Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Are Engaged — Get Every Detail on the Proposal!
It’s a royal engagement! Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall officially announced that Prince Harry is engaged to American actress Meghan Markle in an official statement released on Monday, Nov. 27. “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 on May 19, 2018. Scroll down to read everything you need to know about Harry and Meghan’s engagement!
How did Harry propose to Meghan?
Harry, 33, popped the question to Meghan, 36, at their Nottingham Cottage home at London’s Kensington Palace in November 2017. According to the palace statement, Harry soon after “informed Her Majesty [Queen Elizabeth] and other close members of his family.” He also asked Meghan’s parents, Doria Ragland and Thomas Markle, for their daughter’s hand in marriage before proposing. So sweet!
In their official engagement interview, Harry and Meghan — who was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority in college — dished even more details on the special proposal. “It was just a typical night for us,” Harry said, to which Meghan replied, “What were we doing? Just roasting chicken? Trying to roast a chicken and it was just an amazing surprise. It was so sweet and natural and romantic. He got on one knee.” Harry continued, “She didn’t even let me finish! Then there were hugs and I had the ring on my finger and I was like, ‘Can I give you the ring?’ So 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.”
What does Meghan’s engagement ring look like?
Soon after Harry and Meghan’s engagement news was announced to the world, the couple showed off the Suits star‘s gorgeous engagement ring during a photoshoot in the Kensington Palace gardens. The bling features one large diamond from Botswana and two smaller diamonds from the late Princess Diana’s personal collection. “This stunning ring is truly one-of-a-kind. I would insure it for at least $250,000, however, the diamonds from Princess Diana‘s collection could render this ring absolutely priceless. By creating a custom ring, Prince Harry is partaking in a growing trend among royals, celebrities and consumers alike,” Josh Marion, Vice President of Clicks-and-Bricks jeweler, Ritani, exclusively told Closer Weekly.
Harry later provided more details on the custom bauble. “The ring is obviously yellow gold because that’s her favorite and the main stone itself I sourced from Botswana,” Harry revealed. “The little diamonds on either side are from my mother’s jewelry collection to make sure that she’s with us on this crazy journey together. Meghan added, “It’s beautiful, and he designed it, it’s incredible.” As for why Harry used two of Diana’s diamonds for the ring, he explained, “It’s so important to me to know that she’s a part of this with us.”
Can we still buy the white coat Meghan wore on the day of their engagement?
Sadly, no! The LINE white coat completely sold out moments after she wore it. Soon after, the president of the company released a statement regarding the item. “We are incredibly honored that Meghan chose to wear a LINE coat to mark this very special occasion,” he said. “Meghan has an effortlessly chic sense of style, which we’ve always admired. We know this particular coat is one of her favorite pieces so we have officially decided to name it the ‘Meghan.’ We are elated for Meghan and wish her a lifetime of happiness with Prince Harry.”
Meghan’s engagement ring.
When did Harry and Meghan have their first official royal engagement?
The soon-to-be-married couple stepped out together as an engaged couple for the first time on Friday, Dec. 1 — and looked happy as ever! Harry and Meghan greeted a cheering crowd outside the National Justice Museum in Nottingham.
At the special event, Meghan donned a tricolor Midi tote by Scottish accessories brand Strathberry, and the bag sold out in 11 minutes! It then fetched for four times the original price at an auction. Crazy, right?
Did Harry and Meghan release professional engagement photos?
Yes — and they’re stunning! “Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle have chosen to release this official portrait photograph to mark their engagement,” Kensington Palace captioned the one formal and one more casual pic on Dec. 21.
Shortly after the release, the royal duo shared a third photo as a “thank you” to all their royal fans. “Thank you so much for all of the wonderful comments following the release of Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle’s engagement photographs. The couple is so grateful for the warm and generous messages they have received during such a happy time in their lives. As a way to say thank you, they have decided to share this candid photograph from the day of their portrait sittings directly with all of you,” the caption read.
What are Meghan and Harry doing before the wedding?
Before the two tie the knot, the couple plans to enjoy all their time together. On top of that, Meghan will undergo royal training!
Even though she’s been receiving bits of advice here and there from the royal family, she will start to learn even more as the couple’s May 2018 wedding nears! “As they get closer to marriage, Meghan will receive more general advice from those close to Harry, whether it’s for public speaking or what to do at a state banquet,” an insider revealed. “Everything she may be unsure about will be answered.”
After spending Christmas at Sandringham this year, the two plan to take a little post-holiday vacation as welll. “They plan to go on vacation together for more than a week,” a source told Us Weekly of the newly-engaged duo. “Expect them to come back tanned, refreshed, and ready to take on a very busy 2018.”
To keep herself busy before officially becoming a royal, Meghan also plans to travel to visit her family and friends. She also will likely appear alongside Harry for some of his royal appearances in the coming months.
What does the royal family think of the engagement?
It seems like the royal family is delighted to have Meghan as Harry’s fiancée and Meghan’s parents are also excited to have the prince as their son-in-law. After the news, Doria and Thomas released their own statement about their daughter’s engagement via the official Kensington Palace Twitter account. “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 great source of joy for us as parents,” they said. “We wish them a lifetime of happiness and are very excited about their future together.”
Meanwhile, Prince Harry’s brother, Prince William, and his wife, Kate Middleton, are also happy to be gaining a new sister-in-law. “We are very excited for Harry and Meghan. It has been wonderful getting to know Meghan and to see how happy she and Harry are together,” they said in a statement. Kate later spoke out for a second time about Harry’s proposal. “[William] and I are absolutely thrilled. It’s such exciting news. It’s a really happy time for any couple and we wish them all the best and hope they enjoy this happy moment,” she gushed.
Now that Meghan is engaged, will she still be an actress?
No, she won’t! Following their engagement news, Meghan shared that she will no longer appear on her show Suits or any other shows for that matter.
“I think what’s been so exciting [transitioning] out of my career and into, as you said, the causes I can focus even more energy on, very early out of the gate, [is that you] have a voice that people listen to, a lot of responsibility,” Meghan said in her first official interview on Monday, Nov. 27 with BBC. “I see it is a new change, a new chapter,” Meghan added. “I’ve been working on my show seven years, we were so fortunate to have that longevity, and I feel like I checked that box and am very proud of the work I’ve done there.”
Will Harry and Meghan get a prenup before their wedding?
It’s likely that they won’t get a prenup. “I don’t think they will,” said UK family lawyer Julian Hawkhead. “If there was any drive to do so it would have come from the senior members of the royal family. There has been absolutely no such direction to do this and in fact, I’m reminded of when Prince William and Kate Middleton were engaged to be married, the Palace made it quite clear that they had no expectation that there should be any such prenuptial arrangement made.”
When did Harry and Meghan start dating?
The couple began dating in August 2016 and Harry publicly confirmed their relationship in early November of that year. The duo made their first official public appearance together during the Toronto Invictus Games in September 2017.
Harry and Meghan.
How did Harry and Meghan meet?
During their engagement interview, Harry and Meghan adorably revealed how they were first introduced. “Ah, we first met — we were introduced actually by a mutual friend,” Harry told the BBC, and Meghan sweetly interjected, “We should probably protect her privacy.” Shortly after the pal introduced the actress and the royal and set them up on a blind date, they had their first two dates back-to-back in London in July 2016, and it took about three to four weeks of dating before they really got to spend quality time together, one-on-one.
After their first meeting, Harry allegedly “starting texting [Meghan] regularly” and the two hung out again at the SoHo House in London with a group of mutual friends in July. They later went on a few low-key dates and the stunning star soon made her first visit to Harry’s Kensington Palace residence. The pair are thought to have made things official by August 2017. “They had gotten on when they first met but it was just as friends. They then developed romantic interests in each other and, before you knew it, they were texting every day,” a source previously told Us Weekly. “Harry loves that she is so into philanthropy. One of the first things they spoke about was her shelter dogs. He loves that she’s so caring.”
St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
When will Harry and Meghan get married?
The newly-engaged pair announced on Friday, Dec. 15, that they will tie the knot on May 19, 2018. Harry and Meghan will exchange vows at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. “Windsor is a very special place for Prince Harry, and he and Ms. Markle have regularly spent time there during the last year,” a palace spokesperson said in a statement. “They are delighted that the beautiful grounds of Windsor Castle will be where they begin their lives as a married couple.” It is thought, but not confirmed, that the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will officiate the royal wedding.
According to a previous report, Harry doesn’t want his wedding to be extravagant — so Windsor Castle will be the perfect setting for the low-key nuptials! “Pomp and pageantry is the last thing he would want. I can see him wanting to get married at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. It would stop it from turning into a total media circus and give the day a sense of privacy that Harry so badly craves,” a source revealed earlier this year.
Meghan and Harry at the Invictus Games.
Will Harry and Meghan’s wedding be on TV?
Yes! A palace spokesperson has confirmed the wedding will be televised. “The couple of course want the day to be a special, celebratory moment for their friends and family. They also want the day to be shaped so as to allow members of the public to feel part of the celebrations too and are currently working through ideas for how this might be achieved. This wedding, like all weddings, will be a moment of fun and joy that will reflect the characters of the bride and groom,” the message read. We can’t wait to watch!
Will Meghan get a royal title when she marries Harry?
Yes! Royal historian Marlene Koenig recently told Royal Central that in the UK, a wife automatically takes on her husband’s target — but Meghan would not become Princess Meghan. Instead, she would be HRH Princess Henry of Wales, which doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. Princess, after all, is a title reserved for those born into the British monarchy, so while Princess Charlotte, Pricness Eugenie, and Princess Beatrice have it, Kate does not. Similarly, “Princess Diana” was never really an official title (she was actually Diana, Princess of Wales).
Harry and Meghan.
It is much more likely that Harry will receive a peerage upon his marriage. “Most likely, he will be created a Duke. Sussex is available so [Meghan] would be HRH the Duchess of Sussex,” Koenig explained. “Her rank would be a princess by marriage of the United Kingdom, Great Britain, and Northern Ireland.” The title of Duke of Sussex was last held by Prince Augustus Frederick, the sixth son of King George III, and has not been claimed since his death in 1843. It was rumored that William would receive the title upon his marriage, but since he became Duke of Cambridge instead, it has been assumed that Sussex will be kept for Harry. So cool!
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