A Timeline Of Prince Harry And Meghan Markle’s Fairytale Romance
Since their relationship went public in 2016, the world has been inundated with the whirlwind romance of Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle. The public picked apart all the details of the courtship, but theirs is truly a modern-day fairytale, one in which the once "bad boy" prince of the Royal Family had fallen for a low-key American actress. Let's take a look back at the couple's engagement, royal wedding, and first child. It's hard to believe that it all happened in just two short years! Follow the timeline of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's fairytale romance, and take a look at what's next for the couple as they officially leave their duties as senior royals.
July 2016 – They Meet On A Blind Date In London
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were set up on a blind date in 2016 by a mutual friend. Meghan's American upbringing is attributed to her naivete of the Royal Family. "I didn't know much about him, so the only thing I asked... was, 'Well is he nice?'" Meghan told BBC. For his part, Prince Harry hadn't heard of Meghan Markle until their mutual friend mentioned her name.
Hitting it off instantly, Harry invited Meghan on a trip to Africa just weeks later. "Then we were really by ourselves, which was crucial to me to make sure that we had a chance to get to know each other," Harry said.
October 2016 – Their Relationship Is Made Public
"We had a good five, six months almost with just privacy," Meghan would later say. News of their courtship leaked on October 31, 2016. Sources told Sunday Express that Prince Harry was dating an American actress named Meghan Markle and that "Harry has been desperate to keep the relationship quiet because he doesn't want to scare Meghan off."
On the same day, Meghan Markle posted an Instagram photo of two bananas spooning, which many believe was a huge hint that she was seeing someone special. Around this time, People reported that the actress already met Harry's father, Prince Charles.
Public Reaction To Their Relationship Was Intense
Both Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were blindsided by the strong public reaction to their relationship. Markle told BBC, "There was a misconception that because I have worked in the entertainment industry that this would be something I would be familiar with... But I've never been part of tabloid culture. I've never been in pop culture to that degree and lived a relatively quiet life."
Markle went on to say that she tried to avoid reading any press – positive or negative – and instead she decided to focus solely on nurturing her relationship with Harry.
November 2016 – Prince Harry Issues A Statement
Shortly after news of their relationship went public, the media and the public were up in arms. So much so, that Meghan Markle and her inner circle were bombarded with unwanted press and harassment.
It got so bad that Prince Harry had to issue a formal statement from the Royal Household to put a stop to it. "Prince Harry is worried about Ms. Markle's safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her. It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms. Markle should be subjected to such a storm," the statement read.
Even Prince William Had Something To Say
After the statement was released, there were rumors that Prince William wasn't pleased with his younger brother's public plea. Those rumors prompted another official statement from the Royal Household, this time on behalf of the Duke of Cambridge.
The statement read: "The Duke of Cambridge absolutely understands the situation concerning privacy and supports the need for Prince Harry to support those closest to him." At the time, sources close to the Princes told the press, "No one wanted to have to put that statement out... But over the course of one weekend things escalated to the extent that Prince Harry felt he had to act."
December 2016 – Meghan Gets The Queen's Approval
By the end of 2016, Queen Elizabeth II has reportedly given her approval. A source close to the Royal Family told Us Weekly, "[The Queen is] delighted to see Harry in a loving relationship," despite not having met Markle yet.
Later, Markle revealed to BBC what it was like to actually meet the Queen: "It's incredible, to be able to meet her through [Harry's] lens. Not just with his honor and respect for her as the monarch, but the love that he has for her as his grandmother. All of those layers have been so important to me... She's an incredible woman."
New Year's Eve 2016 – They Take A Romantic Vacation Together
The couple spent the first Christmas of their relationship with their respective families but reunited to take a romantic trip to Norway for the New Year's holiday. Though they tried to keep things extremely private in the past, the couple at this point was able to move as they pleased without sneaking around.
Prince Harry reportedly took Markle to Norway to see the Northern Lights, among other romantic excursions in the Arctic Circle. By then, friends of the couple were already predicting their engagement. "I can see them engaged by the spring. He's head over heels," a source told Us Weekly in January 2017.
January 2017 – Meghan Meets The Future King And Queen
After the trip to Norway, Meghan Markle began meeting more people in Prince Harry's close family. In January 2017, Markle met Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte at their apartment in Kensington Palace. A source told Us Weekly at the time that the meeting "went well" and that "Meghan's so happy she's getting to know more of Harry's nearest and dearest."
Meghan had already met Prince William the previous November and reportedly got along well with Harry's older brother. A source told the press back then, "Naturally, William is very happy for his brother."
Prince Harry Meets The Parents (One Of Them, At Least)
By 2017, Meghan Markle had not only met the Queen, but also the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. It was only a matter of time before Prince Harry was due to meet Markle's family.
Meghan Markle brought her mother, Doria Ragland, out to London to meet the Prince, who told BBC, "Her Mom's amazing." Ragland was subsequently seen out with Meghan and Harry on multiple occasions. Later, Meghan revealed that Harry hadn't met her father, telling BBC, "He's talked to my dad a few times, hasn't been able to meet him just yet."
March 2017 – Meghan Is Harry's Plus One At A Wedding
The couple grew closer together despite their long-distance relationship. At the time, Markle still spent a significant amount of time in Toronto to film Suits, but during her free time was "virtually living" with Harry at his cottage in Kensington Palace.
Then the couple was seen together in Jamaica to attend the wedding of one of Prince Harry's close friends. Many people saw Harry's taking Markle to a wedding as his plus one as a sort of public "coming out" for their relationship. Photos of the couple engaging in PDA at the wedding only confirmed everyone's suspicions.
April 2017 – Meghan Makes Surprising Changes
Meghan Markle shut down her lifestyle website, The Tig, in April 2017. She told her fans, "What began as a passion project (my little engine that could) evolved into an amazing community of inspiration, support, fun and frivolity."
People were quick to assume that she did this because of her relationship with Prince Harry, but Markle was simply too busy to maintain it. "The Tig has been a labor of love for Meghan but it's a full-time job. She wants to focus on this season of Suits, which just starting filming, and spending more time in the field on her philanthropy," a source told People.
May 2017 – Things Were Getting Quite Serious
Another sign that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's relationship was getting pretty serious was when Markle flew into London in May 2017 – around the time of Pippa Middleton's wedding. Markle was reportedly taken to Kensington Palace the moment she arrived at Heathrow International Airport.
Markle didn't attend the younger Middleton's wedding, but she reportedly went to the reception. Many were shocked since Markle hadn't been pictured at family events before. The real reason she was there was to support Prince Harry at the Audi Polo Challenge in England, which marked their first official public appearance as a couple.
August 2017 – They Embark On Another African Excursion
By August 2017, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been dating for just over a year. Not only was it Markle's 36th birthday, but it had also been a year since the couple's first trip to Africa. They celebrated by revisiting the continent for another romantic getaway.
It's believed that in Africa, the couple initially bonded over their mutual interests in philanthropy and charity. Africa has a special place in Harry's heart. It's where he founded his charity Sentebale, which means "forget me not" in Lesotho, in honor of the late Princess Diana.
September 2017 – Meghan Attends The Invictus Games
Meghan Markle accompanied Prince Harry on an official royal appearance for the first time in September 2017. Together they attended the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games, which Prince Harry founded in the U.K. for wounded and disabled servicemen and women.
In 2017, the games were held in Toronto, where Markle was living while filming Suits. Throughout the course of the games, the couple was pictured holding hands and some even spotted them partaking in PDA every now and then. Markle's mother Doria Ragland was also in attendance for some of the games.
October 2017 – Meghan Tells All In Vanity Fair
A few months later, Meghan Markle graced the October 2017 cover of Vanity Fair and opened up publicly for the first time about her relationship with Prince Harry.
"We're a couple. We're in love. I'm sure there will be a time when we will have to come forward and present ourselves and have stories to tell, but I hope what people will understand is that this is our time. This is for us. It's part of what makes it so special, that's just ours. But we're happy. Personally, I love a great love story," Markle said.
November 2017 – Prince Harry Pops The Question
By the end of 2017, everyone was pleased to hear that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were engaged! On November 27, 2017, the news was confirmed by Prince Harry's father, Prince Charles.
An official statement from Prince Charles's official residence, Clarence House, read: "His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince Harry to Ms. Meghan Markle... 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."
How Did Prince Harry Put A Ring On It?
Their formal interview with the BBC came out the same day the official announcement of their engagement was released. The interview started off with the couple recounting how the proposal went down.
Prince Harry actually proposed to Markle a few weeks prior in his cottage at Kensington Palace. "It was just a standard typical night for us," Harry says before Markle added, "Just a cozy night... Just trying to roast a chicken." In the midst of making dinner, Markle said that "It was just an amazing surprise, it was so sweet and natural and very romantic."
She Didn't Even Let Him Finish The Question
"He got on one knee," Markle told BBC with a huge smile. Once she knew what was happening, she was so excited that she didn't even technically let Prince Harry finish his proposal. "It was a really nice moment, it was just the two of us and I think I managed to catch you by surprise as well," Harry added while looking at Markle.
By then they had dated for a year and a half. At a photo call following their engagement, Prince Harry was asked when he knew Marke was the one. "The very first time we met," he replied.
May 2018 – Prince Harry And Meghan Markle's Royal Wedding
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot on May 19, 2018 at Windsor Castle. The guests included the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Serena Williams, and David and Victoria Beckham – not to mention the tens of millions of people around the world who tuned in on their television screens.
Markle wore a stunning Givenchy gown and she borrowed a diamond and platinum tiara from the Queen's collection. All of Harry and Meghan's close friends and family were there – with the exception of Markle's father, Thomas Sr., which is why Prince Charles walked her down the aisle.
October 2018 – Meghan, Duchess Of Sussex, Is Pregnant
Shortly after the wedding, many were quick to peg the newlyweds as expecting parents. On October 15, 2018, everyone's wish came true when Kensington Palace officially announced that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were expecting!
At the time, the couple embarked on their first royal tour together, having just arrived in Australia. Meghan Markle was reported to be in good health and gave birth to their son on May 6, 2019. The royal baby is seventh in line for the throne, behind grandpa Prince Charles, uncle Prince William, their cousins Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, and of course their father, Prince Harry.
May 6, 2019 - Baby Archie is Born
Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor was born May 6, 2019, at Portland Hospital in London's Westminster district. The eighth great-grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II, Archie was introduced to the world two days after his birth on May 8th at Windsor Castle.
Following royal tradition, the gender of the baby wasn't revealed under after his birth. After Archie was born, Harry and Meghan returned to their residence at Frogmore Cottage, joined by Meghan's mother Doria.
October 2019 - The Couple's Private Life Is Always Exposed
The British tabloids continued to hound Meghan and dig into her personal life. Mail published a handwritten letter that Meghan had sent to her father in Mexico. Harry then issued a statement, saying, "I have been a silent witness to her private suffering for too long."
Meghan reacted by filing a lawsuit against Mail, filing "over the intrusive and unlawful publication of a private letter written by the Duchess of Sussex, which is part of a campaign by this media group to publish false and deliberately derogatory stories about her, as well as her husband."
January 8, 2020 - Harry and Meghan Announce Their Plans of Stepping Down as Senior Royals
On January 8, 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made the startling announcement that they will be stepping down from their roles as senior members of the British Royal family. Breaking protocol, the couple issued their statement in an Instagram post that garnered over 1.5 million likes within the first 24 hours and apparently completely blindsided the Queen, Prince Charles, and Prince William.
While Harry and Meghan appear to be pushing forward on their decision, the palace insisted that the move won't be so quick, stating there were "complicated issues" that need to be worked out before anything becomes official.
January 14, 2020 - Meghan is Spotted in Canada Boarding a Seaplane
While Prince Harry and the rest of the British Royal Family sorted out "Megxit" as many have started calling Harry and Meghan's departure, Meghan spent time at a home on Vancouver Island, Canada. It was the same $14 million home that she spent the Christmas holiday in.
The DailyMail reported that the Duchess of Sussex was looking “happy and relaxed” on her way to visit a women’s shelter in Canada’s poorest neighborhood. Meanwhile, Prince Harry and the rest of the British Royal Family worked out the details for Harry and Meghan’s future, back in Britain.
January 19, 2020 - Prince Harry Gives an Emotional Speech
On January 19, Harry addressed the audience at a charity event in London. His emotional statement revealed that he had struggled with the choice to step back from his royal duties and that in order to protect Meghan and Archie from the strain of such a public life, he felt no other option.
"The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back is not one I made lightly," Harry said. “It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges. And I know I haven't always gotten it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option.” He continued, “Our hope was to continue serving the Queen, the commonwealth, and my military associations, but without public funding. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible.”
January 13, 2020 - A Royal Summit is Held
On January 13, 2020, the Queen held a "royal summit" so the family could discuss Harry and Meghan's plans and decide how best to move forward. In attendance were the Queen, Prince Harry, Prince William, and Prince Charles. After the meeting, Buckingham Palace released a statement declaring that the Queen supports the Sussexes in their decision.
“Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working Members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family,” the official statement read. A “final decision” regarding the issue will be made in the coming days.
They Plan To "Carve Out A Progressive, New Role"
Prince Harry and Meghan included in their statement that they wanted to "carve out a progressive, new role" in their “new chapter” of life. For people closely following the Royal family, it doesn't come a surprise to see 35-year-old Harry taking a new direction.
On the 20th anniversary of his mother’s death, Harry said in an interview that he had long thought about leaving his royal duties behind. In a 2017 interview with Newsweek, PrinceHarry said, “I felt I wanted out but then decided to stay in and work out a role for myself.”
They Made The Decision For Their Son
News of the couple's departure from their senior roles follows their first child’s birth. In an interview before the couple became pregnant, Harry said that he wishes for his children to have a normal life, not like the one that he experienced growing up.
Harry told ITV, "I am determined to have a relatively normal life and if I am lucky enough to have children they can have one too. We don’t want to be just a bunch of celebrities but instead use our role for good."
Where They Will Live In North America
Part of their announcement included that they "plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America." So where will they live in North America? Meghan is very close with her mother, who lives in Los Angeles where the Duchess grew up. But many believe that the couple may take up residence in Canada.
Meghan lived in Toronto for over six years while filming Suits, and still has plenty of friends and ties to the area. The couple also recently took their six-week Christmas break in Canada and stated that their visit was “unbelievable.” We'll have to wait and see for the official announcement, most likely via Instagram!
No More Security Detail
With their move to the United States, Harry and Meghan were stripped of their security detail, given to them by the monarchy while they were living abroad in England. According to British royals expert Hilary Fordwich, "A clear majority of the public in U.K. polls have no problem with Harry and Meghan seeking a new life away from the monarchy, but that is with the understanding, from the overwhelming majority, 'not at the expense of we the taxpayers.'"
