The Prince & His Showgirl Harry's Romantic Proposal

It’s official! A blissfully happy Meghan says yes to the love of her life.

- Sebastian Van Der Zwan

It was just another cosy night in at Nottingham Cottage for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who were roasting a chicken in the oven at his royal residence at Kensington Palace – a scene of domestic bliss that had played out many times before in the 16 months they’ve been dating.

But the familiar routine was blown out of the water when, after months of speculation, the prince got down on bended knee and asked the stunning Suits actress to be his bride, paving the way for a spectacular union of the British royal family and the Hollywood showbiz world at Windsor Castle in May.

The romantic proposal was “an amazing surprise”, an emotional Meghan gushed in an interview once the news had been made public last week. “It was so sweet and natural.”

Her response was immediate. Grinning, Harry recalls, “She didn’t even let me finish. She said, ‘Can I say yes? Can I say yes?’ and then there were hugs and I had the ring. I was like, ‘Can I give you the ring?’ She goes, ‘Oh, yes, the ring!’ It was a really nice moment, just the two of us, and I managed to catch her by surprise as well.”

She suits him!

For royalty, their love story is a refreshingly unconventional one. At 36, Meghan is three years older than Harry, 33. She’s American, a divorcée and of mixed race. But more importantly, she’s a modern, independent, working woman, a TV star and a humanitarian who actively campaigns for children and the disadvantaged. Although it might seem like she and the prince come from separate worlds, in many ways, her CV is perfect for life in the royal family.

Harry and Meghan were matched by a mutual friend, thought to be fashion designer Misha Nonoo, 31, who set them up on a blind date at London private members’ club Soho House in July 2016.