Seven reasons why Meghan Markle is nothing like Kate Middleton… from relationship history to fashion sense
NEWS of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's engagement has swept Britain today.
As the Suits actress is set to become a part of the Royal Family, we take a look at how different she is to Prince William's partner Kate Middleton...
1. Early life
English rose Kate was born and raised in Berkshire.
Aside from a brief spell in Amman, Jordan, the Middletons always remained in Britain.
The 35-year-old, who has two younger siblings Pippa and James, are a family with aristocratic roots.
Although the Markle family also has links to royalty, Meghan's childhood was very different.
The 36-year-old was born and raised in California.
2. Family
Kate Middleton's British parents are businesswoman Carole and aristocratic Michael.
The pair have been married since 1980.
Meghan's parents divorced when the actress was six-years-old.
Her African-American mum, Doria Radlan, has a master's degree in social work and works as a psychotherapist.
Her dad Thomas is of Irish and Dutch descent and is an Emmy award-winning lighting director.
3. Careers
Kate Middleton is more of a public figure than a career girl.
She graduated from the University of St Andrews in 2005 with a degree in the history of art.
After a brief stint working part time at Jigsaw as a buyer, she was employed at her family's party business.
Meghan is undoubtedly a grafter and has juggled numerous jobs during her career.
Before her acting jobs picked up, she worked as a calligrapher and a model.
4. Relationship history
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge didn't date much before getting together (definitely not in the public eye anyway).
In comparison, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have both had a string of high profile relationships.
The actress was previously married to film producer Trevor Engelson.
They separated two years after their wedding and were divorced in August 2013, citing “irreconcilable differences”.
Meghan has also been linked to golfer Rory McIlroy, although this relationship was never officially confirmed.
Rumours suggest that Prince Harry has dated Ellie Goulding, Mollie King and Caroline Flack.
5. Showbiz friends
Kate Middleton is used to being in A-list company, but is she actually mates with any of the celebrities she hangs out with?
The Duchess of Cambridge appears to still be close friends with those she met at university.
Meghan Markle enjoys hanging out with the rich and famous.
Her best pals include tennis ace Serena Williams, actress Priyanka Chopra and Made In Chelsea's Millie Mackintosh.
6. Dress sense
Kate's dress sense oozes sophistication.
She's rarely seen in dresses with hemlines that fall above the knee, but she does enjoy wearing garments that are structured and fitted.
Meghan Markle has worn an array of racy clothes for her acting roles, including figure-hugging dresses and shapely leather skirts.
Despite this, the actress is often seen in casual attire.
Loose T-shirts, denim and trainers are among the clothes she can be seen in on a day-to-day basis.
7. Social media
The Duchess of Cambridge does not have her own social media profiles.
We can keep up with Kate via the news but rarely get a more personal look into her life.
In comparison, Meghan is very vocal on Instagram and Twitter.
Not only does she post snaps with her friends, she often uses the platforms to discuss charitable causes that she supports.
Meghan and Harry have been dating for just over a year, with Kensington Palace confirming the pairing on November 8 2016.
In February, the couple were spotted hand-in-hand for the first time,
Over the past year, their relationship has flourished, with the Suits actress meeting Her Majesty The Queen.