Prince Harry and Meghan Markle confirm engagement!

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are engaged, the royal family announced today.

The fifth in line to the British throne proposed to American actress Meghan last week - and she’s happily accepted.

The much-anticipated news was confirmed by Harry's dad Prince Charles in a brief statement issued at exactly 10am.

In the announcement, the palace said: "His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince Harry to Ms Meghan Markle.

"The wedding will take place in Spring 2018. Further details about the wedding day will be announced in due course.

"His Royal Highness and Ms Markle became engaged in London earlier this month.

"Prince Harry has informed Her Majesty the Queen and other close members of his family.

"Prince Harry has also sought and received the blessing of Ms Markle's parents.

"The couple will live in Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace."

It's believed that Harry would have asked his grandmother The Queen's permission before popping the question.

The Queen warmly congratulated the pair, saying she was "delighted for the couple and wish them every happiness."

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are delighted for the couple and wish them every happiness."

Today, Kate and Will also added their delight: "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said of the engagement: 'We are very excited for Harry and Meghan.

The Prince of Wales has announced the engagement of Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle. pic.twitter.com/rtlAnFCWTf

"It has been wonderful getting to know Meghan and to see how happy she and Harry are together.'"

A statement from Clarence House added: "Ms. Markle's parents, Mr. Thomas Markle and Doria Ragland have wished the couple 'a lifetime of happiness.'"

"We are incredibly happy for Meghan and Harry. Our daughter has always been a kind and loving person.

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

Harry, 33, has been dating the 36-year-old star, who found fame in the US legal drama Suits, since the summer of 2016.

Their 16-month whirlwind romance blossomed when they met through mutual friends in London and the pair have been almost inseparable in recent months, with Markle said to have virtually moved in to Harry's home at Kensington Palace.

Her decision to axe website The Tig had led some spectators to predict an engagement wasn’t far off, with royal commentators suggesting Meghan was slowly beginning to close off her personal life to the public in preparation for becoming a princess.

There has also been a wave of unconfirmed speculation that Meghan was introduced to Harry’s sister in law, Kate, The Duchess of Cambridge and her daughter Princess Charlotte in January, again paving the wave for an engagement.

She was rumoured to have met The Queen on Mother's Day.

Meghan will not become a princess when she weds Prince Harry – which is the same for Kate, who did not become a princess when she tied the knot with Prince William in 2011.

While Kate could be considered a princess by marriage, when Kate and William married, the Queen granted them the dukedom of Cambridge, making Kate Her Royal Highness, Catherine Duchess of Cambridge.

It’s believed The Queen will grant Harry and Meghan a dukedom as well, with the hot favourite being The Dukedom of Sussex, which has been open since 1843, making Meghan, Her Royal Highness Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.