Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Royal Engagement Is Looming

This week, the world was gifted with the first official outing for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Unlike other members of the British royal family, this courtship — in royal speak — has been kept under wraps. Meghan and Harry have only been properly dating for a year, but they both seem to be at the stage in their life where settling down is a priority. But how do we know for sure when the bombshell news of their engagement is about drop?

SIGN 1: The Statement

Everyone with a heartbeat felt just how much Harry, 33, cared for the 36-year-old Suits actress when he issued a statement confirming their romance last year and asking for the media to back off. Unlike his relationships with Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas, Harry felt the need to speak up and pledge himself to Meghan.

SIGN 2: The Vanity Fair interview

Meghan started slowing down her online presence, her official outings, and even shut down her lifestyle blog The Tig. But it was the recent cover shoot and accompanying interview for Vanity Fair, publicly acknowledging her romance with Harry, that cemented the seriousness of their union.

SIGN 3: Stepping out in public… on purpose!

We waited a year and it was well worth it. Meghan first showed her support for her man at the opening ceremony for the 2017 Invictus Games. A day later, they gave the people what they wanted, stepping out for the semi-finals of the wheelchair tennis… hand-in-hand!

While we all anxiously await for Kensington Palace to send out the official announcement, we look back at how other royal couples have shared their enagement news with the world — scroll down!

Prince William and Kate Middleton

Prince William had been with his college girlfriend Kate Middleton for eight years before they got engaged. It’s hard to think of a time when they weren’t the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Falling in love at St Andrews college, this fairytale’s villain was time. The pretty brunette had been cruelly dubbed “Waity-Katie,” resulting in a momentary 2007 breakup… but it didn’t last very long. After eight weeks apart, the couple reunited. Three years later, during their engagement interview, William reflected on that time, “We both were very young.” He continued, “We were sort of both finding ourselves as such and being different characters and stuff, it was very much trying to find our way and we were growing up, and so it was just sort of a bit of space and a bit of things like that and it worked out for the better.”

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(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Kate similarly confessed, “I think at the time I wasn’t very happy about it, but actually it made me a stronger person. You find out things about yourself that maybe you hadn’t realized. You can get quite consumed by a relationship when you are younger and I really valued that time for me as well — although I didn’t think it at the time.” The prince whisked his leading lady to Kenya in October 2010, where he asked one of the most important questions in his life. Speculation was rife that a proposal had happened, but Kate and Wills didn’t confirm it until a month later. “I didn’t really plan it that far in advance. I just knew I wanted it to feel comfortable where I did it and I wanted it to mean something, other than just the act of getting engaged,” William said at the time.

“The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince William to Miss Catherine Middleton,” a statement released early in the morning from Clarence House on Nov. 16, 2010, read. “The wedding will take place in the Spring or Summer of 2011, in London. Further details about the wedding day will be announced in due course. Prince William and Miss Middleton became engaged in October during a private holiday in Kenya. Prince William has informed The Queen and other close members of his family. Prince William has also sought the permission of Miss Middleton’s father.”

Prince Charles and Princess Diana

William may have waited years to pop the question, but his father, Prince Charles, just needed a handful of dates to make Princess Diana his wife. On Feb. 24, 1981, Buckingham Palace announced, “It is with the greatest pleasure that the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh announce the betrothal of their beloved son the Prince of Wales to the Lady Diana Spencer, daughter of the Earl Spencer and the Honourable Mrs. Shand Kydd.”

“Prince Charles proposed to Lady Diana three weeks ago at a private dinner at Buckingham Palace before she went to Australia. He wanted her to use the trip to think over his proposal but she accepted immediately and he gave her a diamond and sapphire engagement ring,” the message continued.

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(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

In their official engagement interview with the BBC, the 32-year-old prince said he was “delighted and frankly amazed that Diana is prepared to take me on.” Diana said she too was “delighted and thrilled, blissfully happy.” The then-19-year-old admitted she could handle the dramatic change, saying, “With Prince Charles beside me I cannot go wrong.” But things took an uncomfortable turn when they were asked if they were in love, to which Diana instantly replied, “Of course.” Charles gruffly mused, “Whatever ‘in love’ means.” The words would haunt him for the rest of his life.

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip

This year, the Queen and Prince Philip celebrated 70 years since their engagement. Back in 1947, on July 10, Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, as they were then known, were the picture of love during their official engagement announcement at Buckingham Palace. Her parents released the following statement, “It is with the greatest pleasure that the King and Queen announce the betrothal of their dearly beloved daughter, the Princess Elizabeth, to Lt. Philip Mountbatten, R.W, son of the late Prince Andrew and Princess Andrew (Princess Alice of Battenburg,) to which union the King has gladly given his consent.”

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(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson

They may no longer be together, but there’s no denying Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson have a deep love and affection for each other. On March, 17, 1986, Queen Elizabeth released a typewritten statement proclaiming the engagement of her second eldest son and the daughter of Prince Charles’ polo manager. “It is with great pleasure that the queen and the Duke of Edinburgh announce the betrothal of their beloved son the Prince Andrew to Miss Sarah Ferguson, daughter of Maj. Ronald Ferguson and Mrs. Hector Barrantes,” the announcement said.

Ahh, breaking news was so romantic before the age of social media! Sarah was a dear friend of Princess Diana, who played cupid with the redhead and her brother-in-law. At the official engagement interview, Prince Andrew mused of their love, “There are always humble beginnings.” He continued, “It’s got to start somewhere… We have known each other since we were four or five years old but it was not until 1983 or 1984 at various house parties that we became reacquainted.” The true playfulness of their romance came out when they were asked what they liked about one another. Comically pausing, Andrew remarked, “Oh…,” to which Sarah jumped in with, “Wit, charm, and good looks.” Not missing a beat, her future husband said, “And her red hair!”