Prince Harry: 'Diana would be over the moon for us'
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's engagement interview in full
Prince Harry has said his late mother Princess Diana would have been "over the moon" following the announcement of his engagement to Meghan Markle.
"She would be jumping up and down, so excited for me, but then would probably have been best friends with Meghan," he added.
The couple have given their first television interview following this morning's engagement announcement.
Here are some of the subjects covered in the wide-ranging interview:
Diana Princess of Wales
Prince Harry said his mother Princess Diana would be "over the moon" for the newly engaged couple: "She would be jumping up and down, so excited for me, but then would probably have been best friends with Meghan".
Ms Markle's engagement ring was designed by Prince Harry and contains three stones, two of the diamonds are from Princess Diana’s personal collection.
Harry added: "It is days like today when I really miss her being around and miss her to share the happy news with but with the ring and everything else I'm sure she's with us".
The Proposal
Talking about the proposal the couple said the engagement took place in "their cottage" which was Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace, a few weeks ago during a "typical, cosy night".
Ms Markle said: "We were trying to roast a chicken, it was just an amazing surprise, it was so sweet and natural and very romantic, he got on one knee".
Asked if it was an instant 'yes' from her, Meghan said: "Yes, as a matter of fact I could barely let [Harry] finish proposing, I said can I say yes now?"
To which Prince Harry replied: "She didn't even let me finish, then there was hugs and I had the ring on my finger and I was like can I do the ring and she said 'oh yes do it', so no it was a really nice moment, just the two of us and I think I managed to catch her by surprise as well".
How They Met
The couple were introduced by a mutual friend, the identity of whom they declined to reveal, at a private members club in London a year-and-a-half ago.
Meghan described their first meeting as a "blind-date" that their friend "set-up".
Harry said the moment he saw Meghan for the first time he knew he had to "up his game".
"I was beautifully surprised when I walked into that room and saw her and she was sitting there and I was like okay I'll have to up my game here, I'll sit down and make sure I've got good chat," said Harry.
The couple said they had two dates back-to-back in London last July before Harry said he "persuaded" Meghan to join him in Botswana.
Harry said the time they spent together camping in Africa was "crucial".
"We camped out with each other under the stars she came and joined me for five days out there which was absolutely fantastic, then we were really by ourselves which was crucial to me to make sure that we had a little chance to get to know each other," added the Prince.
Ms Markle revealed how they took "the time to be able to go on long country walks and just talk".
Their relationship
They talked about their 16-month relationship and how they never went more than two weeks without seeing one another.
Ms Markle said: "I don't think that I would call it a whirlwind in terms of our relationship, obviously there have been layers attached to how public it has become after we had a good five, six months almost with just privacy, which was amazing.
"But no, I think we were able to really have so much time just to connect and we never went longer than two weeks without seeing each other, even though we were obviously doing a long distance relationship. So it's - we made it work."
The couple said they both knew very little of each other before meeting so it was "refreshing".
Meghan Meeting The Queen
Ms Markle has met the Queen a couple of times and described her as an "incredible woman".
It was also disclosed that she had become a firm favourite with the corgis.
Describing being introduced to the Queen, Harry's grandmother, Ms Markle said: "It's incredible, I think, you know, to be able to meet her through his lens, not just with his honour and respect for her as the monarch, but the love that he has for her as his grandmother.
"All of those layers have been so important for me so that when I met her I had such a deep understanding and of course incredible respect for being able to have that time with her.
"And we've had a really - she's, she's an incredible woman."
Harry added: "And the corgis took to you straight away."
To which Ms Markle replied: "That's true."
Harry joked: "I've spent the last 33 years being barked at - this one walks in, absolutely nothing."
Ms Markle, who has two dogs herself, said: "Just laying on my feet during tea. It was very sweet."
Harry added: "Just wagging tails - and I was just like, argh."
Meghan's Role In The Royal Family
Prince Harry said he said he feels a sense of responsibility for what he is asking Meghan to do with regards to joining the Royal Family.
"That sense of responsibility was essentially from day one or maybe a couple of months in when I suddenly realised actually this is, you know I feel, I know that I'm in love with this girl and I hope that she's in love with me but we still had to sit down on the sofa and still had to have some pretty frank conversations with her and say 'what you're letting yourself in for is, it's a big deal".
The Prince said he realises taking up the role in the Royal Family is "not easy for anybody".
"At the end of the day she chooses me and I choose her and therefore whatever we have to tackle together or individually will always be us together as a team, so I think she's capable of anything."
Prince Harry continued to say that there is "a hell of a lot" of work that needs doing but they would at the moment be "making sure that our relationship is always put first" but the Prince said they both have passions for making "change for good" in the world.
Ms Markle agreed by saying talking about the different things they want to do in the world was one of the first things they spoke about.
The Suits actress added their mutual passion for "seeing change" in the world "was what got date two".
Meeting The Family
Meghan said both sides of Harry's family had been "so welcoming" to her and made her feel part of the family "not just the institution".
During the interview Harry showed his affection for Ms Markle's mother Doria Ragland, saying: "Her mum's amazing."
Ms Markle disclosed that Harry has yet to meet her father Thomas Markle, but has talked to him a few times.
Ms Markle said she had met Diana's sisters and the princess's close friend Julia Samuel.
"I'm able to, in some way, know a part of her through them, and of course through him," she said. "It's incredibly special."
Prince Harry recalled how he felt introducing Meghan to Prince Charles and Prince William.
"It was exciting I mean I've, you know I'd been seeing her for a period of time when I, literally didn't tell anybody at all.
"Then William was longing to meet her and so was Catherine, so you know being our neighbours we managed to get that in a couple of, well quite a few times now and Catherine has been absolutely amazing, as has William as well, you know, fantastic support.
"The family together have been absolutely, you know, a solid support and my grandparents as well have been, have been wonderful throughout this whole process and they've known for quite some time.
"So how they, how they haven't told anybody is, is again a miracle in itself. But now the whole family have come together and have been a huge amount of support," said Prince Harry.
On Monday morning the couple appeared in public together for the first time after their engagement was announced.
Prince Harry declared he was "thrilled" and "over the moon" and he admitted that he had known American actress Ms Markle was "the one" from the moment they met.
Smiling and giggling throughout the brief photo opportunity in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace on Monday afternoon, the couple stood hand in hand and waved at well wishers.