Royal engagements are carefully choreographed affairs, as shown by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s announcement today.
But that hasn’t stopped there being one or two awkward comments being made – including Charles’s infamous response to the question of whether he and Diana were in love.
In fact, past engagements have often given a rare insight into royal relationships – with the Duchess of Cambridge confessing that Prince William can be a ‘true romantic’, as shown by his proposal on holiday in Kenya.
Meanwhile, the first sighting of an engagement ring always causes much excitement among royal watchers – with many being family heirlooms.
Here, FEMAIL takes a look back at previous royal engagements over the years…
PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON
OCTOBER 16, 2010
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge posed for pictures at St James’s Palace after announcing their engagement in October 2010
Prince William and Kate Middleton, both 28 at the time, announced that they were engaged in October 2010, just six months before their wedding in April 2011.
William had proposed to his long-time girlfriend during a holiday in Kenya earlier that month, with Kate admitting that it had been ‘very romantic’, adding ‘There’s a true romantic in there.’
The Duchess of Cambridge wore a blue wrap dress by London-based designer Issa for the photocall, which matched her sapphire engagement ring, which had belonged to Princess Diana.
During an interview with ITV’s Tom Brady, Kate admitted that she was ‘upset’ by her and William’s brief split in 2007.
‘I think at the time I wasn’t very happy about it, but actually it made me a stronger person, you find out things about yourself that maybe you hadn’t realised,’ she said.
‘I think you can get quite consumed by a relationship when you are younger and I really valued that time for me as well although I didn’t think it at the time.’
PRINCE CHARLES AND DIANA SPENCER
FEBRUARY 24, 1981
Prince Charles and Princess Diana following their engagement announcement in 1981
On announcing their engagement in 1981, Prince Charles, then 32, and Diana Spencer, then 19, were asked whether they were ‘in love’.
Diana replied ‘Of course’, but Charles commented ‘Whatever “in love” means. You can put your own interpretation there.’
His remark was later considered to be a sign pointing to their doomed marriage to come.
Diana wore a royal blue suit skirt from Harrod’s as she and Charles posed for photographs outside Buckingham Palace.
Her engagement ring, later worn by Kate, was made by royal jeweller Garrard and cost £28,500 at the time.
PRINCE CHARLES AND CAMILLA PARKER-BOWLES
FEBRUARY 10, 2005
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall appeared a pre-scheduled event at Windsor Castle following their engagement announcement
Prince Charles’s second engagement, to Camilla Parker-Bowles, was revealed in February 2005.
While there was no official photocall, the happy couple appeared together later at a pre-scheduled function at Windsor Castle.
The Duchess of Cornwall wore a red gown for the occasion, while showing off her 1920s engagement ring, which had previously belonged to the Queen Mother.
The official engagement announcement had stated that the couple would tie the knot in a civil service at Windsor Castle, but the venue was later changed to the Windsor Guildhall for licensing reasons.
THE QUEEN AND PRINCE PHILIP
JULY 10, 1947
The Queen, then 21, and Prince Philip, then 26, recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary
On July 10 1947, Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, as they were then known, were photographed standing side-by-side at Buckingham Palace to mark the official announcement of their engagement.
Elizabeth was just 21 and Philip, who had renounced his Greek royal title and become a naturalised British subject, was 26.
The beaming princess was wearing her elegant, square cut diamond and platinum engagement ring which the groom had had made using stones from one of his mother’s tiaras.
A delighted looking Philip, who served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War, was dressed in his smart naval suit for the engagement photos.
PRINCE ANDREW AND SARAH FERGUSON
MARCH 17, 1986
Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson showing off her engagement ring in the grounds of Buckingham Palace in 1986
Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson met as children but later reconnected at a party in 1985. They began their relationship that year and Andrew proposed less than a year later, on 19 February 1986, his 26th birthday. The Royal Family waited nearly a month before announcing the engagement on 17 March 1986.
Andrew presented Sarah, then 23, with a Garrard engagement ring made from sketches he had made. The ring has a Burma ruby surrounded by ten drop-diamonds, mounted on 18 carat white and yellow gold.
The couple both looked delighted in their official engagement photos, which were taken in the grounds of Buckingham Palace, with Prince Andrew proudly holding out his fiancee’s left hand to the cameras.
They later kissed in a tender moment that was also captured on film.
PRINCESS ANNE AND CAPTAIN MARK PHILLIPS
MAY 29, 1973
Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips posing for their official engagement photographs outside Buckingham Palace in May 29, 1973
Known to be fiercely private, Princess Anne was believed to have been engaged to Captain Mark Phillips for six weeks before making an official announcement on May 29, 1973.
Anne, then 22, looked chic in a suit dress as she posed for photographs with the British Army Lieutenant, then 24, outside Buckingham Palace.
The Princess Royal proudly showed off her sapphire and diamond engagement ring, which was made by royal jeweller Garrard, at the photocall.
The pair met the previous year at the Munich Olympics, where Captain Phillips won a gold medal.
PRINCE EDWARD AND SOPHIE RHYS-JONES
Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones announced their engagement in 1999, after dating for five years
After months of speculation, Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones announced their engagement on 6 January 1999.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, who had long supported the relationship, released a statement saying they were ‘thrilled’ at the news.
The couple, who had been dating for five years, posed for photos in the grounds of St James’s Palace, with Sophie proudly showing off her bespoke Asprey & Garrard diamond and white gold ring which was estimated to have cost £105,000.
Speaking to journalists at the photo call, Andrew revealed how he had taken his girlfriend ‘completely by surprise’ with his proposal.