If you’ve spent any time on Netflix lately, you’ve probably seen that Suits has had a massive second life. It’s everywhere. But for a lot of people jumping into the binge-watch for the first time—or even those of us who watched it live back in the day—one question looms larger than the rest: when does Meghan Markle leave Suits, and why did it feel so sudden?
Honestly, watching Rachel Zane's exit is kinda surreal. You’re watching a character climb the ranks of a high-powered law firm while knowing, in the back of your mind, that the actress is literally about to become a Duchess. It’s one of those rare moments where real-life drama is even wilder than the TV script.
The Short Answer: Season 7, Episode 16
Let’s get the logistics out of the way. Meghan Markle makes her final appearance as Rachel Zane in the Season 7 finale, titled "Good-Bye." It’s a two-hour special that aired on April 25, 2018.
That date is pretty significant. It was just a few weeks before her real-life royal wedding to Prince Harry on May 19, 2018. The timing wasn't an accident. In fact, the show’s creator, Aaron Korsh, had to basically bet on the relationship working out. He started writing Rachel out before the engagement was even official because he sort of just knew. He didn't want to be caught off guard if she suddenly had to move to London, which is exactly what happened.
How Rachel Zane Was Written Out
The writers didn't go the tragic route, thank god. They didn't kill her off or have her get disbarred. Instead, they gave her the ultimate "happy ending" package.
💡 You might also like: Why Love Island Season 7 Episode 23 Still Feels Like a Fever Dream
Basically, Rachel and Mike Ross (played by Patrick J. Adams) get a job offer they can't refuse. It’s to run a legal clinic in Seattle that takes on big corporations to help the "little guy." It was the perfect out for Mike, who always struggled with the morality of corporate law, and it gave Rachel a chance to lead her own firm.
The Wedding We All Waited For
Before they could hop on a plane to Seattle, though, they had to tie the knot. The wedding in the episode was chic, simple, and honestly felt like a dress rehearsal for the royal one. They moved the ceremony up by six weeks in the show's timeline just to get it done before their big move. It was emotional, especially the goodbye between Mike and Harvey. Those two were the heartbeat of the show, and seeing them part ways felt like the end of an era. Because, well, it was.
Why She Actually Left (The Non-Script Version)
We all know she left to marry a prince. But the behind-the-scenes reality was a bit more complicated.
The palace was apparently very involved in the later scripts. In his memoir Spare, Prince Harry mentioned that the "The Firm" (the royal family's advisors) would occasionally weigh in on Rachel Zane’s dialogue. They reportedly didn't want her saying certain things or being involved in specific "un-royal" plots. Imagine being a TV writer and having a royal press secretary as your unofficial script editor. Kinda stressful, right?
📖 Related: When Was Kai Cenat Born? What You Didn't Know About His Early Life
Also, her co-star Patrick J. Adams was also ready to go. He’s been pretty open lately about how he felt Mike Ross’s story had reached its natural conclusion. He didn't want to just keep doing the same thing for the money. Since Mike and Rachel were a package deal, it made narrative sense for them to leave together. If only one of them had stayed, the show would have had to break them up, and nobody wanted to see that after seven years of "will they, won't they."
Does She Ever Come Back?
Short answer: No.
Longer answer: Sort of, in spirit.
Suits actually ran for two more seasons after Meghan left. In Season 8 and 9, the show mentions Rachel all the time. Mike even comes back for a few guest spots in the final season. When he returns, he gives updates on their life in Seattle. He mentions that "Rachel is doing great" and they’re building a life together. There’s even a cheeky meta-joke in the final season where a character asks Mike how Rachel is doing, and he says, "If I told you how good, you probably wouldn't believe me." It was a clear nod to her becoming a literal royal.
👉 See also: Anjelica Huston in The Addams Family: What You Didn't Know About Morticia
What Most People Get Wrong About the Exit
A lot of fans think Meghan was "fired" or that the show was canceled because of her. Neither is true.
- The show was renewed: Suits went on for 26 more episodes without her. They brought in Katherine Heigl to fill the void, and while the dynamic changed, the show remained a hit.
- She was ready to move on: Meghan had been on the show since 2011. Seven years is a long time in TV land. Most actors are itching for something new by then anyway.
- The "Palace Pressure": While the palace did have opinions on the script, the decision to leave was ultimately Meghan's. She was transitioning into a full-time role as a working royal, which, at the time, was a "no-acting-allowed" type of gig.
If you’re just starting your Suits journey, keep an eye on the chemistry in Season 7. You can really see the actors soaking in their final moments together. It’s bittersweet.
If you want to relive the exit properly, you should definitely watch Season 7, Episode 16. It’s the definitive answer to the question of when she leaves, and it wraps up her storyline with the kind of grace you’d expect from a future Duchess.
Next Step: Check out Patrick J. Adams’ recent podcast, Sidebar: A Suits Watch Podcast, where he and Sarah Rafferty (Donna) go back and break down these episodes with the hindsight of everything that happened after the cameras stopped rolling. It’s a great way to get the real "inside baseball" on what those final days on set were actually like.