Prince Harry and Meghan Markle revealed details about their first date, courtship, Harry鈥檚 proposal and their family and philanthropy plans in an intimate interview following their engagement on Monday.
The couple said they plan to start a family in the future, and that they were drawn to each other early on by a shared interest in charitable causes. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what got date two,鈥� Markle said, in the couple鈥檚 first sit-down interview on Monday with BBC.
Prince Harry proposed to Markle on a 鈥渃osy night鈥� at their shared cottage on the Kensington Palace grounds earlier this month, the two revealed.
鈥淚 think I managed to catch her by surprise,鈥� the prince told BBC.
鈥淚t was so sweet and natural and very romantic,鈥� Markle added. 鈥淗e got down on one knee.鈥�
The two revealed that they started dating in July after they were set up on a 鈥渂lind date鈥� by a female friend.
鈥淚鈥檇 never watched 鈥楽uits,鈥欌�� Harry said of his thoughts before that first date. 鈥淚鈥檇 never heard of Meghan before.鈥�
Markle said she only had a distant familiarity with the royals at the time, and had just one question before the date: 鈥淚s he nice?鈥�
They said they hit it off and really got to know each other a few months later, when Harry invited Markle to visit Botswana with him.
鈥淲e camped out with each other under the stars,鈥� Harry said.
CTVNews.ca has broken down other highlights from the interview below.
A low-key, long-distance courtship
Markle said the long-distance courtship was a challenge, as was the sudden media spotlight that came with publicly dating a prince. She says she tried to avoid the headlines, including criticism over her ethnicity.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a shame that that is the climate in this world, to focus that much on that,鈥� Markle said. 鈥淎t the end of the day I鈥檓 really just proud of who I am and where I come from.鈥�
The two often found themselves on quiet, stay-at-home-type dates because of their desire to keep the relationship quiet. Harry said that likely contributed to how quickly they forged a bond with one another.
On the pressures of a royal role
Harry said he had to have a few 鈥渇rank鈥� conversations with Markle prior to their engagement, to make sure she understood the demands that come with being a member of the royal family.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a big deal and it鈥檚 not easy for anyone,鈥� he said. The two say they plan to conquer the demands of the role together.
Markle said she鈥檚 met many members of the royal family, including the Queen, on multiple occasions. Harry said he鈥檚 met Markle鈥檚 mother, but has only spoken to her father on the phone.
How Markle鈥檚 ring pays tribute to Diana
The two also revealed details of Markle鈥檚 engagement ring: a yellow gold piece with a stone from Botswana in the centre, and side diamonds from the collection of Diana, the Princess of Wales.
鈥淚t鈥檚 beautiful, and he designed it,鈥� Markle said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 incredible.鈥�
Harry said it was important for him to include the stones from his mother in the ring, 鈥渢o make sure she鈥檚 with us on this incredible journey together.鈥�
鈥淪he would be over the moon jumping up and down, so excited for me,鈥� he said of his mother. 鈥淚鈥檓 sure she鈥檚 with us, jumping up and down somewhere else.鈥�
He added that Diana and Markle would probably have been 鈥渢hick as thieves, without question.鈥�
Harry said: 鈥淚t鈥檚鈥� days like today when I really miss having her around and miss being able to share the happy news.鈥�
Meeting the Queen and her corgis
Markle said it was 鈥渋ncredible鈥� to have Harry introduce her to the Queen, 鈥渘ot just with his honour and respect for her as the monarch, but the love that he has for her as his grandmother.鈥�
Harry said the Queen鈥檚 famous pack of corgis took to Markle 鈥渞ight away.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e spent the last 33 years being barked at,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his one walks in鈥� absolutely nothing.鈥�
Markle, who has two dogs of her own, says one is staying with a close friend and the other has joined her in the U.K.
Will and Kate
Harry said he kept his relationship with Markle very quiet, but eventually agreed to introduce her to his older brother, Prince William, and William鈥檚 wife Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge.
鈥淚 literally didn鈥檛 tell anybody at all, and then William was longing to meet her and so was Catherine,鈥� he said. Harry said it helped that he was 鈥渘eighbours鈥� with them at Kensington Palace, so he managed to arrange a few visits.
鈥淪he鈥檚 been wonderful,鈥� Markle said of Kate.
Markle also met Prince Charles on a few occasions.
鈥淭he whole family have come together and have been a huge amount of support,鈥� Harry said.
