Prince Harry to marry his American actress girlfriend Meghan Markle

Harry, fifth in line to the throne, will marry Ms Markle next spring and will live at Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace in London.

The couple, who have been dating since the summer of 2016, secretly got engaged earlier this month.

In a statement, Prince Charles said he was “delighted to announce” his son’s news and that Harry had received the blessing of Ms Markle’s parents.

Only the Queen and “other close members of his family” initially knew of the engagement, which took place in London.

The announcement, issued by Clarence House, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall’s official residence, said details about the wedding day would be “announced in due course”.

The pair will appear for a photo outside Kensington Palace on Monday afternoon, and will take part in a broadcast interview in the evening.

After the wedding, Ms Markle will become an HRH and a senior royal.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh said they were “delighted for the couple and wish them every happiness”, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said.

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, said they were “very excited for Harry and Meghan”, adding: “It has been wonderful getting to know Meghan and to see how happy she and Harry are together.”

Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES

Prime Minister Theresa May offered her “very warmest congratulations” and wished the couple “great happiness for the future”.

Ms Markle’s parents, Thomas Markle and Doria Ragland, said they were “incredibly happy” for the couple.

“To see her union with Harry, who shares the same qualities, is a source of great joy for us as parents,” they said.

The prince and Ms Markle made their first public appearance as a couple in September.

Harry first confirmed his relationship with Ms Markle in November 2016, in a statement from Kensington Palace attacking the media for subjecting her to a “wave of abuse and harassment”.

That statement said the couple were “a few months into a relationship” and it was “not right” that Ms Markle should receive such treatment. BBC