From Meet-Cute to Resignation: A Definitive Timeline of Prince Harry & Meghan Markle’s Relationship

It’s been one month since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle revealed they’re stepping down as senior members of the royal family. In honor of the couple’s long-time-coming announcement, join us as we take a look back at all the significant moments in the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s affection-filled relationship.

Here, a definitive timeline of Prince Harry and Markle’s fairy-tale love story.

1. The Meet-Cute

Prince Harry and Markle first crossed paths in July 2016 when a mutual friend introduced them while the Suits actress was in London. “I was beautifully surprised when I walked into a room and there she was sitting there,” Prince Harry said. Royal matchmaking at its finest, ladies and gents.

2. The Rumors

Later that month, Markle posted a photo on Instagram of herself wearing a beaded bracelet that looked pretty similar to the one Prince Harry often wears. We later learned the couple was secretly dating during this time, which included bonding over bottles of chilled rosé.

3. The Announcement

The pair didn’t make things official until November 2016, when Prince Harry released a statement calling out the press for harassing Markle and—simultaneously—confirming that their relationship wasn’t just in our heads after all.

4. The Wedding Date

The only thing more eye-catching than Pippa Middleton’s stunning May 2017 wedding was the fact that Prince Harry brought Markle as his plus-one. According to People, the royal drove 50 miles back to London after the ceremony to pick up Markle, so they could attend the reception together. Swoon.

5. The First Public Appearance

Markle and Prince Harry made their official debut as a couple in September 2017 when they attended the Invictus Games in Toronto—a weeklong multi-sport event for wounded servicemen and servicewomen. During the games, the royal couple alternated between cheering on the athletes and whispering sweet nothings to each other, proving Queen Elizabeth’s PDA rule is no match for their lurve.

6. The Time She Met the Queen

In October 2017, Prince Harry brought his gal to meet the queen over a casual afternoon tea. The couple arrived at Buckingham Palace’s private entrance in a blacked-out Ford Galaxy before they were “whisked up to the queen’s private sitting room” for an informal tea, according to the Daily Mail.

7. The Proposal

At long last, on November 27, 2017, Kensington Palace confirmed what we all saw coming: Markle and Prince Harry were engaged. The royal popped the question while they were cooking dinner one night. “It was a really nice moment. It was just the two of us,” Prince Harry said.

8. The Wedding

Prince Harry and Markle tied the knot in May 2018 at St. George’s Chapel. The bride wore a stunning wedding dress by Givenchy’s Clare Waight Keller, which featured an iconic boat-neck. She later changed into a halter gown by Stella McCartney for the reception at Frogmore House. Two is better than one, amirite?

9. The First Royal Tour

Prince Harry and Markle embarked on their first royal tour in October 2018. The trip spanned 16 days and brought the couple to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and the Kingdom of Tonga. During this time, they attended 76 royal engagements. Just let that sink in.

10. The Pregnancy Announcement

That same month, Kensington Palace announced the royal couple is expecting their first child. “Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Sussex is expecting a baby in the Spring of 2019,” the tweet read.

11. The Birth of Baby Archie

In May 2019, the royal couple welcomed their first child, a son named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. They announced the exciting news on their joint Instagram account (@SussexRoyal) and wrote, “The Duchess and baby are both healthy and well, and the couple thank members of the public for their shared excitement and support during this very special time in their lives.”

12. The Resignation

In January 2020, Prince Harry and Markle announced they’re breaking from their royal duties and moving to Canada with their son, Archie. Although Queen Elizabeth agreed to their terms, she later revealed they’ll lose their HRH titles after the “period of transition.”

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