Prince Harry and Meghan Markle make first appearance after engagement
The
couple appeared at a photocall in the Sunken Garden at Kensington
Palace in London on Monday afternoon, where Harry told reporters he knew
Markle was "the one" from "the very first time we met."
The
Prince declined to elaborate on his proposal to Markle, but when asked
whether it was romantic, he smiled and said, "of course it was."
Markle said she was "so very happy" and flashed her engagement ring to reporters.
The
ring, designed by Harry, has a gold band and features a large diamond
from Botswana and two smaller outer diamonds from the personal
collection of Harry's late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, according
to a statement from Kensington Palace.
Botswana
holds special significance for the couple, who have spent time together
there over the past year and a half, Kensington Palace said.
The
pair, who became engaged quietly earlier this month, will marry in
spring 2018 and live at Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace, where
Harry currently resides.
Monday's
announcement of the forthcoming nuptials was made by Harry's father,
Prince Charles, in a statement released from his office at Clarence
House.
Prince Charles said he was
"delighted to announce" the engagement, adding that Harry had informed
"The Queen and other close members of his family."
"Prince Harry has also sought and received the blessing of Ms. Markle's parents," the statement added.
The
couple went before photographers on Monday afternoon before taking part
in a broadcast interview which will air in the evening.
Harry's
grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip, are
"delighted" for the couple and "wish them every happiness," a Buckingham
Palace spokesman said.
Shortly after the announcement, Kensington Palace released a statement on behalf of Markle's parents, Thomas Markle and Doria Ragland.
"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 source of great joy for us as parents.
"We wish them a lifetime of happiness and are very excited for their future together," the statement ended.
Harry's brother, William and
his wife, Catherine, who also reside at Kensington Palace, shared their
joy at the impending union on Monday.
"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.
Monday's
announcement ends persistent speculation over when the 33-year-old
prince -- who is now fifth in line to the British throne -- would
propose to the actor.
Harry and his fiancée made their first public appearance as a couple in September at the Invictus Games in Toronto.
The
pair were introduced in July 2016 by mutual friends in London, Markle
confirmed in September. Markle is best known for her role on TV show
"Suits" as well as her philanthropic work.
The 36-year-old LA native spoke of her royal relationship for the first time earlier this year telling Vanity Fair: "We're two people who are really happy and in love."
Markle,
who has been previously married, spoke candidly about the media
attention that comes with dating a member of the British royal family,
saying it has its "challenges" before adding that she has her
"boyfriend's support."
Separately,
Prince Harry confirmed the couple were an item last November in a
Kensington Palace statement criticizing the "wave of abuse and
harassment" his then-girlfriend had faced from media outlets.
The
palace rarely puts out such statements, only doing so in recent years
to keep the paparazzi from getting too close to Prince George and
Princess Charlotte, the children of Harry's brother, Prince William.
The
brothers have been much more open about their personal lives than other
members of the royal family. In recent months, they spoke publicly
about their mother, Princess Diana, on the 20th anniversary of her death.
Monday's announcement sets the stage for the most anticipated royal wedding since William married Catherine Middleton in 2011 in a lavish ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
Harry's
marriage to Markle will not be the first time a British royal has wed a
divorcee. The British media has previously compared Markle to Wallis
Simpson, the divorced American whose relationship with King Edward VIII
led to his 1936 abdication.
However,
there is significantly less controversy around this union given that in
2005, Prince Charles, the heir apparent to the throne and a divorcee
himself, wed Camilla Parker-Bowles, who had also been married
previously.
It is unclear at this point what additional titles the pair will take once they are wed.
Next
spring was already set to be a joyous occasion for the British royal
family, with William and Catherine recently announcing they are set to welcome their third child in April.
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