Their Debut— and That Ring! The couple stepped out for their engagement photo call at on Nov. 27. Inset below: Meghan’s ring, which Harry designed with British jeweler Cleave & Company, a favorite of the Queen’s. It features two diamonds that belonged to Princess Diana and a third from AtHomeat Botswana, where the Palace the couple Photographers have vacationed. gathered for the announcement on Nov. 27 outside the couple’s The changes were happen- new home. ing in plain sight, but they Nottingham were still easy to miss. Cottage, where There was Prince Harry, they will live on the palace grounds, is hitting the gym with a short walk from increased frequency, look- William and Kate’s ing just a little fitter than he palace residence. did this time last year. The former Army captain was refining his diet too, recently remarking that he had given up pizza and was educating himself about wine. Perhaps most tell- ingly, his longtime bachelor tpad at Kensington Palace Prince Harry & was in the midst of an over- haul—interiors being redone and spruced up. Meghan Markle Those close to Harry, how- ever, knew exactly what was happening: Head over heels in love with American actress Meghan Markle, he was steadily shaping him- self into her future hus- ! band. From Cabernet to Engaged home cooking, “he has AFTER FALLING IN LOVE ‘INCREDIBLY been catching up quick,” QUICKLY’ WITH THE AMERICAN ACTRESS, says an insider. THE WORLD’S MOST ELIGIBLE ROYAL The same can be said for BACHELOR PROPOSES WITH A RING FIT FOR A PRINCESS—AND THE COUPLE his soon-to-be royal bride, PREPARE FOR LIFE IN THE PALACE who is in the process of By MICHELLE TAUBER changing everything from her home base to her pri- mary profession. The former Suits star—who is

PEOPLE December 11, 2017 51 1 leaving the USA legal drama after seven seasons— stood before the world as Harry’s fiancée on Say Yes Nov. 27 as perfectly polished as the three-stone to the yellow-gold diamond ring on that finger. Explain- Dress! ing Harry’s “surprise” proposal in November, 4 DESIGNERS Meghan, 36, told the BBC in a joint interview just OFFER THEIR IDEAS FOR MEGHAN’S hours after the couple’s engagement announce- BIG DAY ment that it was “a cozy night—we were trying to roast chicken” at Nottingham Cottage, Harry’s two-bedroom residence on the grounds of Lon- don’s Kensington Palace. “It was so sweet and natural and very romantic,” she added. “He got on Meghan’sLife one knee.” Turning to Harry, she gushed, “I could Before Harry 2 barely let you finish proposing. I said, ‘Can I say 1. Markle in 1982 at 6 months old. 5 yes now?’” For his part, Harry, 33, spoke in soar- 2. Markle (second ingly romantic terms about the woman he plans from left) with her to wed this spring. “I fell in love with Meghan so Immaculate Heart CAROLINE 3 incredibly quickly—it was a confirmation to me CASTIGLIANO classmates in Los A “classic yet sensual Angeles. 3. At 17 as that all the stars were aligned,” he said. “This and stylish” gown. homecoming queen in beautiful woman literally tripped and fell into my 1998. 4. An undated life. I fell into her life.” Even his grandmother school photo. 5. With her ex-husband, Trevor Queen Elizabeth’s famously yappy corgis, he Engelson, in 2006. noted, were smitten. “I’ve spent the last 33 years 6. As Rachel Zane being barked at, [and] this one walks in, absolutely on Suits. Her costar nothing,” he said, gesturing to Meghan. “Just tails Growing Up Royal Patrick J. Adams wagging!” Although her only previous royal expe- A 2-year-old Harry posed with his big brother, tweeted, “Your Royal Prince William, and parents Prince Charles and Highness, you rience was as homecoming queen at her high Princess Diana in 1986. “She would have been best are a lucky man and school, Harry marveled at his new fiancée’s rapid friends with Meghan,” Harry said of his mom. I know your long learning curve. “The fact that she will be unbeliev- life together will be ably good at the job part of it,” he said, “is obvi- SASSI HOLFORD joyful, productive Holford’s “dramatic and hilarious.” ously a huge relief to me because she’ll be able to silhouette” is for After graduatingfromNorthwestern University 7. With her mom, deal with everything else that comes with it.” a grand cathedral. in Evanston, Ill., Meghan worked her way up the Doria Ragland, going Hollywood ladder, carrying a briefcase on Deal or to yoga in Toronto last December. No Dealand appearing in one-off roles before land- 4 The remarkable interview—during which the pair ing the part of paralegal Rachel Zane on Suits. She openly discussed everything from Harry’s mother, also built her own lifestyle site, The Tig, and honed 6 Princess Diana (she and Meghan “would have a humanitarian focus with global groups like the been thick as thieves,” he said), to how they met United Nations and World Vision. She and Harry, (on a blind date set up by a friend)—capped a fairy- who has found purpose and passion since launch- tale romance that even Walt Disney couldn’t have ing the Invictus Games for wounded service mem- dreamed up. The first American to marry into the bers—along with taking up the mantle for causes LE SPOSE DI GIO British royal family since Wallis Simpson infa- “Simplicity means close to Diana’s heart, including HIV testing and mously scandalized the monarchy 81 years ago perfection,” says land mines—immediately bonded over their shared (see box), Meghan began blazing her own path Marisa De Capitani. commitments. “They are blissfully happy together long before Harry strolled onto it. The Los Ange- and have been since the very beginning,” says a les-raised daughter of Tom Markle, a onetime source. “There really are no two people as made for sound engineer on the ’80s sitcomMarried . . . with each other as they are. They share such a passion Children, and Doria Ragland, who has worked as for philanthropy and helping others—that really a yoga instructor and social worker, young was a bond that made everything click.” Adds a Meghan was “bubbly, optimistic and positive,” royal-family friend: “She is a modern woman, a says a former classmate at the private Catholic career woman. She is perfect for him and will be school Immaculate Heart. As a drama student great by his side as they do charity work together.” who performed in numerous school plays, “she SUZANNE NEVILLE had the talent and focus to back it up, and you “I think she will choose clean lines,” could tell she knew the work it would take and she says Neville. In marrying Harry, Meghan is largely agreeing to

7 HOLZBERG/ MARK BEN NEWS; SPLASH IMAGES; MCMULLAN/GETTY FARRELL/PATRICK BILLY ; SPLASHNEWS; MEGA LEFT: TOP FROM CLOCKWISE PAGE, OPPOSITE IMAGES/SIPA; PETERS/EMPICSDOUG ENTERTAINMENT/PA IMAGES; CHRISJACKSON/GETTY IMAGES/SIPA; PA LEFT: FROM SPREAD, PREVIOUS CASTIGLIANO CAROLINE COURTESY HOLFORD; SASSI COURTESY GIO; DI SPOSE LE COURTESY NEVILLE; SUZANNE COURTESY IMAGES; GRAHAM/GETTY TIM RIGHT: TOP FROM CLOCKWISE PAGE, THIS MEGA(2); IMAGES; BANK/GETTY PHOTO NETWORK/NBCU USA was willing to put in the work,” adds the classmate. step away from the acting career she has long

PEOPLE December 11, 2017 53 Hitting Their Stride The couple began dating in July 2016, with Harry taking Meghan to Botswana soon after. “We camped out with each other under the stars, which was absolutely fantastic,” he said.

‘Hopefully built. “I think what’s been really exciting as we ducer Trevor Engelson ended in 2013—though we’ll start talk about the transition of this out of my career that is no longer an issue to either the monarchy .. . [is that] thecauses thathave beenvery import- or the Church of . She has also spoken ex- a family in ant to me I can focus even more energy on,” she tensively about her biracial background, another the near told the BBC, “because very early out of the gate first for the royal family. Harry, who is fifth in line future’ I think you realize once you have access or a voice to the throne—sixth after the upcoming birth —HARRY ON that people are going to listen to, with that comes of his brother William and sister-in-law Kate’s HAVING KIDS a lot of responsibility—which I take seriously.” third baby in April—had previously dated women The source downplays her departure from Hol- with tony pedigrees: Cressida Bonas, the grand- lywood, noting, “Her main passion has always daughter of an English earl, and Chelsy Davy, the been philanthropy.” daughter of an ultra-wealthy private landowner There is no question, however, that she is an in Africa. “Harry will want to do things his way, altogether new kind of royal bride. Like Simpson and the most important thing for him is to protect she is divorced—her two-year marriage to pro- Meghan,” says another source. “He is very con- CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: PAIMAGES/SIPA; CHRIS RATCLIFFE/GETTY IMAGES; MEGA SQUIREL/

Their Wedding Plans WHERE WHO Although William and The Archbishop of Kate wed at London’s Canterbury, Justin grand Westminster Welby, is expected Abbey, experts suspect to officiate. “I wish Harry and Meghan them many years will choose something of love, happiness a little more low-key. and fulfillment,” Among the contenders: he tweeted. St. George’s Chapel at WHEN . (Sadly, Spring 2018. Of note: there would be no William and Kate’s balcony kiss!) baby is due in April!

54 December 11, 2017 PEOPLE Their New Life Together “It was a really authentic and organic way to get to know each other,” Meghan said in the BBC interview (left) of the couple’s initial off-the-radar courtship. Harry said that upon meeting Meghan, he realized, “I have to really up my game.” Below: Their Nottingham Cottage home.

‘I don’t see scious of that.” And while the royal-family friend it as giving says Harry was “very fond” of his exes—both of whom later shared their discomfort in the glare anything of the spotlight—Meghan is the right woman at up. I just the right time. “She seems very happy with her see it as a lot,” says the friend. “She is a great young wom- change’ an. She will be a brilliant wife—she is glamorous —MEGHAN and gregarious.” ON LEAVING HOLLYWOOD

Those qualities will no doubt serve her well as she there as the engagement moves forward,” says the embarks on one of the most glamorous jobs in the first source. As for Christmas, which the royal world: real-life royal. But first there is a wedding family typically spends with the Queen at her toplan.TheArchbishopofCanterburyisexpected Sandringham estate, “knowing Harry, I wouldn’t to officiate the ceremony (see box), and the couple be surprised if he jets off to L.A. at Christmas or will work closely with Harry’s office at Kensington around Christmas to spend time with her family,” Palacetopulltogetherthedetails.(Meghan’sclose says another insider. friend Jessica Mulroney is a bridal stylist.) The In other words: This is a couple who will con- bride-to-be is also busy settling into her new life tinue to write their own romance rules. Hav- in London, where one of her rescue dogs has ing long admired William and Kate’s marriage, already joined her. “She’s always loved London which blossomed during their college years, “I and is excited to be spending even more time think [Harry] looked on his brother with some envy that William did find somebody who wasn’t CLOCKWISE FROM RIGHT: SNOWDON/TRUNK ARCHIVE;BETTMANN ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAGES thrust in front of him or was arranged for him, The American but was something that took its natural course,” Bride Who Changed says former royal bodyguard Ken Wharfe. “I think Royal History this is the way that Harry was always going to find Before Meghan the someone.” And now that he has, a hoped-for fam- only American to marry a high-ranking British ily of his own is closer than ever. Harry has “been royal was Wallis Simpson, through a lot” after losing his mother at age 12 and whose previous divorces serving two tours of duty in Afghanistan, notes a made her unsuitable to close family friend. “He deserves every bit of hap- wed King Edward VIII. Undeterred, he abdicated piness. They really have a lot in common in terms the throne—paving the of their focus on life. They are good people. They way for Harry’s great- have great ideas and will set the world alight.” grandfather George VI. The couple wed in June 1937 and lived in exile. Reporting by Simon Perry, Monique Jessen and Patrick Gomez

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