Though competition for Harry's affections was fierce, and the scrutiny of the paparazzi daunting, love blossomed and Olivia won her Prince Charming and the heart of the world.
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Olivia, Duchess of Sussex (Olivia Jacqueline Marie Lawless; born 15 December 1983) is an American member of the British royal family, daughter-in-law of King Charles III, and former crisis manager, and lawyer. She is known as the co-founder, president, and CEO of the crisis management and law firm Lawless & Grey.
Olivia was born in Washington, D.C. the daughter of Jacqueline, a professor and educational consultant, and Joseph, a judge.
Her father's family is of African American origin, while her mother's family is from a mixed-race background and Jamaican, so she is partly English and Scottish and Native American, but also descended from enslaved Africans in the Caribbean.
She attended St. Francis de Sales Elementary School and the Academy of Notre Dame. Following high school, she attended University of St Andrews and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations. She later enrolled at American University and graduated with a J.D. degree from the American University Washington College of Law. She also attended George Washington University.
She subsequently began working, representing firms across the USA, UK, Switzerland, Denmark, and Australia before opening her own crisis management and law firm Lawless & Grey. She met Harry in 2001 while hanging out with William and Catherine; they began dating in 2006.
Olivia married Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex on 11 November 2011 and became known as the Duchess of Sussex. They have four children, Prince John, Princess Claudine, Prince David, and Princess Marisa who are sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth in the line of succession to the British throne, respectively.
On May 19, 2013, she was the commencement speaker at, George Washington University. Before giving her commencement address she was presented with an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts.
Olivia closed her business interests and stepped back from being a lawyer in 2015, and began full-time work as a member of the royal family. She is the patron of over 70 charities and organisations. She undertakes over 100 engagements each year, including visits to schools, universities, and military bases.
She undertakes projects through The Royal Foundation, with her charity work focusing on issues surrounding young children, addiction, and art. To encourage people to open up about their mental health issues, the Duchess envisioned the mental health awareness campaign "Heads Together", launched with the Duke and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in April 2016.
She is also a supporter of LGBT rights. In August 2013, she was named an honorary chairperson of the GLSEN Respect Awards; and she received the GLAAD Vanguard Award on March 21, 2015.
She is a member of the Creative Coalition; which is a board of actors, writers, musicians, and producers that explore issues that are at the forefront of national discourse.
She is also a member of V-Day, a global movement that brings awareness to violence against women and girls
The media have called Olivia's impact on British and American fashion the "The Olivia effect".
In 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2020, 2022, and 2023 Time magazine selected her as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.
She became a billionaire in 2010 and is estimated by Forbes to be worth US$7.7 billion as of 2024.
