Their Debut— and That Ring! The couple stepped out for their engagement photo call at Kensington Palace 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 London 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 NEWS;BEN MARK HOLZBERG/ SPLASH IMAGES; MCMULLAN/GETTY FARRELL/PATRICK BILLY ; SPLASH NEWS; MEGA LEFT: TOP FROM CLOCKWISE PAGE, OPPOSITE IMAGES/SIPA; DOUG PETERS/EMPICS ENTERTAINMENT/PA IMAGES; CHRIS JACKSON/GETTY IMAGES/SIPA; PA LEFT: FROM PREVIOUS SPREAD, CASTIGLIANO CAROLINE HOLFORD; COURTESY SASSI COURTESY DI GIO; LE SPOSE COURTESY NEVILLE; SUZANNE COURTESY IMAGES; GRAHAM/GETTY TIM RIGHT: TOP FROM CLOCKWISE MEGA(2); THIS PAGE, IMAGES; BANK/GETTY PHOTO USA NETWORK/NBCU 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 England. 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- SQUIREL/ MEGA IMAGES; CHRIS RATCLIFFE/GETTY IMAGES/SIPA; PA TOP: FROM CLOCKWISE 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.