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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/nov/30/meghan-markle-california-profile-prince-harry
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| 'A California girl': how Meghan Markle's home state shaped her identity | 'A California girl': how Meghan Markle's home state shaped her identity |
| (3 months later) | |
| Meghan Markle does not seem a natural fit for protocol, palaces, stiff upper lips and rainy weekends in Balmoral. | Meghan Markle does not seem a natural fit for protocol, palaces, stiff upper lips and rainy weekends in Balmoral. |
| “I was born and raised in Los Angeles, a California girl who lives by the ethos that most things can be cured with either yoga, the beach or a few avocados,” she once wrote on her blog. | “I was born and raised in Los Angeles, a California girl who lives by the ethos that most things can be cured with either yoga, the beach or a few avocados,” she once wrote on her blog. |
| It was presumably tongue-in-cheek but captured part of her identity largely overlooked in the brouhaha over Prince Harry’s fiancee being divorced, biracial, American and an actor. | It was presumably tongue-in-cheek but captured part of her identity largely overlooked in the brouhaha over Prince Harry’s fiancee being divorced, biracial, American and an actor. |
| Markle is, above all, Californian, and for that reason alone an incongruous addition to the British royal family. She exudes the qualities and idiosyncrasies of a born and bred west coaster. | Markle is, above all, Californian, and for that reason alone an incongruous addition to the British royal family. She exudes the qualities and idiosyncrasies of a born and bred west coaster. |
| “She seems to be an appropriate ambassador for things that Californians hold dear,” said William Deverell, a historian of the American west at the University of Southern California. “Her poise and confidence and social ease; it’s not perfect out here but we have a more equitable view of life.” | “She seems to be an appropriate ambassador for things that Californians hold dear,” said William Deverell, a historian of the American west at the University of Southern California. “Her poise and confidence and social ease; it’s not perfect out here but we have a more equitable view of life.” |
| British viewers of her televised interview with Prince Harry marvelled at how she appeared so informal and relaxed, so un-Windsor, while viewers in Los Angeles took it for granted. | British viewers of her televised interview with Prince Harry marvelled at how she appeared so informal and relaxed, so un-Windsor, while viewers in Los Angeles took it for granted. |
| “LA kids like that are not fazed by fame,” said Colleen Dunn Bates, author of the book Talk Like a Californian. “They’re not star-struck. She grew up not being impressed by celebrities so she’s not intimidated. She can see him as a person and not a celebrity.” | “LA kids like that are not fazed by fame,” said Colleen Dunn Bates, author of the book Talk Like a Californian. “They’re not star-struck. She grew up not being impressed by celebrities so she’s not intimidated. She can see him as a person and not a celebrity.” |
| The cliche of southern Californians being relaxed had truth, said Dunn Bates, whose own daughters attend Markle’s old high school, the all-girl Immaculate Heart in Los Feliz, near Hollywood. “We’re an informal people. We have our own language and dress casually.” | The cliche of southern Californians being relaxed had truth, said Dunn Bates, whose own daughters attend Markle’s old high school, the all-girl Immaculate Heart in Los Feliz, near Hollywood. “We’re an informal people. We have our own language and dress casually.” |
| But Californians also work hard, not least those in the entertainment industry. “She saw her dad busting his butt,” said Dunn Bates, referring to Thomas Markle, a TV lighting director. “The path she chose – actress – is very hard. You have to be very disciplined about it.” | But Californians also work hard, not least those in the entertainment industry. “She saw her dad busting his butt,” said Dunn Bates, referring to Thomas Markle, a TV lighting director. “The path she chose – actress – is very hard. You have to be very disciplined about it.” |
| Markle, 36, also takes after her mother, Doria Radlan, a social worker and yoga instructor. Before dating Prince Harry and curbing social media posts, the Suits actor was outspoken in condemning Donald Trump and misogyny and advocating social justice. | Markle, 36, also takes after her mother, Doria Radlan, a social worker and yoga instructor. Before dating Prince Harry and curbing social media posts, the Suits actor was outspoken in condemning Donald Trump and misogyny and advocating social justice. |
| Exercise was another passion – yoga, running and power walking – exhibited on Instagram, often accompanied by snaps of sun-kissed palm trees and paeans to the Golden state. “I love being a California girl,” said one post. “There’s no place like home,” said another. | Exercise was another passion – yoga, running and power walking – exhibited on Instagram, often accompanied by snaps of sun-kissed palm trees and paeans to the Golden state. “I love being a California girl,” said one post. “There’s no place like home,” said another. |
| Markle also advocated personal growth and self-love and disputed the coupling-up invocation “you complete me” from the film Jerry Maguire. “Frankly, isn’t true. You are complete with or without a partner. You are enough just as you are.” | Markle also advocated personal growth and self-love and disputed the coupling-up invocation “you complete me” from the film Jerry Maguire. “Frankly, isn’t true. You are complete with or without a partner. You are enough just as you are.” |
| The idea of self-actualisation, of making a project of yourself, has deep roots on the west coast, said Pat Joseph, editor of the Berkeley-based magazine California. “Rather than see that as selfish navel-gazing, people here see it as a responsible thing to do, to examine yourself to the nth degree, and perfect yourself.” | The idea of self-actualisation, of making a project of yourself, has deep roots on the west coast, said Pat Joseph, editor of the Berkeley-based magazine California. “Rather than see that as selfish navel-gazing, people here see it as a responsible thing to do, to examine yourself to the nth degree, and perfect yourself.” |
| California and the British royal family were in many ways antithetical, he said. “The closest thing to Buckingham Palace is probably Hearst Castle, and that has no history whatsoever, it’s just a relic of one person’s vanity.” | California and the British royal family were in many ways antithetical, he said. “The closest thing to Buckingham Palace is probably Hearst Castle, and that has no history whatsoever, it’s just a relic of one person’s vanity.” |
| Meghan, Duchess of Sussex | |
| Prince Harry | Prince Harry |
| California | California |
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