As it happened: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle engaged - Is this finally the modern bride the royal family needs?
The wedding will take place in spring 2018
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Prince Harry is to marry his American actor girlfriend Meghan Markle, Clarence House has announced.
The official announcement said: “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.
“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. Prince Harry has also sought and received the blessing of Ms Markle’s parents. The couple will live in Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace.”
The fifth in line to the throne has been dating Markle since last summer and the 36-year-old actor is rumoured to be moving to the UK after quitting the hit US show Suits which she rose to fame for.
Prince Harry said he was "delighted to announce" the engagement and had gained the blessing of Markle's parents in a statement.
Speculation of a major royal announcement has grown in recent weeks as rumours about the couple's engagement have mounted.
Markle's parents Thomas Markle and Doria Ragland celebrated news of the engagement in a statement issued by Kensington Palace.
"We are incredibly happy for Meghan and Harry. Our daughter has always been a kind and loving person," they 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."
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh “are delighted for the couple and wish them every happiness".
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge voiced their happiness at the news of the engagement, saying: "It has been wonderful getting to know Meghan and to see how happy she and Harry are together."
The public were bestowed with a one-off bank holiday when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge got married in April 2011 but it is not yet known if the same will happen for Prince Harry's marriage to Markle.
While a bank holiday could adversely affect the UK’s economic growth, any slowdown is likely to be short-lived and costs could also be offset by an influx in related tourism spending.
Last November, Prince Harry condemned the "sexist" and "racist" treatment of Markle after the British press discovered they were in a relationship.
In an unprecedented move, the royal released a strongly-worded statement criticising the serious invasion of privacy Markle had been forced to endure since it became clear the pair were romantically involved. The statement denounced the “racial undertones” of media coverage of Markle.
Markle has said her feminism dates back to childhood. The actor said her heroes are former US secretary of state Madeleine Albright and the former UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon.
“These are my heroes. These are my celebrities," she said.
Megan Markle and Prince Harry have made their first public appearance since the announcement. Prince Harry said he was "thrilled" at the engagement and said it was a romantic proposal.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose for photographers in the grounds of Kensington Palace (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
The royal couple will give a broadcast interview that can be watched at 6pm, UK time, Kensington Palace has said. They will speak to the BBC's Mishal Husain on behalf of all broadcasters.
Details have emerged of the engagement ring, with the ITV's royal correspondent Chris Ship reporting that it has three stones — one from Botswana and two diamonds from Diana's personal collection.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, after the announcement of their engagement (Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
The bride-to-be made her first appearance since the wedding announcement wearing a white coat made by Canadian brand Line the Label. Following the photocall, the fashion company said its website crashed because of the number of people trying to access it.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has congratulated the newly engaged couple.
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