Goodness! The royal watchers of the world are certainly excited about the possibility of a royal engagement between Prince Harry of Wales and his American girlfriend, Meghan Markle. With news of an impending 'royal announcement' on BBC at 5 p.m. (London time), the Twitter-sphere almost literally exploded this morning. So, it seemed like a good time to look at Britain's previous royal engagement announcements.
UPDATE: The engagement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was announced on Nov. 27, 2017. Here is my post: An American Princess for Harry
HRH The Prince of Wales and the Lady Diana Spencer
February 24, 1981
After a somewhat brief courtship and unprecedented media attention, the 32-year-old heir to the throne announced his engagement to a 19-year-old kindergarten teacher, who also happened to be the daughter of an earl. She selected her now famous sapphire engagement ring from a tray of options because it was the largest one. The couple posed for photographers at Buckingham Palace with him standing on a higher step so that he appeared taller than she was. In truth, they were practically the same height. In their television interview, Diana giggled and replied, "of course," when asked if they were in love. Charles' response of "whatever love means" subsequently became infamous when the marriage broke down in a very spectacular and very public fashion. The couple wed in St. Paul's Cathedral on July 29, 1981. The last royal wedding to be held there was that of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon--another not-so-great omen for marital bliss. They had two sons, William and Henry (aka Harry) before separating in 1992. Their divorce was finalized in 1997 just months before her horrific death in a car crash.
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HRH The Prince Andrew and Miss Sarah Ferguson
March 19, 1986
Andrew and Sarah had known each other since childhood because her father was polo manager for his father and then for his older brother. Romance didn't spark, however, until Diana Princess of Wales invited her pal Sarah to keep her company at Balmoral so she could do a little matchmaking. The boisterous red-head was very different from his usual model (ahem, soft porn actress) exes, but her playful nature won Andrew over. Less than six months later, they were announcing their engagement with a ruby ring that he personally designed to match her hair. The pair laughed and joked their way through the engagement photo shoot and interview with her declaring that she was attracted to his wit, charm and good looks while he seemed confused about the phrase 'settling down' -- "seems rather unsettling to me." They married at the more traditional royal venue of Westminster Abbey on July 23, 1986, the same day that he was created The Duke of York. They later welcomed two daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie. Long separations due to his naval career and Fergie's over-the-top behavior provided many opportunities for misadventure. The marriage officially broke down after photographic evidence of her alleged infidelities emerged in 1992. The couple divorced but have remained very close friends, co-parents and even, at times, roommates.
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HRH The Prince Edward and Miss Sophie Rhys-Jones
January 6, 1999
Edward and Sophie, who the media insisted was just a Diana lookalike, dated for years and even lived together before finally announcing their engagement. For the occasion, he gave her a large oval diamond with two substantial diamonds on either side. For their photocall, they seemed relaxed and happy in each other's company. They opted for a much less formal wedding on June 19, 1999, choosing to marry at St. George's Chapel at Windsor rather than the large venues in London. They also opted for a "lower" title with Edward being created the Earl of Wessex (a title never used before) rather than a royal duke, although it was announced that we would eventually be created Duke of Edinburgh following his father (the current Duke's death). Following a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy that had to be terminated, Sophie delivered their daughter Louise prematurely and then rounded out their family with son James. Instead of royal titles to which they are entitled, the Wessex children are styled as children of an earl: The Lady Louise Windsor and The Viscount Severn instead of Princess Louise and Prince James. After 18 years, the marriage appears strong and Sophie is a clear favorite of her mother-in-law The Queen, who is said to pop in for visits and who often asks Sophie to ride with her while other members of the family walk to church.
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HRH The Prince of Wales and Mrs. Camilla Parker-Bowles
February 10, 2005
In the most controversial royal engagement since King Edward VIII surrendered the throne in 1936, The Prince of Wales announced his engagement to the divorced Camilla Parker-Bowles with a simple statement from his household. They had a romance in their 20s before she married. Then, they renewed their relationship after his marriage to Diana, who famously declared that there were three people in her marriage. The love affair between Charles and Camilla became mind-blowingly public after secret (and illegal) tapes of their private phone conversations were revealed. They both divorced and kept their relationship going for nearly another decade before finally becoming engaged. There was no formal photocall or interview for his second engagement. Instead, the couple posed briefly for pictures with the ring (which had belonged to his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother) following a formal event that they attended together. Because Camilla's former husband is still living, they were not married in the Church of England but at the Registry Office in Windsor on April 9, 2005 (delayed yet one more day because of the funeral of Pope John Paul II, which Charles attended). A blessing service was held immediately afterward at St. George's Chapel. Throughout their 12-year marriage, whispers have persisted that it has become a sham marriage, but I think innumerable moments of them laughing and smiling and enjoying each other's company testify against that. They are clearly happy with each other, and Prince Harry has declared that he and Prince William love their stepmother to bits.
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HRH Prince William of Wales and Miss Catherine Middleton
November 16, 2010
Following years of speculation and waiting (anyone remember 'Waity Katie'), the world's most famous college romance finally became a royal engagement. William met Catherine while they were both in their first year as students at the University of St. Andrews. Within a year, they (and some friends) were rooming together. Their tight-lipped on-again, off-again relationship kept royal watchers in a constant state of anticipation, especially after she moved into his home in Wales where he was stationed with the Royal Air Force. While the world criticized for not launching a "real career", her every move, including her trips to the local market, were scrutinized. When their engagement was finally announced, there were so many flashbulbs at the photocall that it looked like something was wrong with the newsreel coverage. He famously gave her his later mother's sapphire engagement ring, which reportedly had been given to Prince Harry. They were married at Westminster Abbey on April 29, which is also St. Catherine's Day. On that day, he was given the title of Duke of Cambridge, which formerly belonged to the family of The Queen's paternal grandmother, Queen Mary. Two years later, they welcomed Prince George and about two years after that Princess Charlotte. They are expecting their third child in the spring--that is if today's big announcement isn't that they are expecting twins as the supermarket tabloids have already announced.
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UPDATE: The engagement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was announced on Nov. 27, 2017. Here is my post: An American Princess for Harry
HRH The Prince of Wales and the Lady Diana Spencer
February 24, 1981
After a somewhat brief courtship and unprecedented media attention, the 32-year-old heir to the throne announced his engagement to a 19-year-old kindergarten teacher, who also happened to be the daughter of an earl. She selected her now famous sapphire engagement ring from a tray of options because it was the largest one. The couple posed for photographers at Buckingham Palace with him standing on a higher step so that he appeared taller than she was. In truth, they were practically the same height. In their television interview, Diana giggled and replied, "of course," when asked if they were in love. Charles' response of "whatever love means" subsequently became infamous when the marriage broke down in a very spectacular and very public fashion. The couple wed in St. Paul's Cathedral on July 29, 1981. The last royal wedding to be held there was that of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon--another not-so-great omen for marital bliss. They had two sons, William and Henry (aka Harry) before separating in 1992. Their divorce was finalized in 1997 just months before her horrific death in a car crash.
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HRH The Prince Andrew and Miss Sarah Ferguson
March 19, 1986
Andrew and Sarah had known each other since childhood because her father was polo manager for his father and then for his older brother. Romance didn't spark, however, until Diana Princess of Wales invited her pal Sarah to keep her company at Balmoral so she could do a little matchmaking. The boisterous red-head was very different from his usual model (ahem, soft porn actress) exes, but her playful nature won Andrew over. Less than six months later, they were announcing their engagement with a ruby ring that he personally designed to match her hair. The pair laughed and joked their way through the engagement photo shoot and interview with her declaring that she was attracted to his wit, charm and good looks while he seemed confused about the phrase 'settling down' -- "seems rather unsettling to me." They married at the more traditional royal venue of Westminster Abbey on July 23, 1986, the same day that he was created The Duke of York. They later welcomed two daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie. Long separations due to his naval career and Fergie's over-the-top behavior provided many opportunities for misadventure. The marriage officially broke down after photographic evidence of her alleged infidelities emerged in 1992. The couple divorced but have remained very close friends, co-parents and even, at times, roommates.
Embed from Getty Images
HRH The Prince Edward and Miss Sophie Rhys-Jones
January 6, 1999
Edward and Sophie, who the media insisted was just a Diana lookalike, dated for years and even lived together before finally announcing their engagement. For the occasion, he gave her a large oval diamond with two substantial diamonds on either side. For their photocall, they seemed relaxed and happy in each other's company. They opted for a much less formal wedding on June 19, 1999, choosing to marry at St. George's Chapel at Windsor rather than the large venues in London. They also opted for a "lower" title with Edward being created the Earl of Wessex (a title never used before) rather than a royal duke, although it was announced that we would eventually be created Duke of Edinburgh following his father (the current Duke's death). Following a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy that had to be terminated, Sophie delivered their daughter Louise prematurely and then rounded out their family with son James. Instead of royal titles to which they are entitled, the Wessex children are styled as children of an earl: The Lady Louise Windsor and The Viscount Severn instead of Princess Louise and Prince James. After 18 years, the marriage appears strong and Sophie is a clear favorite of her mother-in-law The Queen, who is said to pop in for visits and who often asks Sophie to ride with her while other members of the family walk to church.
Embed from Getty Images
HRH The Prince of Wales and Mrs. Camilla Parker-Bowles
February 10, 2005
In the most controversial royal engagement since King Edward VIII surrendered the throne in 1936, The Prince of Wales announced his engagement to the divorced Camilla Parker-Bowles with a simple statement from his household. They had a romance in their 20s before she married. Then, they renewed their relationship after his marriage to Diana, who famously declared that there were three people in her marriage. The love affair between Charles and Camilla became mind-blowingly public after secret (and illegal) tapes of their private phone conversations were revealed. They both divorced and kept their relationship going for nearly another decade before finally becoming engaged. There was no formal photocall or interview for his second engagement. Instead, the couple posed briefly for pictures with the ring (which had belonged to his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother) following a formal event that they attended together. Because Camilla's former husband is still living, they were not married in the Church of England but at the Registry Office in Windsor on April 9, 2005 (delayed yet one more day because of the funeral of Pope John Paul II, which Charles attended). A blessing service was held immediately afterward at St. George's Chapel. Throughout their 12-year marriage, whispers have persisted that it has become a sham marriage, but I think innumerable moments of them laughing and smiling and enjoying each other's company testify against that. They are clearly happy with each other, and Prince Harry has declared that he and Prince William love their stepmother to bits.
Embed from Getty Images
HRH Prince William of Wales and Miss Catherine Middleton
November 16, 2010
Following years of speculation and waiting (anyone remember 'Waity Katie'), the world's most famous college romance finally became a royal engagement. William met Catherine while they were both in their first year as students at the University of St. Andrews. Within a year, they (and some friends) were rooming together. Their tight-lipped on-again, off-again relationship kept royal watchers in a constant state of anticipation, especially after she moved into his home in Wales where he was stationed with the Royal Air Force. While the world criticized for not launching a "real career", her every move, including her trips to the local market, were scrutinized. When their engagement was finally announced, there were so many flashbulbs at the photocall that it looked like something was wrong with the newsreel coverage. He famously gave her his later mother's sapphire engagement ring, which reportedly had been given to Prince Harry. They were married at Westminster Abbey on April 29, which is also St. Catherine's Day. On that day, he was given the title of Duke of Cambridge, which formerly belonged to the family of The Queen's paternal grandmother, Queen Mary. Two years later, they welcomed Prince George and about two years after that Princess Charlotte. They are expecting their third child in the spring--that is if today's big announcement isn't that they are expecting twins as the supermarket tabloids have already announced.
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