Although some royal family enthusiasts may be a bit shook by the “Rachel” of it all, the supposed breaking news is actually old news. During a “rapid-fire” Q&A for the British show Dave, Meghan Markle was asked if she had a middle name. In response, she shared, “Yes, it’s Meghan. My first name is actually Rachel.”
Considering the fact that Markle did the Q&A in February 2016, her answer wasn’t global news at the time. That’s because, even though Markle had her first date with Prince Harry in July 2016, she wouldn’t be linked to the royal until October 2016, per Town & Country. Long story short, she wasn’t nearly as well known as she is today.
That being said, this Rachel news was dropped in a pretty public fashion when Markle and Harry got engaged. However, it didn’t make as big of a splash. Queen Elizabeth used Markle’s birth name when she wrote an official letter giving her consent to the couple’s marriage. The statement read: “My Lords, I declare my Consent to a Contract of Matrimony between My Most Dearly Beloved Grandson Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales and Rachel Meghan Markle, which consent I am causing to be signified under the Great Seal and to be entered in the Books of the Privy Council.”
Oh yeah, Harry doesn’t go by his first name either.
Written by: Nicki