Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announce their engagement
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have announced they are engaged, Clarence House has said. The couple met last year, and their relationship was confirmed by Kensington Palace in November after months of speculation.
The prince, 33, and the 36-yearold ‘Suits’ actress recently made their public debut as a couple at the Invictus Games in Toronto, where Meghan lives.
Clarence House said in a statement: “His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince Harry to Ms Meghan Markle. The wedding will take place in Spring 2018. Further details about the wedding day will be announced in due course.
“His Royal Highness and Ms Markle became engaged in London earlier this month. Prince Harry has informed Her Majesty The Queen and other close members of his family. Prince Harry has also sought and received the blessing of Ms Markle’s parents.
“The couple will live in Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace.”
Bookies suspended bets as rumours mounted that Harry had popped the question.
Fifth in line to the throne, Harry has been dating the star, who found fame in the US legal drama ‘Suits’, since the summer of 2016. Their 16-month whirlwind romance blossomed when they met through mutual friends in London and the pair have been almost inseparable in recent months, with Markle said to have virtually moved into Harry’s home at Kensington Palace.
A statement issued on behalf of Meghan Markle’s parents, Thomas Markle and Doria Ragland, said: “We are incredibly happy for Meghan and Harry. Our daughter has always been a kind and loving person. To see her union with Harry, who shares the same qualities, is a source of great joy for us as parents.
“We wish them a lifetime of happiness and are very excited for their future together.”
Harry and Meghan have been together since last year. Markle was spotted with a royal security detail out and about in London for the first time, according to reports.
The ‘Suits’ actress was said to be in the process of moving to Kensington Palace, amid speculation that Prince Harry could have already proposed. She was seen with officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Protection Command last Tuesday, according to the Express, in a strong sign that an engagement announcement was imminent. The Duchess of Cambridge was only assigned the taxpayer-funded security guards after her engagement to Prince William, a month before they went public with the announcement in 2010 – so Meghan being seen with them is seen as a sign of things to come. A female close protection officer is also believed to be shadowing Kate’s bodyguard in preparation for working with Meghan.
Our daughter has always been a kind and loving person. To see her union with Harry, who shares the same qualities, is a source of great joy for us