Prince Harry engagement rumours fuelled by claim Prime Minister 'primed' for announcement
When a couple agree to marry, telling friends, family and the waiting world is all part of the fun.
Any hopes Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may harbour about enjoying such pleasures have been resolutely dashed, after a series of crossed wires and misunderstandings saw news of their apparently impending wedding fly around the world.
On Sunday, the finger of blame for fuelling rumours of an imminent engagement was pointed towards Downing Street, after several newspapers reported that the Prime Minister had “cleared her diary” on Thursday.
A source told The Sunday Times that No 10 had been "primed" to respond to an 11am announcement, as Theresa May prepared for a meeting in Brussels.
From the world of politics, reportedly, news leaked to media organisations around the world, which began calling Kensington and Buckingham Palaces for confirmation only to be told a spokesman would not issue a “running commentary” on Prince Harry’s love life.
In fact, there had been no such 11am announcement planned. Nor did speculation about an 11am or 5pm Friday announcement come to pass.
One Government source said that there were “channels of communication” that exist between Buckingham Palace and Downing Street before big announcements.
The source declined to say if talks had already taken place between Number 10 and the Palace about planning for an engagement announcement, but added they were “pretty sure it was not” Number 10 that started the rumour of an imminent royal engagement.
On Thursday, the Prime Minister spent time in Leeds to promote house building with Chancellor Philip Hammond, before travelling to Brussels.
Prince Harry and Ms Markle are understood to be spending time together at Kensington Palace this week, after the actress finished work in Toronto and moved out of her Canadian home.
The Prince’s staff have so far given no indication that any engagement announcement is scheduled. In 2010, Prince William and Catherine Middleton announced their engagement without warning, just hours after informing the Queen and the Prince of Wales.
Not that it has dampened enthusiasm among Royal admirers altogether.
Today, bookmakers William Hill offered 5/6 that Kensington Palace make the announcement before the end of November and 2/1 that the announcement is in December.
"The odds suggest that the announcement will happen before midnight on Thursday and I certainly would not bet against it," said spokesman Rupert Adams.
Timeline Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
This week, Prince Harry has no pre-announced public engagements, leaving his diary clear for a last-minute decision.
The Duke of Cambridge will visit Finland on Wednesday and Thursday to help commemorate the 100th anniversary of its independence, while the Duchess makes two public visits to a museum and primary school, and the Queen travels to Sussex on Thursday.
