Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announce their engagement

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are engaged to be married, an announcement from the Royal Family has confirmed.

Clarence House announced the exciting news on the morning of Monday 27th November with a tweet saying: 'The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince Harry to Ms. Meghan Markle'

Prince Charles said he was 'delighted' to announce his son's happy news, and also revealed that the wedding will take place in the Spring of 2018. Further details of the wedding will be announced in due course.

The official announcement also disclosed that Prince Harry proposed to Meghan 'in London earlier this month' and the couple will live together in Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace.

Kensington Palace revealed that Prince Harry had informed The Queen and other 'close members of The Royal Family' of his exciting news.

The Palace also announced that Prince Harry and Meghan 'will appear for a photo call at Kensington Palace later this afternoon.'

Prince Harry's relationship with Meghan Markle was first confirmed in November 2016, when Harry released a statement about the 'harassment' his new girlfriend had received from the press ever since rumours of their romance began circling.

'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,' the notice read, adding that Harry hoped that 'fair-minded people will understand why he has felt it necessary to speak publicly'.

Since then, Harry and Meghan's relationship has gone from strength-to-strength. Despite initially keeping their romance under wraps, and only occasionally being pictured as Harry took Meghan on a string of romantic dates in London, after a year of dating the couple began to be more open about their relationship.

Attending the Invictus Games together in September 2017, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their first 'official' appearance at Invictus Toronto. Putting on a loved-up display, the cosy looking couple left royal watchers in doubt that Harry was planning a proposal.

Prince Harry was also spotted getting along well with Meghan's mum Doria in Toronto - the first time either one of them had been spotted with their future 'in-laws' - despite the fact that Meghan was thought to have met most of the royal family by this stage.

Meghan made a huge statement when she appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair in October 2017, declaring her love for Harry and speaking candidly about her relationship with the Prince for the first time.

American actress Meghan, 36, told contributing editor Sam Kashner that she and Harry were 'in love' and 'happy'.

'I'm sure there will be a time when we will have to come forward and present ourselves and have stories to tell, but I hope what people will understand is that this is our time,' Meghan admitted.

That time has now come, as the couple announce their engagement to the world, and preparations get underway for what is sure to be the most talked about royal wedding since Kate Middleton and Prince William tied the knot in 2011.