Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Relationship Timeline

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's love story is the stuff of real-life fairytales. Girl meets prince — prince falls in love with girl; girl becomes princess. However, Meghan and Harry's happily-ever-after didn't exactly end as one might expect. 

After getting married in 2018 and welcoming their first child a year later, Meghan and Harry decided royal life wasn't for them and moved across the pond to the U.S. while stepping back from their senior positions in the monarchy. Since exiting the royal family, the Sussexes have kept busy, welcoming a second child, a daughter named Lillibet, and securing several business deals — including multi-million-dollar partnerships with Netflix and Spotify — on their own.  

From their first blind date to the big move, here's a complete look at Harry and Meghan's whirlwind relationship. 

July 2016: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle first meet.

Meghan and Harry were set up on a blind date by a mutual friend in July 2016 while the actress was in London for Wimbledon. Apparently, they clicked instantly and went on back-to-back dates following their initial meeting. "We met for a drink, and then I think very quickly into that we said, 'Well, what are we doing tomorrow? We should meet again,'" Meghan said during the couple's engagement interview.

From there, things moved fast between them, and several weeks later, Harry asked Meghan to join him on a trip to Botswana. Harry said it was during this trip that he knew Meghan was his "soulmate."

November 2016: Prince Harry confirms he and Meghan Markle are dating.

Approximately a week after it was reported that Meghan and Harry were a couple, the prince put out a statement confirming that they were dating while also pleading with the public and media to keep her and her family safe.

“Since he was young, Prince Harry has been very aware of the warmth that has been extended to him by members of the public," the statement began. "He feels lucky to have so many people supporting him and knows what a fortunate and privileged life he leads. He is also aware that there is significant curiosity about his private life. He has never been comfortable with this, but he has tried to develop a thick skin about the level of media interest that comes with it. But the past week has seen a line crossed. His girlfriend, Meghan Markle, has been subject to a wave of abuse and harassment."

The note continued, "Prince Harry is worried about Ms. Markle’s safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her. It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms. Markle should be subjected to such a storm. He knows commentators will say this is ‘the price she has to pay’ and that ‘this is all part of the game.’ He strongly disagrees. This is not a game — it is her life and his. He has asked for this statement to be issued in the hopes that those in the press who have been driving this story can pause and reflect before any further damage is done."

May 2017: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend their first public event together.

Meghan cheered on Harry at a charity polo match, which the royal was playing in support of his non-profit.

August 2017: Prince Harry takes Meghan Markle to Africa for her 36th birthday. 

Prince Harry took Meghan on a romantic, three-week getaway to Africa in celebration of her 36th birthday. They visited Botswana (where they first fell in love), as well as Victoria Falls in Livingstone, Zambia.

September 2017: Meghan Markle discusses her relationship with Prince Harry for the first time.

Meghan spoke about her whirlwind romance with Prince Harry for the October 2017 cover story of Vanity Fair. "We're a couple. We're in love. I'm sure there will be a time when we will have to come forward and present ourselves and have stories to tell, but I hope what people will understand is that this is our time," she told the magazine of the secrecy surrounding their courtship. "This is for us. It's part of what makes it so special, that it's just ours. But we're happy."

She added, "Personally, I love a great love story."

November 2017: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are engaged.

Harry and Meghan announced their engagement on November 27, 2017, via a statement from the Palace. "His Royal Highness and Ms. Markle became engaged in London earlier this month. Prince Harry has informed Her Majesty The Queen and other close members of his family," the note read. "Prince Harry has also sought and received the blessing of Ms. Markle's parents. The couple will live in Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace."

Following the news, the couple also sat down for a joint interview with BBC. They told the story of how Harry proposed, explaining that he did so earlier that same month while Meghan was making a roast chicken for the two of them at home.

"It was just so sweet and natural and very romantic," Meghan recalled. "He got on one knee. As a matter of fact, I could barely let [him] finish proposing. I was like, 'Can I say yes now?'"

December 2017: Meghan Markle spends Christmas at Sandringham with Harry's family. 

Meghan joined Harry and the royal family for Christmas at Sandringham and attended church service at St. Mary Magdalene Church, where she was photographed in a camel coat and a brown hat with a coordinating handbag and gloves.

May 2018: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle get married.

After having a private ceremony at home, Harry and Meghan tied the knot at St. George's Chapel in Windsor on May 19, 2018, officially becoming the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. For the big day, Meghan wore a white off-the-shoulder gown by Clare Waight Keller and even included a secret nod to Harry with the design. The church service was followed by a luncheon and then a private reception in the evening at Frogmore Cottage.

October 2018: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announce they're expecting their first child together.

Kensington Palace confirmed that Prince Harry and Meghan were expecting their first child on October 15, 2018, while they were on their first royal tour of Australia and New Zealand. But the couple reportedly shared the happy news with friends and family days earlier at Princess Eugenie's wedding.

May 2019: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle welcome their first child. 

On May 6, 2019, Meghan and Harry welcomed their first child, a son named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. Two days later, the couple debuted their baby boy to the public during a photo call with the press at Windsor Castle. Of being a new mom, Meghan said: "It's magic. It's pretty amazing. I have the best two guys in the world, so I'm really happy."

January 2020: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announce they are stepping down as senior royals.

Following a six-week hiatus from royal duties to focus on their family, Harry and Meghan dropped a bombshell, announcing that they would be permanently stepping down as senior royals.

"After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution," the Sussexes said in a statement on Instagram at the time. "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. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. "

March 2020: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend their final royal engagements in the U.K.

Harry and Meghan returned to the U.K. in March 2020 to attend their final engagements as working royals. First, they made an appearance at the Endeavor Fund Awards before attending Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey alongside Kate Middleton and Prince William.

July 2020: Meghan Markle suffers a miscarriage.

Meghan revealed that she suffered a miscarriage in an emotional essay for The New York Times, which was published in November 2020.

"It was a July morning that began as ordinarily as any other day: Make breakfast. Feed the dogs. Take vitamins. Find that missing sock. Pick up the rogue crayon that rolled under the table. Throw my hair in a ponytail before getting my son from his crib," she began.

Markle continued, "After changing his diaper, I felt a sharp cramp. I dropped to the floor with him in my arms, humming a lullaby to keep us both calm, the cheerful tune a stark contrast to my sense that something was not right. I knew, as I clutched my firstborn child that I was losing my second."

August 2020: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced they moved to Montecito.

A rep for the Sussexes announced that the couple purchased a home in the quiet community of Santa Barbara. Their $14 million Montecito mansion is said to be 14,563 square feet on 5.4 acres and features 16 bathrooms and nine bedrooms.

February 2021: Meghan Markle is pregnant with her and Prince Harry's second child.

Seven months after her miscarriage, Meghan was happy to share that she was pregnant again. On Valentine's Day, she and Harry announced that they were expecting their second child with a gorgeous black-and-white photo shared on Twitter.

"We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child," a rep for the couple said in a statement.

March 2021: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have a sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Meghan and Harry sat down for their first wide-ranging interview with Oprah Winfrey since exiting the royal family. During their conversation, the pair spoke about Meghan's mental health struggles and accused the royals of racism, citing a particular instance where one member asked how "dark" Archie's skin color might be.

June 2021: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle welcome their second child.

Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, the couple's second child, was born on June 4, 2021. Revealing the significance behind their baby girl's name, Meghan and Harry said in a statement: "Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet. Her middle name, Diana, was chosen to honor her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales."

September 2022: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reunite with Prince William and Kate Middleton at Queen Elizabeth's funeral in the U.K. 

Following Queen Elizabeth's passing on September 8, 2022, Meghan and Harry joined Prince William and Kate Middleton for a walkabout outside of Windsor Castle to greet well-wishers, putting on a united front during a difficult time for the family.

December 2022: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's docuseries drops on Netflix. 

Prince Harry and Meghan's highly-anticipated docuseries Harry & Meghan on Netflix aired. In the first three episodes, the couple shared details about their whirlwind courtship, their royal wedding, and life in the spotlight.

March 2023: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle officially move out of Frogmore Cottage.

Harry and Meghan vacated their U.K. residence, Frogmore Cottage. It's believed that King Charles "evicted" the Sussexes after Harry's memoir Spare was released in January 2023, and plans to move his brother Prince Andrew into the Windsor property.

September 2023: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend Beyoncé's Renaissance World Tour. 

The Sussexes stepped out for date night in coordinating silver outfits at Beyoncé's Renaissance concert at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Meghan and her mother, Doria Ragland, were spotted dancing in their private box while Harry stood back with his hands in his pockets.

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