Harry and Meghan: royal romance crowned by birth of son

AFP  |  London 

The arrival this week of their first child -- a boy shown off to the public on Wednesday -- crowns the love story of and his wife Meghan, coming less than three years since they first met.

It was love at first sight for both parties, who quickly sensed their brief blind date could blossom.

They were set up by a mutual friend when US was passing through in July 2016.

The couple knew little about each other and the speed of the relationship surprised them both.

"The fact that I fell in love with Meghan so incredibly quickly was a confirmation to me that all the stars were aligned. Everything was just perfect," said.

Within two years, they tied the knot at Castle, sealing a relationship that rapidly grew out of the -- and survived when it went public in explosive fashion.

When the couple first met, she was 34 and a divorcee of three years; he 31 with a few foundered relationships and his 10-year army career recently behind him.

had never heard of Meghan or watched "Suits", the US television legal drama series she had starred in since 2011.

"I was beautifully surprised when I walked into that room and saw her," he recalled, and thought to himself: "I'm going to really have to up my game here!" -

Bonding over their passion for the good causes they represented, they immediately set up a second date -- for the following day.

A few weeks later, the persuaded her to join him camping out for five days in Botswana, which Harry called a "huge leap" -- but one that paid off.

"We were really by ourselves, which was crucial to me to make sure that we had a chance to get to know each other," he said.

As Markle continued filming "Suits" in Toronto, the pair never went longer than two weeks apart.

Their romance was under cover for the first five or six months, and largely conducted through nights in behind closed doors.

"We were able to really have so much time just to connect," said Meghan.

Harry said they had frank conversations about what her future could entail and called it a "huge relief" to have finally found someone comfortable with the pressure and lifelong job he comes attached with.

Harry publicly confirmed they were dating in November 2016 with an angry, highly unusual statement blasting racist "abuse and harassment" directed towards her.

"It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms Markle should be subjected to such a storm," his said. "This is not a game -- it is her life and his." Harry proposed in November 2017.

The couple were having a cosy night in at Nottingham Cottage, their previous two-bedroom home in the grounds of London's Kensington Palace, roasting a chicken. Meghan said "Yes" before Harry had finished proposing or even produced the ring.

They announced their engagement on November 27, 2017 and she was swiftly integrated into the royal fold, spending with the family and attending public engagements.

The wedding on May 19 last year was filled with personal touches, mixing British pomp and African-American culture in front of a celebrity congregation and cheering crowds.

Meghan began her walk down the aisle alone after falling out with her father, while firebrand US pastor delivered a full-throttle address invoking slaves and the power of love.

Since then, the new Duke and Duchess of have thrown themselves into causes they champion, notably mental health, young people and women's empowerment.

"Both of us have passions for wanting to make change for good," said the The made Harry the Commonwealth's youth ambassador, a role that will increasingly drive the couple's agenda.

The baby was announced in October as they began their first overseas tour, visiting Australia, Fiji, and around the Invictus Games in Sydney, Harry's Olympics-style event for wounded military veterans.

They have now moved out from to the much bigger on the estate as they start their family.

Some royal commentators have voiced concern at the couple's reportedly increasing distance from his brother and sister-in-law

Some have said Californian Meghan's influence is softening straight-talking former army hardman Harry.

But others say it is a sign of a strong-minded couple ready to go their own way, with a new family, new home and new sense of mission.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Wed, May 08 2019. 17:55 IST