace Kelly’s wedding to Prince Rainier was the first royal wedding broadcast live.

Grace Kelly married for love, expressing that she fell for Prince Rainier as a person rather than his title. Similarly, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s marriage did not come with the expectation of producing an heir, as Harry was not in line for the throne.

Both women maintained their American citizenship after their marriages.

Grace Kelly remained a dual citizen of the United States and Monaco, while Meghan Markle retained her American citizenship and voted in the 2020 presidential election.

After transitioning to royal life, both women faced cultural adjustments and challenges. Grace Kelly focused on charitable work and supporting local artists, while Meghan Markle also dedicated herself to charitable causes and launched her own nonprofit foundation, Archewell, with Prince Harry.

While Grace Kelly was well-received by the public and media, Meghan Markle faced significant scrutiny and criticism from the press, leading to multiple legal battles and challenges within the royal family.