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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their engagement on this day six years ago – November 27, 2017.

The pair only began their whirlwind romance the previous year after meeting on a blind date set up by a mutual friend.

The last six years have been anything but straight forward, from getting married and welcoming two children to leaving the Royal Family and moving to the US.

After meeting for their first date Meghan reportedly described the royal to her friend as “a real gentleman” and “genuinely nice”.

Here, Express.co.uk takes a look at the couple’s relationship timeline to celebrate six years since their engagement.

First Date

Harry and Meghan first met in July 2016, opting to have their first date while Meghan was in London to watch Wimbledon.

It has been widely reported that the pair were set up by a mutual friend, but Harry wrote in his tell-all memoir that, after seeing Meghan’s picture on Instagram, he reached out and the pair began messaging.

According to Harry, Meghan suggested the location for the date – Soho House at 76 Dean Street – which he wrote was “her headquarters whenever she came to London”.

Following the success of their first date, Prince Harry previously told BBC News that the couple had two more “back-to-back” dates whilst Meghan was in London.

Within a few weeks, Meghan traveled to Botswana with Harry, where they “camped out with each other under the stars”.

A photograph from one of their first dates was shared on their highly-anticipated Netflix docuseries, Harry and Meghan.

First reports of their relationship

The couple managed to keep their relationship under wraps for a few months, but reports began to surface about Harry’s new girlfriend in October 2016.

The couple’s romance was confirmed by PEOPLE, with a close friend of Harry’s stating that it was early days and that they had been dating for “a couple of months”.

Fast foward to September 2017, the couple made their first public appearance at Harry’s Invictus Games in Canada.

On September 25, 2017, Harry and Meghan looked every inch the loved-up couple as they arrived hand-in-hand to watch a Wheelchair Tennis match.

Engagement announcement

Meghan and Harry officially announced their engagement on November 27, 2017.

The pair had only been dating for around 16 months.

An official statement was released on behalf of Harry’s father, the then-Prince of Wales, which read: “His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales and Ms. Meghan Markle are engaged to be married.

“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.” According to the statement, the couple got engaged earlier that month in London.

Engagement interview and pictures

As fans got excited over the prospect of another royal wedding on the horizon, the pair gave an official interview following their engagement – as well as posed for official pictures.

In the interview, Harry detailed their romance as “perfect”, while the former actress called their courtship “authentic and organic.”

Speaking about the proposal, Meghan said it was “an amazing surprise” and “very romantic”.

Despite the announcement being made in November 2017, the official photographs taken of the happy newlyweds weren’t released until the following month.

The royal wedding

Meghan and Harry tied the knot on May 19, 2018 in Windsor.

Their wedding day made history as Meghan was the first American to marry into the British Royal Family since Wallis Simpson in 1937.

The wedding, which was broadcast to millions across the world, was held at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

The now-King Charles walked his new daughter-in-law down the aisle after her own father’s ill health meant that he was unable to attend.

Just like Harry was at his own wedding day in 2011, Prince William acted as his brother’s best man.

As well as the royal guests in attendance, their wedding had a host of famous faces on the guest list – incluidng David and Victoria Beckham.

Prince Archie’s birth

On October 15, 2018, the Royal Family announced that Harry and Meghan were expecting their first child together.

Palace officials said that the couple were “delighted” to share their happy news with the world.

On May 6, 2019 – almost a year to the day of their wedding – the couple welcomed their first child, a son named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, into the world.

Just two days after his birth, the proud parents gave royal fans a glimpse at their new bundle of joy during a photocall at St George’s Hall in Windsor.

Speaking in the photocall, Meghan said: “It’s magic. It’s pretty amazing and I have the two best guys in the world, so I’m really happy.” Harry also spoke, stating that the couple were “thrilled” with their newborn son.

Stepping down as senior royals

On January 8, 2020, Meghan and Harry announced their plans to step away from royal duties.

The couple said they wanted to work to become financially independent and split their time between the UK and North America.

In a joint written statement, the couple said that the decision had been made after “many months of reflection and internal discussions”.

They wrote: “We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.”

Speaking of their son, the couple added that they wished to raise their son “with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter.”

Explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey

One year after stepping away from royal life, Harry and Meghan stunned the world by sitting down for an explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey.

During the inteview, the couple spoke about the numerous struggles that took place behind closed doors at the palace.

The couple spoke about Meghan’s mental health deteriorating and the Duchess also made a claim that conversations had previously been held about the colour of their then-unborn son’s skin.

With news of the couple’s pregnancy already in the open, they also used the interview to confirm that they were expecting a baby girl.

Princess Lilibet’s birth

Prior to the explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan and Harry shared the happy news that they were expecting a second child.

The news was shared on Valentine’s Day, along with a shot of the couple displaying Meghan’s growing bump.

On June 4, 2021, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor was born.

Unlike her brother, who was born in the UK, Lilibet was born in America.

The little girl was reported to have celebrated her first birthday, in 2022, in the UK during the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Post-royal life

The couple now live in California, where they have settled into life with their two children.

Since stepping down as senior royals, the couple have experienced tensions with the Royal Family.

As well as the interview with Oprah, the couple have also shared various claims and made comments on their highly-anticipated Netflix docuseries, which was released last year.

Back in January 2023, Prince Harry also released his tell-all memoir Spare, which documented his life from the time of his late mother’s death to the present day.

Despite the tough times, the couple celebrated five years of marriage bliss earlier this year.

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