Why estate agents are celebrating royal births and weddings

 Royal weddings and births boost house prices, according to research that has left property experts urging Prince Harry to pop the question to Meghan Markle.

In April 2011, when Prince William married Kate Middleton, property values saw a month-on-month increase of 1.55 per cent – the highest uplift of the previous 12 months.

When the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall married in 2005 a similar effect was recorded, with an increase of 1.42 per cent. The births of Prince George and Princess Charlotte also saw increases of more than 1 per cent.

Doug Crawford, of conveyancing provider My Home Move, which undertook the research, said: “With recent news of falling house prices, we could use another royal announcement to help bring up the nation’s mood – we’re all looking at you, Prince Harry, to get married.”

Henry Pryor, a property expert, said the market “blooms” on the back of good news. “The housing market is driven by sentiment,” he added.