Meghan Markle has often been compared to Grace Kelly, both in their personal journeys and their roles within royalty. Markle herself has acknowledged these similarities, especially in terms of transitioning from a career in the entertainment industry to becoming a member of a royal family. This comparison is more than just surface-level, as both women had to navigate complex personal and public challenges that came with their royal positions.
Grace Kelly, an iconic Hollywood actress, gained fame for her roles in classic films like Rear Window and To Catch a Thief. She was highly regarded for her beauty, grace, and talent, winning an Academy Award for Best Actress in The Country Girl. In 1956, Kelly married Prince Rainier III of Monaco, giving up her acting career to take on the role of Princess of Monaco. The transition from Hollywood star to royalty was not without its challenges, as Kelly had to adapt to a new lifestyle, a new culture, and the scrutiny that came with being in the public eye.
Meghan Markle’s path mirrors this in several ways. Like Kelly, Markle found fame in the entertainment world, particularly through her role as Rachel Zane in the legal drama Suits. However, her life changed dramatically when she married Prince Harry in 2018. Upon becoming the Duchess of Sussex, Markle left her acting career behind and faced the immense pressures of life as a royal, just as Kelly had decades before. Both women have also had to manage the expectations placed on them as outsiders marrying into royal families, bringing their own unique identities and experiences into an established, often conservative, royal institution.
Markle has expressed pride in these parallels, highlighting the shared experiences of adjusting to royal life after having independent careers. Both Kelly and Markle were American women who entered into European royalty, and both faced challenges in terms of adapting to new roles while being constantly scrutinized by the media. The public fascination with both women also plays a part in their comparison, as each was seen as a modern-day fairy tale princess in her own right.
However, the differences between the two are also notable. Grace Kelly’s transition into royal life was more permanent, as she remained in Monaco until her tragic death in 1982. Meghan Markle, on the other hand, along with Prince Harry, stepped back from their roles as senior royals in 2020 and moved to the United States. This decision reflects a significant divergence in how the two women chose to balance their personal lives with royal duties. Markle’s decision to step away from the royal family was motivated by intense media scrutiny and her desire to protect her mental health and family life, a move that Kelly, despite her challenges, never made.
In summary, the comparison between Meghan Markle and Grace Kelly is grounded in their shared journeys from Hollywood to royalty. Both women are emblematic of modern fairy tale narratives, but their stories reflect different choices in dealing with the pressures of royal life. While Markle has embraced some of these comparisons, particularly regarding their shared experiences of adapting to life within a royal family, she has also forged her own path, one that diverges significantly from Grace Kelly’s. Nevertheless, the public’s fascination with both women continues, as their stories resonate with those who view them as symbols of grace, resilience, and independence.