Prince Harry to marry girlfriend Meghan Markle next year

Prince Harry is to marry his American actress girlfriend Meghan Markle, BBC reports. Harry, fifth in line to the throne, will marry Ms Markle next spring and they plan to 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 engaged couple will appear for photographs outside Kensington Palace on Monday afternoon, and will take part in a broadcast interview in the evening.

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

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “I wish them well – I hope they have a great life together.” He joked: “Having met Harry a couple of times I’m sure they’re going to have a great deal of fun together.” Ms Markle’s parents, Thomas Markle and Doria Ragland, said they were “incredibly happy”, adding: “To see her union with Harry, who shares the same qualities, is a source of great joy for us as parents.”

Harry, 33 and Ms Markle, 36, made their first public appearance as a couple in September. They were seen together at the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games, an international sporting event set up by the prince for injured soldiers. Their married home will be Harry’s current base, Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace, where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, with Prince George and Princess Charlotte, have an apartmen