Yes, it’s finally official! A royal statement released by Clarence House declared, “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. 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.”

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The couple will marry in spring next year.

Apparently, American actress and divorcee Markle and Harry had been introduced by friends in July 2016, but managed to keep their relationship secret for several months.

Prince Harry, who has served two tours of Afghanistan with the British army, visited Meghan several times in Toronto, where she would film the TV drama ‘Suits’, now in its seventh season.

Harry, 33, and his American fiancée, 36, will reside together in Nottingham Cottage in the grounds of Kensington Palace, near to the home shared by his brother William and sister-in-law Kate.

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Wishes have been pouring in for the happy couple. While Her Majesty and Prince Philip have said they are “delighted for the couple and wish them every happiness,” the official message from Harry’s brother, Prince William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, reads, “We are very excited for Harry and Meghan. It has been wonderful getting to know Meghan and to see how happy she and Harry are together.”

Speaking to Vanity Fair in an interview published in September, Meghan had revealed, “We're a couple. We're in love. I'm sure there will be a time when we 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.”

While Harry has earned praise for his charitable activities, including his Heads Together campaign promoting mental health, Markle has long since been a champion of charitable causes and is an advocate for UN Women, the United Nations office for gender equality and the empowerment of women, as well as a global ambassador for World Vision.

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And as to that thousand pound question – what will the bride wear? Speculation is already sky-rocketing! When once asked about her dream gown, she had revealed that it would be ‘classic and simple’. “I personally prefer dresses that are whimsical or subtly romantic,” Markle had stated. Some of the names being tossed around are Misha Nonoo, Victoria Beckham, Elie Saab, J Mendel, Roland Mouret and Antonio Berardi.