When does Meghan Markle leave Suits?

Suits seasons 1-8 are currently streaming on Netflix, and viewers are dreading getting to the episode when Meghan Markle makes her exit from the show. If you’re wondering when this talented actress departs the legal drama series, no worries we’ve got you covered!

Suits was one of the USA Network’s most popular series when it was airing from 2011 to 2019. Throughout its nine-season run, it was nominated for numerous awards, including two People’s Choice Awards. Patrick J. Adams was even nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award.

The legal drama follows a talented college dropout named Mike Ross, who manages to talk his way into a law associate position working for a hotshot corporate lawyer named Harvey Specter at a prestigious law firm in New York City, even though he doesn’t have a law degree. As the show continues, it focuses on Mike and Harvey working on and closing cases while trying to keep Mike’s secret under wraps.

Patrick J. Adams played the role of the brilliant college dropout Mike Ross, while Gabriel Macht portrayed the big-time corporate lawyer who hires Mike, Harvey Specter. Meghan Markle played the role of Rachel Zane, the daughter of a top New York City lawyer. Rachel starts the series working with Mike and Harvey at the fictional Pearson Hardman law firm as a senior paralegal. She and Mike also become romantically involved. But when is the last time viewers see Rachel in Suits? Find out below.

Spoilers from Suits season 7.

When does Meghan Markle leave Suits?

Meghan Markle makes her exit as Rachel in the legal drama series after the season 7 finale titled “Good-Bye.” In other words, the last time we see her is in the season 7 finale, which is the sixteenth episode of the seventh season. Her on-screen love interest Patrick J. Adams also leaves after the season 7 finale. However, Patrick returns briefly in three episodes of the final season.

How did Rachel leave in Suits season 7?

Rachel was written out of the show. In the season 7 finale, Rachel finally gets married to Mike and then they both leave New York to start their own law firm in Seattle. Their law firm specializes in helping downtrodden people.

Why did Meghan Markle leave Suits?

Although the exact reason why Meghan left Suits has never been revealed, it’s been speculated that she left the legal drama because of her association with the British royal family. Her relationship with Prince Harry had become public, and by being with someone of royalty, there are certain restrictions. One of those was her having to leave her very public acting profession behind. She made the decision to retire from acting entirely and shifted her focus towards her humanitarian work and new responsibilities as a member of the British Royal Family.

Suits creator Aaron Korsh addressed Meghan’s departure from the legal drama in an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today show.

"“I knew from a year ago that this relationship was burgeoning. And I had a decision to make because I didn’t want to intrude and ask her, ‘hey what’s going on and what are you going to do?’. So collectively with the writers, we decided to take a gamble that these two people were in love and it was going to work out. What we decided to do (was to) say, ‘look, I would rather have good things happen to Meghan in her life’ – which would likely mean her leaving the show.So let’s plan on that and it’s much easier to undo that, if it came to it, than to just plan on her staying forever and then finding out she’s going to go.”"

Suits seasons 1-8 are available to stream on Netflix.