In honor of the Duchess of Sussex's 44th birthday,&nbsp;L'OFFICIEL&nbsp;revisits Meghan Markle's most memorable throwback photos&mdash;from her Suits era to early royal life and beyond.

Before <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/meghan-markle-last-name-debate-sussex-mindy-kaling-netflix-show">Meghan Markle</a> was the Duchess of Sussex, she was an actress and activist from Los Angeles, navigating Hollywood and public life in her own terms. Born in 1981, Markle grew up around the entertainment industry&mdash;her father worked as a television lighting director. She then went on to study theater and international relations at Northwestern University, graduating in 2003. Soon, she took on various jobs while auditioning for acting roles.&nbsp;
Then came her breakout role in 2011, when she was cast as Rachel Zane in the legal drama Suits, a role she played for seven seasons opposite Patrick J. Adams. Outside of acting, Markle was involved with organizations like World Vision and UN Women and wrote essays on racial identity and gender equality, often drawing from her experience as a biracial woman in Hollywood.&nbsp;
While she wasn&rsquo;t exactly a stranger to the spotlight, her relationship with <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/prince-harry-wants-meghan-markle-to-resume-her-acting-career">Prince Harry</a>, which began in 2016, brought a new level of global attention. Soon she left Suits, and Markle quickly became a tabloid fixture. After marrying the prince in 2018, she officially joined the British royal family. Of course, as we now know, mounting tensions with the press and monarchy eventually led the pair to step back from their royal duties in 2020.&nbsp;
So, where has the Duchess of Sussex been the last couple of years, exactly? Since relocating to California, Markle and Prince Harry have maintained a relatively low public profile. That was until recently. In 2020, they launched Archewell, a media and philanthropic organization named after their son Archie. The company has since produced <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/meghan-markle-female-founder-podcast-details-listen">podcasts</a>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/meghan-markle-netflix-show-details-trailer-2025">documentaries</a>, and various charitable initiatives.
More recently, Markle has returned to lifestyle branding with As Ever, a curated collection of home and kitchen staples including jams, teas, baking mixes, and even wine. Alongside the launch, she has shared occasional glimpses into her personal life on Instagram, though she keeps a distance from the public eye. There've been some speculations about a potential return to acting, though nothing's been confirmed as of late.&nbsp;
To celebrate her 44th birthday, L&rsquo;OFFICIEL has rounded up 20 young photos of Meghan Markle.

Meghan Markle in 2005. Getty Images.

Meghan Markle in 2006. Getty Images.

Meghan Markle in 2007. Getty Images.

Meghan Markle in 2009. Getty Images.

Meghan Markle in 2010. Getty Images.

Meghan Markle in 2011. Getty Images.

Meghan Markle in 2012. Getty Images.

Meghan Markle with Gabriel Macht, Sarah Rafferty, and Gina Torres in 2012. Getty Images.

Patrick J. Adams and Meghan Markle in 2012. Getty Images.

Meghan Markle in 2013. Getty Images.

Meghan Markle in 2014. Getty Images.

Patrick J. Adams and Meghan Markle in 2015. Getty Images.

Meghan Markle in 2015. Getty Images.

Meghan Markle with Rick Hoffman and Amy Acker in 2015. Getty Images.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in 2017. Getty Images.

Young Photos of Meghan Markle

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Young Photos of Meghan Markle

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