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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will get married at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle next May, it was announced by Buckingham Palace.
The happy couple said they were delighted that their married life would begin in the ancient grounds of the thousand year old castle.
Prince Edward and Sophie wed in the chapel, and the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles had a blessing there after their marriage in 2005. The public will be able to meet Meghan this Friday as the couple are going on a walkabout in the English city of Nottingham.
A spokesman said Nottingham was dear to Harry’s heart and they would be attending an AIDS event in the city as there was still a stigma attached to the condition which Princess Diana did so much to highlight. The Royal family will be paying for the core of the wedding, which will televised as the couple want the whole world to enjoy the ceremony.
Meghan will apply to become a British Citizen and retain her US status for the foreseeable future. It seems likely that Meghan will spend Christmas with the Windsors as a spokesman said an update on the arrangements would follow in the next couple of weeks.
The spokesman said Meghan was going to embark on travelling around the UK ” as a priority” to learn more about the country which will now be her home. She is going to become patron of the Royal Foundation, an umbrella organisation for William Kate and Harry’s charities, and will become involved in royal duties straight after the wedding.
Meghan has met Prince George and Princess Charlotte and is already getting in well with them. No specific date has yet been decided for the wedding.
“The couple would like to thank everyone for their good wishes and are extremely grateful for them” said the spokesman.
The couple, who announced their big news on Monday, sat down for a joint interview where they spilled about how they met (through a mutual friend on a blind date), how Harry proposed, at home (while they were roasting a chicken), when they plan to have children (in the near future!) and how they plan to make sure Diana’s presence remains strong.
Starting off, the interviewer asks: ‘Can we just start with the proposal and the actual moment of your engagement. When did it happen? How did it happen?’
To which a chuffed Prince Harry replies, ‘It happened a few weeks ago, earlier this month, here at our cottage, just a standard typical night for us…’
Meghan interjects, ‘Just a cosy night, it was – what were we doing just roasting chicken – ‘
Harry interrupts, ‘Trying to roast a chicken.’
Meghan then finishes, ‘Just an amazing surprise, it was so sweet and natural and very romantic. He got on one knee.’
The interview then asks, ‘Was it an instant yes from you?
‘Yes, as a matter of fact I could barely let you finish proposing, I said – can I say yes now?’ Meghan responds.
Prince Harry adds, ‘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 in my finger and I was like can I – can I give you the ring? She goes – oh yes the ring.’
The interviewer then asks Harry about his late mother, Princess Diana.
‘What do you think your mother would have thought of Meghan, or said about Meghan? she asks.
Harry replies, ‘Oh they’d be thick as thieves, without question, I think she would be over the moon, jumping up and down, you know so excited for me, but then, as I said, would have probably been best friends – best friends with Meghan.
‘So no it’s – you know it is days like – days like today when – when I really miss having her around and miss being able to share the happy news. But you know with the ring and with everything else that’s going on I’m sure she’s…’
Meghan added, ‘She’s with us.’
