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Meghan, Duchess of Sussex had a successful acting career before becoming British royalty in 2018. The now-39-year-old starred in Suits, a popular USA Network legal drama. She even brought an element of herself to the role, wearing all her own jewelry.

Meghan Markle spent 7 years on ‘Suits’ 

Meghan Markle as Rachel Zane on 'Suits'
Meghan Markle as Rachel Zane on Suits | Christos Kalohoridis/USA Network/NBCU Photo Bank

In her pre-royal life, Meghan played Rachel Zane on Suits. Initially a paralegal at a top New York City law firm, Rachel became the central love interest of Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams). 

Meghan made her first appearance as Rachel in the 2011 pilot episode of Suits. The program became a success and Meghan went on to play Rachel in more than 100 episodes. Over the course of seven seasons, her character became a lawyer and one of the show’s principal characters.  

Meghan announced her departure from Suits in 2017. Following the announcement of her engagement to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan told BBC News she’d be saying “goodbye” to the show and “hello” to a new life with Harry. 

“I don’t see it as giving anything up. I just see it as a change,” she said. “For me, once we hit the 100 episode marker, I thought, you know what, I have ticked this box.” 

 Meghan made her final appearance as Rachel in the Suits Season 7 finale. Titled “Good-Bye,” the episode mirrored Meghan’s own life. Her character married Mike while in real life, Meghan had been planning her own nuptials. The episode aired only weeks before Meghan and Harry’s royal wedding on May 19, 2018. 

Rachel Zane’s jewelry actually belonged to Meghan Markle

Meghan may have been playing a character but she still brought parts of herself to the role. Not only did she and her character have the same name — Meghan’s first name is Rachel — she wore all her own jewelry. Meghan relied on the show’s costume department for all of Rachel’s clothes but supplied the jewelry herself. 

During an interview in May 2013, more than three years before she’d be set up on a date with Harry, Meghan revealed that all of Rachel’s jewelry on Suits actually belonged to her. 

“All the jewelry that I wear on the show is my own personal jewelry and family heirlooms, like my grandma’s charm bracelet and my signet ring,” she told Marie Claire.  

Meghan Markle’s most famous piece of jewelry is her engagement ring

Meghan Markle attends Anzac Day Services
Meghan Markle attends Anzac Day Services | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
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Meghan’s jewelry collection is extensive but her most recognizable piece is her engagement ring. As Harry told BBC News after he and Meghan announced their engagement, he designed the ring himself. 

Harry sourced a five-carat cushion cut diamond from Botswana, where he and Meghan “camped out with each other under the stars.” The main stone is surrounded by two 0.75-carat round diamonds that once belonged to his late mother, Princess Diana, to “make sure that she’s with us on this crazy journey together.” 

When Meghan married Harry, she added a gold wedding band. The Duchess of Sussex updated the band later with diamonds. 

Estimates put the cost of the engagement ring in the $120,000-range. However, given the fact that it includes diamonds once belonging to Diana, the ring is considered priceless. Watch Suits on Peacock and Amazon Prime Video to get a glimpse of Meghan’s jewelry.