The most romantic royal love story ever...
It was love at first sight for Meghan and Harry who – from the moment they met – vowed never to spend more than two weeks apart
Meeting Meghan for the first time on a blind date in July 2016, Harry felt an unexpected rush of nerves. Taken aback by her beauty and innate poise, he recalls himself thinking, “OK, well I’m really going to have to up my game… and make sure I’ve got good chat.”
Clearly, his banter worked. The duo talked for hours, promptly deciding to meet again the next day and planning how they could coordinate their busy working schedules to find more time for each other.
It was clear to both that something magical was happening, especially when less than a month after that fateful meeting, they secretly travelled to Botswana – Harry’s favourite place in the world – for a camping holiday.
As they lay under the stars each night, finding out more and more about each other, they realised the depth of their feelings and knew that a future together was inevitable.
“I fell in love with Meghan so incredibly quickly,” the prince admits of their clearly electric connection. “All the stars were aligned. Everything was just perfect. It was this beautiful woman just sort of tripped and fell into my life – I fell into her life.”
The pair say keeping their romance quiet for the first few months helped them get to know each other without
PRINCE CHARLES ‘We’re thrilled for both of them. I hope they’ll be very happy indeed, is all I can say. It’s marvellous.’
worrying about the glare of attention their public profiles would inevitably bring. While other young couples head out to restaurants or movie dates to get to know each other, they stayed at home on Harry’s couch in front of the TV, cooking meals together and having heart-to-hearts. Vowing never to spend more than two weeks apart, it was this enforced – yet welcomed – intimacy which fasttracked their romance. “I don’t think that I would call it a whirlwind in terms of our relationship,” says Meghan of how quickly they went from first date to engagement. “We had a good five, six months almost with just privacy, which was amazing. We were able to really have so much time just to connect.”
Breaking with royal protocol, Harry made a surprising decision in November 2016 to release a statement through Kensington Palace to officially announce he was dating the American actress, asking for kindness to be shown towards his new love.
Declaring himself “deeply disappointed” he was not “able to protect her”, the gallant prince asked the public to stop their vitriolic attacks on Meghan, who is bi-racial, over social media. It was an unprecedented move which highlighted how deeply Harry had fallen for the woman who, less than a year later, he would get down on one knee before, and propose to.
It also showed a new maturity in the young royal. He had a wild-child reputation and a history of partying, but Meghan tamed her prince – a feat none of his previous girlfriends appeared able to do.
Meeting the family is a daunting task – let alone when your partner’s grandmother is the Queen of England! But just like Harry, the royal clan have fallen in love with the newest addition to their ranks. William and Kate were the first to meet Meghan, shortly before Charles and Camilla. And Meghan has now had several meetings with the Queen and Prince Philip, charming not only the heads of the family but their corgis too!
“I’ve spent the last 33 years being barked at. This one walks in – absolutely nothing,” laughs Harry.
“Just laying on my feet during tea, it was very sweet,” adds Meghan.
With Harry also proving a hit with Meghan’s parents, it was inevitable that one night a few weeks ago, while cooking a roast chicken in his Kensington Palace cottage, he would get down on one knee and propose to the love of his life.
“She said yes,” beams Harry. “It was a really nice moment, it was just the two of us and I think I managed to catch her by surprise as well.
“I know that at the end of the day she chooses me and I choose her. Whatever we have to tackle together or individually will always be us together as a team.”
‘I think I managed to catch her by surprise as well’