ENGAGED! WE’VE GOT A NEW PRINCESS
The proud prince puts a dazzling ring on it!
It was the romantic moment the world was waiting for. Under a starry African sky, in a luxury lodge deep in Botswana’s animal-filled Okavango Delta, handsome Prince Harry got down on bended knee, presented his girlfriend Meghan Markle with a brilliant aquamarine ring and asked her to be his bride. “Meghan’s face lit up when she realised what was happening,” a royal insider reveals, speaking exclusively to Woman’s Day. “He said, ‘I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?’ and he gently placed the ring on her finger. Meghan just burst into tears and said, ‘Yes, yes, yes!’ It was incredibly magical.”
As we went to press late last week, the happy news was yet to be confirmed by the palace. But our royal sources insist Harry, 32, has finally made it official with his glamorous American love.
And his memorable proposal certainly sets a new bar for royal romance. Earlier in the night, as the sun set over a lush flood plain teeming with exotic wildlife, our source reveals the prince had an army of top chefs at the exclusive Khwai River Lodge prepare a six-course dinner with his princess-in-waiting’s favourite foods. On the eclectic menu were dishes as varied as smoked salmon,
lobster pasta and – Meghan’s favourite – steak and chips!
Towards the end of the lavish meal, lodge staff pulled out a projector screen and Harry surprised the stunning
Suits actress with a slideshow of pictures of her life, from her childhood in Los Angeles to snaps of them together from the last year, all played over their favourite songs. “It was very sweet and romantic,” reports our insider.
And that’s when Harry pulled out the ring – believed to be an aquamarine gem that was a favourite of Princess Diana, a particularly poignant token of his love so near to the 20th anniversary of his beloved mother’s death.
Harry and Meghan had only recently marked 12 months as a couple when the prince whisked the American divorcée off to Botswana to celebrate her 36th birthday. It’s a country that holds a special significance for the prince, who often refers to the African nation as his “second home”.
Earlier this year, Harry explained, “I first came in 1997, straight after my mum died. My dad told my brother and me we were going to Africa to get away from it all. This is where I feel more like myself than anywhere else in the world. I have this intense sense of complete relaxation and normality here.”
Wild romance
The redheaded royal rented out the whole of luxury tour company Belmond Safari’s most opulent accommodation, which is serviced by its own private airstrip and boasts a scenic terrace from which guests can dine alfresco while gazing upon vast herds of elephants, giraffes and zebras.
Inside, there’s a romantic four-poster bed, a heated 20m swimming pool overlooking the plains, a high-powered telescope for star-spotting, a library, and an open-air bathroom with double showers and a copper-framed Victorian bath.
“Harry admitted he got a pep talk before the trip from his big brother William, who helped calm his nerves,” reports our insider. “He even made a sneaky call to him just before he popped the question, with Kate in the background cheering him on. She said she wouldn’t tell George and Charlotte about Uncle Harry’s news just yet as they can’t keep anything secret.”
Meanwhile, a source close to the Markle family tells us, “Meghan’s on cloud nine right now and is still getting her head around the fact she’s going to be the next princess or, as many suspect, Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Sussex.
“Meghan knew it was coming at some point, but she was still shocked when Harry proposed and told family it was the most surreal but romantic moment of her life, and it’s something she’s still trying to process.
“As the enormity of what’s happened sinks in, she’s experienced a little bit of anxiety, but it’s mostly sheer elation and happiness. She and Harry are taking some time out to enjoy the engagement before making it public and having to endure the media fanfare.”
It’s thought the palace won’t make an official announcement about their wedding plans for at least a couple of weeks, as it did with Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge, who only confirmed their plans to wed a full month after she accepted his proposal while on safari in Kenya in 2010. Harry is also keen to wait until after the 20-year anniversary of his mum’s death on August 31, so as not to detract from the special occasion.
Already, as happened in the weeks before Wills and Kate’s engagement was made official, British bookmakers have stopped taking bets on Meghan
and Harry making an announcement, with Rupert Adams, a spokesman for top betting agency William Hall, explaining, “We believe it is no longer a question of if, but when.”
As the first to hear about the big news, William and Kate, both 35, are delighted, as is Harry’s grandmother, the Queen, 91. She is thrilled that there’s finally some good news in the wake of the scandalous Diana documentaries and the Duchess of Cornwall’s biography, which have generated many unfortunate headlines.
“She has only met Meghan once, but Her Majesty took to her instantly,” tells our royal insider. “She says Meghan is clearly a good influence on Harry and that she’ll be a natural when it comes to adapting to royal life. Meghan is very poised and knows how to dress appropriately – all those years on the red carpet should make her transition very easy.”
Designers are clamouring to dress Meghan for her engagement portrait – after all, the blue Issa frock Kate wore for her official photo in 2010 sold out within 24 hours of the picture being released. “She is sure to choose something by a British designer,” reports our insider. “Her favourite labels include Antonio Berardi,
Erdem, Mulberry and Burberry, so they’ll all be in the running, with Victoria Beckham as an outside chance.”
Looking further forward, we understand there will be not one, but two weddings early next year, in the Northern Hemisphere spring. First will be a big royal ceremony in London, full of the pomp and ceremony we’ve come to expect, followed by a more lowkey event in LA with a focus on Meghan’s family and friends. As they were at Pippa Middleton’s wedding, Prince George and Princess Charlotte are likely to act as page boy and bridesmaid.
Pitter,patter...
Meghan has quit social media and ditched her blog The Tig in preparation for royal life. She’s also reportedly asked to be written out of racy legal drama
Suits, cut back on acting roles and rebranded herself as an Angelina Jolie-style humanitarian, with roles as a UN advocate and World Vision ambassador.
Our insider says, “Meghan is on the threshold of becoming an official royal, which can be terrifying, but Kate has been an enormous help when it comes to ‘princess training’. She’s been showing her the ropes and is really looking forward to having a new friend to attend events with when she’s on royal duty.”
Our Markle family insider adds, “Meghan and Harry are elated and can’t wait to start the next chapter of their lives together, which of course includes children. Meghan is desperate for a baby – she’s even joked about hurrying the wedding up so they can get on with things!”