Meghan Markle's life has already changed in major ways now that she's married to Prince Harry, but the 36-year-old former actress has also made it a personal mission to change the lives of others. Over the years, Meghan has dedicated her time, money, and heart to causes near and dear to her; she is a counselor for the nonprofit organization One Young World, a global ambassador for World Vision and its Clean Water Campaign, and an advocate for UN Women.
During her adorable postengagement interview with Harry, Meghan revealed that she is very excited to "focus even more energy" on those causes. As she settles into her new life as the Duchess of Sussex, she will be expected to choose charities to be patron of, as is customary for all family members — and we can't wait to see which ones she picks. Ahead, we've detailed all the ways that Meghan's philanthropic spirit has made her a flawless fit for the royal family.
In January 2016, Meghan returned to Rwanda as global ambassador of World Vision to bring attention to its World Water Day efforts. While there, she spent time with children at a refugee camp, an experience she called "as inspiring and affirming as you can imagine."
Linda Ellerbee was so struck by Meghan's passion that she interviewed her on the kids' news show. Procter & Gamble even ended up changing its slogan to "People all over America are fighting greasy pots and pans." In a 2015 speech at a UN Women's event, Meghan described the pivotal moment as he first time she felt the power of her own actions.