Meghan Markle has long been of fascination for ELLE. So much so, that we've commissioned her a couple of times - on the basis of the strength of her writing and her unique point of view - to pen thought provoking essays about race, culture and how to give back to the world.

Curiosity is now rife globally, about the woman who has snared herself a dashing Prince, in the form of Prince William's younger brother Prince Harry.

And to be perfectly honest, we couldn't be more thrilled.

The Royal Family in Britain isn't traditionally accustomed to dating outside of a particular gene pool. While marriages haven't always been out-and-out arranged, they've certainly been subject to an intense vetting process.

So to see one of the UK's most pre-eminent Royals dating a biracial divorcee from across the Atlantic, is really rather refreshing.

So, if you're as pleased-as-punch as we are, you might want to know a little more about her. Here, is a timeline of everything:

2017: In March, the rumour mill went into overdrive when US Weekly reported a source close to Meghan and Prince Harry revealed the fourth-in-line to the throne is planning to propose to the American Suits actress near the anniversary of their first date this summer.

'They will be engaged by the end of summer,' revealed the source, whose 'insider knowledge' we suggest taking with a big old pinch of salt, by the way.

According to this 'friend', the Californian-born actress and the fourth-in-line to the throne 'have spoken candidly about their future' and 'see a life together'.

The news comes weeks after Prince Harry met Meghan's father and the Californian beauty spent the day with potential future sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, and niece, Princess Charlotte.

2016: In October, rumours first began to circulate that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were dating after having met during his promotional tour of Canada, where Meghan lives, for the Invictus Games. Kensington Palace initially refused to comment, but in November Harry released a landmark statement confirming the relationship and asking the press not to hound his girlfriend.

It is not right that, a few months into a relationship with him, that Ms Markle should be subjected to such a storm. He knows commentators will say this is 'the price she has to pay' and that 'this is all part of the game'. He strongly disagrees. This is not a game - it is her life and his

Meghan has been spotted visiting Harry in Kensington Palace and wearing a necklace with an 'H' initial. The pair caught a showing of The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time at the Gielgud Theatre.

Ladbrokes have issued odds of 5-4 that they will marry.

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Meghan also continued her charity work, with a visit to Rwanda to highlight World Vision's Clean Water campaign. When asked how she juggles her career and her charity work, she said: 'While my life shifts from refugee camps to red carpets, I choose them both because these worlds can, in fact, co-exist. And for me, they must.'

It is said that girls with dreams become women with vision. May we empower each other to carry out such vision — because it isn't enough to simply talk of equality. One must believe it. And it isn't enough to simply believe in it. One must work at it. Let us work at it. Together.

She talks more about her work in Rwanda in a second essay penned for ELLE UK, aboutfame necessitating social responsibility.

2015: Meghan first wrote for ELLE in 2015, when she penned a powerful essay on her identity as a mixed race woman. She was also named as a UN Women's Advocate (like fellow actress Emma Watson) and spoke powerfully at International Women's Day.

To describe something as being black and white means it is clearly defined. Yet when your ethnicity is black and white, the dichotomy is not that clear.

2013: Meghan and her husband Trevor Engelson divorced, after two years of marriage and nine years together in total.

2011: Her third film role was as a 'cute FedEx girl' in Horrible Bosses. Her television career was flourishing, with parts in 90210, Knight Rider and Fringe.

She is mainly known as a series regular in popular legal drama Suits. She plays Rachel Zane, described as 'a respected member of the firm and one of the best when it comes to what she does prompting the help of her other co-workers.'

Meghan Markle on Suitspinterest
Getty Images

This was also the year Meghan married Trevor Engelson.

2010: Hollywood began to beckon, with roles in Get Him To The Greek and Remember Me.

2003: After graduating, Meghan worked at to pay the bills while she pursued acting. The story goes that her manager discovered her when he was handed a recording of one of her college films.

She appeared in shows including CSI, Without A Trace and Castle. Between acting jobs she used calligraphy skills learnt at college to make wedding invitations. This was also the period in which Meghan began dating producer Trevor Engelson, who would go on to become her husband.

2002: While still at college, Meghan appeared in her first TV show: General Hospital.

1992: Aged eleven, Meghan wrote to the then First Lady Hillary Clinton to complain about a sexist TV advert. The advert, which she saw in a classroom, had the tagline 'Women all over America are fighting greasy pots and pans'. Meghan describes the boys in her class shouting out: 'Yeah, that's where women belong. In the kitchen.' After Meghan complained, the tagline was changed from 'women' to 'people'.

1981: In August, baby Meghan was born to parents Tom and Doria in Los Angeles, California. Her father was a photography/lighting director and her mother a yoga instructor and clinical therapist. Meghan attended an all girls Catholic school and went on to study theatre and international relations at the Northwestern School of Communication.

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