Prince Harry and his new fiancee Meghan Markle have revealed that it was a female mutual friend who first introduced them.
The couple said that the mystery person set up a blind date for them, as they promised to protect the identity of the matchmaker.
In their first interview together since announcing their engagement, Prince Harry said: ‘We first met – we were introduced actually by a mutual friend, who – we will…
Miss Markle interrupted: ‘We should protect her privacy and not reveal too much of that.
Among the likely candidates is Made in Chelsea star Millie Macintosh, who is one of Meghan’s workout buddies (pictured together)
Another contender is fashion designer Misha Nonoo, who is well-connected in royal circles as her estranged husband went to Eton with Prince Harry and Prince William
The revelation that the go-between was a woman has led to fervent speculation, as many sources believed Miss Markle’s Canadian friend Markus Anderson acted as cupid
Meghan stares lovingly at Prince Harry as he explains how the couple were first introduced by a mystery woman and mutual friend to them both
‘We’ll protect her privacy yeah,’ said Prince Harry: ‘And – but it was – it was literally – it was through her and then we met once and then twice back to back two dates.’
The revelation that the go-between was a woman has led to fervent speculation, as many sources believed Miss Markle’s Canadian friend Markus Anderson acted as cupid.
Among the likely candidates is Made in Chelsea star Millie Macintosh, who is one of Meghan’s workout buddies.
The pair spent time at Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire last year, with Miss Markle gushing on Instagram: ‘The best afternoon with Millie Mackintosh. So proud of you darling.’
Another contender is fashion designer Misha Nonoo, who split from Alexander Gilkes last year after four years of marriage.
Misha is well-connected in royal circles as her estranged husband went to Eton with Prince Harry and Prince William.
Misha (pictured with Miss Markle) is also a mutual friend of both the prince and Meghan, adding to the theory that she brought the pair together
Miss Markle is expected to become a duchess – just like Kate Middleton did six years ago
Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle walk away after posing for the media in the grounds of Kensington Palace
Gilkes was a guest at the royal wedding of Wills and Kate back in 2011, and his younger brother Charlie dated Pippa Middleton for years.
Misha is also a mutual friend of both the prince and Meghan, adding to the theory that she brought the pair together.
It is rumoured that the pair first met in a dining room at Soho House, the London private members’ club, in July 2016.
Sources say Harry listened intently while Meghan spoke about Rwanda, where she had been campaigning for clean water.
The royal family have flocked to congratulate the happy couple after the announcement
He was captivated by her altruism, and from the moment they said their goodbyes, he bombarded her with texts asking to see her again.
Talking about the friend who set them up, Prince Harry added: ‘It was through her and then we met once and then twice back to back two dates in London, last July.
‘And then it was I think about three, maybe four weeks later that I managed to persuade her to come and join me in Botswana.
‘And we – we camped out with each other under the stars, we spent – she came and joined me for five days out there, which was absolutely fantastic.
Meghan added: ‘Just to take the – take the time to be able to go on long country walks and just talk.’
Harry and Miss Markle may be invited to spend Christmas with his grandmother the Queen
Pointing at the ring, Prince Harry said: ‘The little diamonds either side are from my mother’s jewellery collection to make sure that she’s with us on this – on this crazy journey together’
Miss Markle revealed tonight how she said ‘yes’ immediately to Harry after he proposed on one knee while they were cooking a roast dinner during a ‘cosy night’.
In their first joint interview this evening, Miss Markle, 36, said she did not even wait for the 33-year-old royal to finish the sentence before she said ‘yes’ – and it was ‘so sweet and natural and very romantic’.
The couple, who had been in Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace when the proposal happened, revealed that they first met on a blind date after being set up by a female friend – and have tried to see each other every two weeks.
Harry added: ‘I fell in love with Meghan so incredibly quickly… All the stars were aligned – everything was just perfect. It was this beautiful woman just sort of literally tripped and fell into my life – I fell into her life.’
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle appeared at a photocall at London’s Kensington Palace today