BRITAIN’S PRINCE HARRY ENGAGED TO ACTRESS MARKLE
LONDON» Britain’s Prince Harry is engaged to marry American actress Meghan Markle and will wed in spring 2018, the royal palace announced Monday morning, ending days of feverish speculation in the tabloids over when their nuptial plans would be revealed.
The 33-year-old ginger-bearded prince is fifth in line to the throne. The 36-year-old Markle is a wellregarded actress who was born and raised in California.
The couple will live at Harry’s snug two-bedroom bachelor pad, Nottingham Cottage — known as Not Cot — on the Kensington Palace grounds in London. The announcement said the couple had become engaged this month in London.
The couple appeared briefly before news photographers at the sunken gardens at Kensington, where they stood beside a pond and answered a few shouted questions. He wore a trim blue suit; she was in a black dress beneath a belted white coat. When Harry was asked how he proposed, Markle turned to him and said, “Save that.” Harry added, “That will come later.”
“When did I know she was the one?” Harry said. “Very first time we met.”
A pair of statements were issued by Harry’s father, Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, and Queen Elizabeth II, whom Harry’s mother, the late Princess Diana, liked to call “the top lady.” Harry said he was “delighted” and had received the blessing of Markle’s parents.
The last time an American married into the royal family, Britain and the monarchy were plunged into crisis. In 1936, King Edward VIII abdicated the throne to marry Wallis Simpson, an American socialite and divorcée.
Harry confirmed he was dating the actress in November 2016 when he blasted the tabloid press for subjecting Markle to a “wave of abuse and harassment.”
Markle’s mother is African-American, and her father is white. She is divorced, without children from her previous marriage.
On Monday, the British media quickly raised the issue of Markle’s race, marital status and nationality.
A BBC News alert read: “American, divorced, an actress and mixed race — Meghan Markle will bring something different to the Royal Family.”
The Daily Mail’s headline said that “the Queen says she is ‘delighted’ the divorced American actress is to join the royal family.”