It’s official! The Royal Family confirms that Prince Harry is to marry American actress Meghan Markle. An official statement by Clarence House confirms the engagement between the 33-year-old Prince and his 36-year-old girlfriend.
“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 in Spring 2018. Further details about the wedding day will be announced in due course.”
The announcement also confirms that the engagement did indeed take place earlier this month as many speculated, “His Royal Highness and Ms. Markle became engaged in London earlier this month. Prince Harry has informed Her Majesty The Queen and other close members of his family.” Being the 5th in-line for the throne, Harry is obliged to ask for the Queen’s permission to marry under the Succession to the Crown Act 2013.
Harry also sought Markle’s parents’ blessing, which he gladly received as is confirmed in an additional statement by Kensington Palace.
“We are incredibly happy for Meghan and Harry. Our daughter has always been a kind and loving person,” Markle’s parents said, “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.”
Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, said they were “very excited for Harry and Meghan”, adding “It has been wonderful getting to know Meghan and to see how happy she and Harry are together.”
Introduced by mutual friends in July 2016, Markle and Harry managed to keep their romance quiet. In October 2016, their relationship was exposed, and in an unusual move, Harry issued a statement pleading that Markle’s privacy be respected. As their relationship deepened, Harry flew back and forth to Toronto, where Markle shot Suits and was introduced to Harry’s friends and even attended the wedding reception of the Duchess of Cambridge’s sister, Pippa Middleton. During the summer, the couple traveled to Botswana and Zambia for a romantic holiday, which began fueling speculations of a royal engagement. However, what really upped rumors into high gear was the actress’ interview with Vanity Fair where she confirmed that they are a couple saying, “We’re two people who are really happy and in love,” as well as their first public appearance together, hand-in-hand and embracing at the Invictus Games.
Congratulations Harry and Meghan!
