Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announce their Engagement

Clarence House, the home of Prince Charles, announced today, 27 November 2017, that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are engaged to be married. Following the announcement, the happy couple appeared for a brief photo shoot by the pond at Kensington palace where Meghan showed her ring to the world for the first time. This was only the first time that they had publicly appeared with each other since their initial appeareance together at the Invictus Games on 25 September 2017.

In an interview aired later in the day, the happy couple told BBC reporter Mishal Husain that the engagement itself actually happened earlier this month when Harry surprised Meghan by getting down on one knee whilst they were at Harry's Nottingham Cottage home at Kensington Palace trying to roast a chicken. They revealed that Meghan could hardly wait for Harry to finish proposing before asking if she could say yes.

They met in London on 1 July 2016 on a blind date set up by a mutual friend. Following two back to back dates in London, Harry persuaded Meghan to go camping with him in Botswana for 5 days where they were able to spend some time together alone camping under the stars.

Being from the USA, Meghan did not know much about Harry but realised very quickly after they had gone out for a drink that she wanted to see him again.

Harry similarly did not know about Meghan, never having watched Suits but said that he was beautifully surprised when he first saw Meghan and knew that he needed to up his game. He revealed that it was refreshing to be able to get to know someone where neither of them knew much about each other. Early on they realised they were going to commit to each other, even whilst Meghan was still working on her US TV drama, Suits, sometimes coming straight off a plane and on to the set.

Even though Meghan had been on Suits for 6 years at the time they met, she had never really been part of tabloid culture and the initial attention was a stark difference to what she was used to. She revealed that some negative comments had been disheartening but she is proud of who she is and where she has come from, and she and Harry had just concentrated on each other as a couple.

Harry says they are a fantastic team and they'll try to have an impact on the things that they care about as much as possible.

Meghan, who has starred in "Suits" for 7 years has confirmed that she is saying farewell to her acting carreer, but sees it as a change and a new chapter in life rather than giving the acting career up. She sees it now as being time to work as a team with Harry. Both of them have passions for making change for good. One of the first things that Meghan and Harry connected on and started talking about when they met was the different things they wanted to do in the world and how passionate they were about seeing change. Meghan laughed that this is what got date 2 in the books.

Meghan has met much of Harry's family on both sides including the Queen who she described as an incredible woman. Harry mentioned that the corgis took to her immediately, whereas Harry joked that he has spent the last 33 years being barked at! Meghan has 2 rescue dogs of her own, one of whom is staying with close friends currently, and the other being in the UK. Harry described it as having being exciting introducing Meghan to his father, Prince Charles and Harry's brother, Prince William after a period of time when he didn't tell anyone at all. Harry described Catherine as having been absolutely amazing and Meghan described her as having been wonderful. Harry added that William has been as well, and fantastic support. Harry and Meghan agreed that the whole family have come together and been a huge amount of support and been amazing.

Meghan revealed that although her family and close friends were concerned with the media storm, they had also never seen her so happy. Harry described Meghan's mum as amazing. Although Harry has talked to Meghan's Dad a few times he hasn't been abl to meet him in person yet.

Meghan's engagement ring was designed by Prince Harry. It is yellow gold, featuring a main stone from Botswana where Harry and Meghan holidayed to celebrate Meghan's 36th birthday on 4th August 2017. The main stone is located between two diamonds from Harry's mother, Diana's jewelry collection which Harry describes as being to make sure she was with them on what Harry describes as "this crazy journey together"!

The wedding will take place in the Spring of 2018 and the couple will live at Kensington Palace.