After months of speculation, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are engaged, according to an official statement from Kensington Palace and Clarence House.
According to the statement, the couple got engaged in London earlier this month and will marry in spring 2018.
The couple have been dating since meeting in Toronto in the summer of 2016, where Markle filmed TV series*Suits.*The actress recently quit the series after six seasons, prompting widespread rumours that she was set to become the newest member of the royal family.
Harry has been fiercely protective of his wife-to-be, releasing an unprecedented statement defending her privacy after intrusion from the press when they first started dating last year.
In the statement he said: 'Prince Harry is worried about Ms. Markle’s safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her. It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms. Markle should be subjected to such a storm. He knows commentators will say this is ‘the price she has to pay’ and that ‘this is all part of the game’. He strongly disagrees. This is not a game - it is her life and his.'
SEE: Meghan Markle's Best Fashion Moments
1 of 20Meghan Markle wears a strapless magenta gown
2 of 20Meghan Markle wear an all white ensemble
3 of 20Meghan Markle wears a tailored shirt and white trousers
4 of 20Meghan Markle wears a printed pencil skirt
5 of 20Meghan Markle wears a metallic mini dress
6 of 20Meghan Markle wears a printed dress
7 of 20Meghan Markle wears a short suit
8 of 20Meghan Markle wears a lace midi dress
9 of 20Meghan Markle wears an all black ensemble
10 of 20Meghan Markle wears a dark red mini dress
11 of 20Meghan Markle wears an off-the-shoulder dress
12 of 20Meghan Markle wears a pleated midi skirt
13 of 20Meghan Markle wears a white skirt suit
14 of 20Meghan Markle wears an off-the-shoulder mini dress
15 of 20Meghan Markle wears a black midi dress
16 of 20Meghan Markle wears an embellished mini dress
17 of 20Meghan Markle wears a fishtail gown
18 of 20Meghan Markle wears a strapless jumpsuit
19 of 20Meghan Markle wears a strapless gown
20 of 20Meghan Markle wears a red dress
Since then, the two have been spotted on numerous occasions visiting each other in London and Toronto, and went public with their relationship at Harry's Invictus Games earlier this summer.
Prior to dating Markle, Harry has been linked to British actress Cressida Bonas and South African law student Chelsea Davy. Markle has been married once before to TV producer Trevor Engleson, who is reportedly making a series based on similar circumstances.
But the important question is: will we get a bank holiday for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's nuptials? It seems unlikely, sadly, as Harry as more likely to avoid a public celebration as sixth in line to throne after his new niece or nephew. Sigh.
READ MORE: Meghan Markle Gets Candid About Relationship With Prince Harry: 'We're In Love'
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.