From the romantic proposal to the wedding plans, we learnt a lot from the royal couple’s first TV interview…
In case you have been under a rock today, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are engaged.
The British weather didn’t dampen the happy couple’s sprits, earlier, as they appeared in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace for their engagement photo call. The Prince said that he was, “thrilled, over the moon… very glad it’s not raining as well.” Markle mimicked the sentiments remarking that she is, “so very happy, thank you.”
After these small pieces of information, our hunger to know more was settled when Harry and Meghan settled down for their first TV interview with the BBC’s Mishal Husain. Here is what we learnt about the proposal and beyond…
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Proposal…
Spoiler alert, Harry is quite traditional. “It was just such an amazing surprise, it was so sweet and natural and very romantic. He got on one knee.”
Was it an instant yes, Meghan, “Yes! As a matter of fact I could barely let you (Harry) finish proposing. I just said, ‘can I say yes now!”
Harry continues, “then there were hugs and I still had the ring in my hand, so I said, ‘can I give you the ring?’ And she said, ‘oh yes, the ring!’ It was a really nice moment. It was just the two of us and I think I managed to catch her by surprise, as well.”
They were cooking roast chicken at home when Harry popped the question.
It was love at first sight for Meghan and Harry…
Harry said, “I knew I wanted to marry her, the moment I met her.” Jesus, that is beyond cute. The Prince continued to say, “the fact I fell in love with Meghan so incredibly quickly was confirmation to me that everything was aligned. This beautiful woman tripped and fell into my life.”
Harry thinks Meghan will be the perfect royal…
“I know she will be unbelievably good at the job part of it as well. Which is a huge relief to me as she will be able to cope with everything else that comes with it.”
Harry and Meghan’s third date was a camping holiday…
Harry stepped in to tell the tale, “We were introduced through a mutual friend. We met once, then twice, with back to back dates in London which was last July.”
He continued to say, “then it was three, maybe four weeks later that I persuaded her to join me in Botswana where we camped out under the stars together for five days. It was crucial to me that we were by ourselves so we were able to get to know each other.”
Meghan: “We met on a blind date…”
The 36 year-old actress stepped in to give her account of the events, “it was definitely a set up! It was a blind date for sure. We talk about it now and even then because I am from the states you don’t grow up with the same understanding of the Royal Family. So while now I understand very clearly there is a global interest there – I didn’t know much about him. So when our friend wanted to set us up the only question I asked was, ‘well, is he nice?’ If he wasn’t kind it didn’t seem like it would make sense.”
Harry pre-warned Meghan about becoming a royal…
“I think very safely say - as naïve as it sounds now having gone through this learning curve in the last year and a half – I did not have any understanding of what it would be like,” Meghan said when asked about entering into the fold.
Harry concurred that the pair were not properly prepared for the media reaction, “I tried to warn you (Meghan) as much as possible what it’s like. But I think we were both surprised by the initial reaction and what happened from there. You can have as many conversations a you like but we were totally unprepared for what would happen after that.”
Meghan’s fame didn’t prepare her for the media reaction…
“I think also because there is a misconception because I have worked in the entertainment industry that this is something I am familiar with… but I have never been part of tabloids and pop culture to that degree. I lived a relatively quiet life so that was a stark difference out of the gate.”
The Suits actress continued, “I made the choice not to read anything, positive or negative. Instead we focused all our energy on nurturing our relationship.”
Meghan on the negative undertones about her ethnicity in the press…
“Of course its disheartening. It’s a shame that this is the climate, in this world, to focus this much on that. But at the end of the day I am just proud of who I am and where I have come from. We have never focused on any of that, we have just focused on who we are as a couple.”
Harry on introducing Meghan to Prince William and Kate…
“It was exciting. I had been seeing her for a period of time when I didn’t tell anybody at all. Then William and Catherine were longing to meet her. As neighbors, we got quite a few meetings in by now.”
“Catherine has been absolutely wonderful as has William as well. They have been fantastic support and with my father we have had a handful of meetings and teas and gatherings over at his place as well.”
Meghan concurred that she had really enjoyed getting to know Kate especially, “she’s been absolutely wonderful!”
Meghan on meeting the Queen…
“I have met the Queen a couple of times,” Meghan responded to questions about meeting the Queen. But what is it like meeting the Queen as Prince Harry’s future princess? “It’s incredible. I think that to meet her through his lens, not only with just the honour and respect he has for her as the monarch but also the love that he has for her as his grandmother – all of those layers have been so important to me. So when I met her I had such a deep understanding and an incredible respect for getting to spend that time with her. She’s an incredible woman!”
The Corgi’s took to Meghan straight away…
Harry was not amused the Queen's corgis took to Meghan immediately, “the corgis took to you (Meghan) straight away. I have spent 33 years getting barked at and this one walks in and nothing,” Harry commented with Meghan continuing with, “they were laying on my feet during tea – it was very sweet.”
The pair on Meghan’s engagement ring…
Acting as a QVC-esque salesman for the ring Harry stepped in to talk through the engagement ring, “the ring is yellow gold - her favourite - and the main stone itself I resourced from Botswana and the little diamonds either side are from my mother’s jewellery collection - to make sure with us on this crazy journey together.”
Meghan is quite the fan of the ring too, “it’s beautiful and he designed it – it’s incredible!”
Meghan and Harry on Princess Diana…
When asked by the reporter how important it was to Meghan to be wearing jewels once owned by the late Princess Diana the actress said, “I think that everything about Harry’s thoughtfulness and including that and not being able to meet his Mom it’s so important to me and to know she’s a part of this with us.”
Harry responded to a question about what Diana would have thought of Meghan with, “they would have been as thick as thieves without question. She would have been over the moon and jumping up and down and so excited for me. She would have been a best friend with Meghan. I am sure she is with us and jumping up and down somewhere else.”