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Harry and Meghan: A timeline of their relationship
Alec Fenn
Europe;UK

Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle have crammed a lot into their first five years together. They have taken on the UK media over negative coverage of the couple, got married, had a child and are expecting another and officially resigned from royal duties to pursue a new life in Canada.

Harry, 36, is the second son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana. His father is next in line to be the UK's monarch, followed by his older brother Prince William. Meghan Markle, 39, is an American actress best-known for the successful TV series Suits. Together they were given the titles the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

We take a look back at the key moments in their five-year relationship.


July 2016

Harry and Meghan were introduced by a mystery mutual friend at a London private members' club. The pair hit it off and swiftly arranged a second date before Harry took Meghan on a trip to Botswana, Africa just weeks after their first encounter. 

November 2016

Harry confirmed his relationship with Meghan in a statement and then launched a defense of his new girlfriend following negative stories about her in the UK press. Harry said he'd been involved in "nightly legal battles" to stop defamatory stories being published. 

 

Harry and Meghan announced their engagement in November 2017, 12 months after confirming their relationship. /AP

Harry and Meghan announced their engagement in November 2017, 12 months after confirming their relationship. /AP

 

November 2017

The couple announced their engagement in an official interview, which was accompanied by a celebratory photoshoot. In the months that followed, Meghan accompanied Harry on multiple official events as she was slowly introduced to life as a working royal. 

May 2018

Harry and Meghan were married in front of hundreds of friends, family and high-profile celebrity guests, including Oprah Winfrey and David and Victoria Beckham. The wedding was broadcast to an audience of tens of millions of people worldwide.

May 2019

On May 6, Harry and Meghan became parents for the first time as they introduced Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor to the rest of the world. Harry's father and his wife Camilla, along with William and his wife Katherine and his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, revealed their delight at the new arrival.

 

The couple were married in May 2018 in front of hundreds of friends, family and high-profile celebrity guests, including Oprah Winfrey and David and Victoria Beckham. /AP

The couple were married in May 2018 in front of hundreds of friends, family and high-profile celebrity guests, including Oprah Winfrey and David and Victoria Beckham. /AP

 

January 2020

Harry and Meghan announced their shock decision to step back from royal duties. It was agreed the pair would pursue a new life in Canada, where they would make their own money from pursuits outside of the royal family. The announcement was met with a barrage of criticism from UK media outlets.

February 2021

On Valentine's Day, the couple announced they were expecting their second child. A spokesperson for the pair said: "We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child."

February 2021

Meghan wins a court case against the Mail on Sunday newspaper in the UK following a two-year battle. The paper published extracts from a private letter sent to Meghan by her father and was found guilty of misuse of private information. 

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