The couple, who have been dating for 16 months, sparked the biggest royal media circus since the build-up to the birth of Prince George in July 2013 when broadcasters and press camped outside St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington for up to a month.

Kensington Palace today confirmed the wedding will take place in Spring next year after the couple became engaged in London earlier this month. 

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And Prince Harry’s brother William and sister-in-law Kate have expressed their delight at the announcement.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said of the engagement: “ 'We are very excited for Harry and Meghan. 

“It has been wonderful getting to know Meghan and to see how happy she and Harry are together.”

Harry, 33, and Meghan, 36, are understood to have sounded out the Archbishop of Canterbury about a church wedding and have given other signals that their relationship is about to be put on a permanent footing. 

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“It’s really simple. We’re two people who are really happy and in love,” Meghan said in September.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh are also said to be delighted for the couple and wish them every happiness.

The news was announced by a “delighted" Prince Charles this morning and Prince Harry is said to have the "blessing" of Meghan's parents.

A statement from Kensington Palace announcing the engagement said: “His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince Harry to Ms Meghan Markle.

 “The wedding will take place in Spring 2018. Further details about the wedding day will be announced in due course.

“His Royal Highness and Ms Markle became engaged in London earlier this month. Prince Harry has informed Her Majesty The Queen and other close members of his family. 

“Prince Harry has also sought and received the blessing of Ms Markle's parents.

“The couple will live in Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace.”

The prince had to obtain the monarch's permission to wed Ms Markle - thanks to the Succession to the Crown Act 2013, which requires the first six people in the line to the throne to seek the monarch's consent.

The couple will appear for a photo call at Kensington Palace later today. 

They will also take part in a broadcast interview to be aired on TV screens this evening. 

Meghan's parents, Thomas Markle and Doria Ragland, also issued a statement to wish the couple a "lifetime of happiness".

Meghan is a divorcee. In 2011 she wed film producer Trevor Engelson after dating him for six years, but the pair split amicably less than two years later.

Harry and Ms Markle made their first official public appearance together at the Invictus Games in Toronto - where the star is based - in September.

The American actress was photographed shopping in London last week amid reports that she has moved home from Toronto, where she has just finished filming the latest series of Suits, to Harry’s cottage inside Kensington Palace.

She and Harry have already spent a good deal of time in two-bedroom Nottingham Cottage during previous breaks in her filming schedule over the past few months and are said to be “blissfully happy” there.