A Definitive Timeline of Prince Harry & Meghan Markle’s Relationship

July 2016: The Meet-Cute

The former actress met her prince charming in 2016, thanks to a mutual friend. During their engagement interview in 2017, Prince Harry said, “We were introduced actually by a mutual friend…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 about three, maybe four weeks later, that I managed to persuade her to come and join me in Botswana.”

The prince continued, “We camped out with each other under the stars, she came and joined me for five days out there, which was absolutely fantastic.”

In their Netflix documentary, Harry & Meghan, Prince Harry also revealed that they shared a tent for five days, even though they’d only met twice. He said, “We were really by ourselves, which was crucial to me to make sure that we had a chance to get to know each other."

October 2016: Stop the Presses 

Prince Harry and Markle’s romance made headlines before Halloween when a source close to the royals revealed they’d been dating for months. They told People, “Harry is pretty serious about her and she is pretty serious about him.” A close friend added, “It’s great. They have a lot in common and I’m sure they will get on very well.”

November 2016: Prince Harry Confirms the News

Hoping to protect Markle from the paparazzi and negative media attention, Prince Harry publicly confirmed their romance in a rare statement released on the royal family’s official website. It read, “He has rarely taken formal action on the very regular publication of fictional stories that are written about him and he has worked hard to develop a professional relationship with the media, focused on his work and the issues he cares about. But the past week has seen a line crossed. His girlfriend, Meghan Markle, has been subject to a wave of abuse and harassment.”

The statement continued, “It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms. Markle should be subjected to such a storm.” Some of this has been very public - the smear on the front page of a national newspaper; the racial undertones of comment pieces; and the outright sexism and racism of social media trolls and web article comments. 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."

December 2016: The First Royal Sighting

Although Prince Harry and Markle were careful to stay under the radar, the couple were spotted together in public for the first time in December. They were photographed wearing beanies as they attended a showing of the play The Curious Incident of the Dog In the Nighttime in London.

In the same month, Markle was also spotted in Toronto wearing a gold necklace with the letters, "H" and "M." We can guess what those letters stand for.

May 6, 2017: The First Public Event

The couple attended a charity polo event in Ascot, England, and Markle was all smiles as she cheered Prince Harry on from the stands. They were even pictured showing some PDA, when they embraced each other in the parking lot.

May 20, 2017: Pippa Middleton's Wedding

While Markle wasn’t present for the ceremony, she did join Prince Harry for the evening reception. Following the morning ceremony, Harry reportedly traveled to London to pick up Markle.

August 2017: Markle and Prince Harry Return to Africa 

To celebrate Markle’s 36th birthday, the pair had a three-week romantic getaway in Africa. They spent some time in Botswana, where they previously camped together, and they also visited the Victoria Falls in Livingstone, Zambia. A source told People, "It was a very, very private visit. They stayed at a beautiful lodge in Livingstone."

September 5, 2017: Markle Opens Up About Her Relationship for the First Time

If you recall, Markle graced the cover of Vanity Fair for the October 2017 issue and discussed her romance with Harry for the first time. She said, "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. This is for us. It's part of what makes it so special, that it's just ours. But we're happy. Personally, I love a great love story." 

September 25, 2017: The Invictus Games

Towards the end of September, the royal couple attended the Invictus Games in Toronto, where they were seen walking hand-in-hand. During the closing ceremonies, Harry was seen kissing her on the cheek in a luxury box.

October 2017: Markle Meets the Queen

On October 19, the couple went to Buckingham Palace for a private tea with Prince Harry’s grandmother. The meeting reportedly lasted for about an hour.

December 2017: First Royal Christmas

Shortly after the engagement announcement, Markle spent Christmas with the prince and the royal family at Sandringham. She participated in a royal gift exchange, joined the family for lunch on Christmas Eve and attended the church service at Sandringham's St. Mary Magdalene Church.

May 2018: A Royal Wedding

Prince Harry and Meghan said 'I do' in a televised ceremony at St. George's Chapel in Windsor, officially becoming the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The wedding took place on May 19 and was attended by 600 guests, including Serena Williams, George Clooney, Priyanka Chopra and David Beckham.

During their tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, Markle said, "It was like having an out-of-body experience I was very present for. That's the only way I can describe it because the night before, I slept through the night entirely, which in and of itself is a bit of a miracle. And then woke up and started listening to that song 'Going to the Chapel.' And just tried to make it fun and light and remind ourselves that this was our day—but I think we were both really aware, even in advance that this wasn't our day. This was the day that was planned for the world."

FYI, the couple confirmed that they privately exchanged vows in their backyard three days before the televised ceremony. In his memoir, Spare, Prince Harry wrote that the private event was "unofficial, non-binding, except in our souls." Per Newsweek, he added, "We were grateful for every person in and around St. George's, and watching on TV, but our love began in private, and being public had been mostly pain, so we wanted the first consecration of our love, the first vows, to be private as well. Magical as the formal ceremony was, we'd both come to feel slightly frightened of...crowds."

October 2018: The Pregnancy Announcement

On October 15, Kensington Palace revealed the big news on the official royal website. The message read, "Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Sussex is expecting a baby in the Spring of 2019. Their Royal Highnesses have appreciated all of the support they have received from people around the world since their wedding in May and are delighted to be able to share this happy news with the public."

March 2019: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Split Royal Households

On March 14, Kensington Palace announced that the Sussexes and the Cambridges split their joint royal household at Kensington Palace and created two separate offices.

Per The Telegraph, a representative said in a statement, "The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex has today announced the conclusions of a review into its structure, and how it will best support Their Royal Highnesses with future charitable activity. Later this year The Royal Foundation will become the principal charitable and philanthropic vehicle for The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will establish their own new charitable foundation with transitional operating support from The Royal Foundation."

April 2019: The Move to Frogmore Cottage

Just a few weeks ahead of their baby's arrival, the royal couple moved out of Kensington Palace and into Frogmore Cottage. Per Harper's Bazaar, Kensington Palace said in a statement, "Windsor is a very special place for Their Royal Highnesses and they are grateful that their official residence will be on the estate."

May 6, 2019: And Baby Makes Three

On May 6, 2019, the couple's firstborn, Archie Harrison Mountbatten Windsor, was introduced to the world. Following his birth, the Sussexes released a statement on Instagram that read, "The Duchess and baby are both healthy and well, and the couple thank members of the public for their shared excitement and support during this very special time in their lives."

Archie made his big debut on May 8, when the duke and duchess posed for pictures with their son at Windsor Castle.

September 2019: Prince Harry's 35th Birthday

Markle went above and beyond to celebrate her husband by recreating one of their most memorable dates together.

A source told People, "Last year, for Harry's birthday, Meghan recreated their Botswana camping adventures in their backyard. It's a place that means so much to them—and to Harry in particular—so Meghan wanted to bring that happy place to him on his day. She set up a tent, got sleeping bags, cooked dinner and recreated Botswana where they fell in love."

October 2019: Prince Harry & Markle's Time Off

On October 20, People reported that Markle and Prince Harry intended to take six weeks off from their royal duties to focus on family. A source told the outlet, "The duke and duchess have a full schedule of engagements and commitments until mid-November, after which they will be taking some much-needed family time."

The news came just a few days after Markle filed a lawsuit against Associated Newspapers for publishing a confidential letter she wrote to her father, Thomas Markle.

April 6, 2020: The Launch of Archewell

In addition to stepping away from the royal family as senior members, the pair also parted ways with the SussexRoyal brand and launched their nonprofit empire, Archewell.

The couple said in a statement, “We connected to this concept for the charitable organization we hoped to build one day, and it became the inspiration for our son’s name. To do something of meaning, to do something that matters. Archewell is a name that combines an ancient word for strength and action, and another that evokes the deep resources we each must draw upon.”

July 2020: The Miscarriage

In a 2020 article for The New York Times, Markle revealed that she suffered a miscarriage in July. She wrote, "Losing a child means carrying an almost unbearable grief, experienced by many but talked about by few."

The Suits alum also recalled the moment she knew she lost her baby. "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," she wrote. "I knew, as I clutched my firstborn child, that I was losing my second."

April 2022: Rare PDA

Markle and Prince Harry made a rare appearance at a Los Angeles Lakers game, and royal fans in attendance got a special treat when the happy couple appeared on the jumbotron. The couple were seen laughing together as Markle waved at the camera.

June 2022: The Queen's Platinum Jubilee

All eyes were on the Sussexes when they finally returned to the U.K. to attend the queen's Platinum Jubilee. They were absent on the opening day, and they didn't appear on the royal balcony to watch the Royal Air Force flypast. However, they did attend the Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

September 2022: The Queen's Funeral

Their attendance included a public reunion with none other than Kate Middleton and Prince William, who joined them to greet royal fans at Windsor Castle. And during the funeral, the royal couple sat in the second row, behind King Charles III and Queen Camilla, while the Prince and Princess of Wales sat in the front row with Prince George, 10, and Princess Charlotte, 8.

March 2023: The Sussexes Vacate Their U.K. Residence

More than three years after Prince Harry and Markle announced they were stepping down as senior royals, their spokesperson revealed that the couple was asked to vacate their former U.K. home, Frogmore Cottage. Shortly after, the ten-bedroom estate was occupied by the prince's cousin, Princess Eugenie, her husband Jack Brooksbank and their son August, but the family have since relocated to Nottingham Cottage.

May 2023: A "Near Catastrophic" Car Chase

On May 16, Harry and Markle attended the Ms. Foundation Women of Vision Awards at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York, but the day took a drastic turn when the couple and Markle's mother, Doria, got involved in a car chase. While speaking about the incident, a spokesperson told People that it was a "near catastrophic car chase" that lasted "over two hours, resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two NYPD officers." Fortunately, no one was hurt.

September 2023: The Invictus Games 2.0

On day four of the Invictus Games in Germany, the duchess was all smiles as she joined her husband for the event. The pair were seen holding hands as they greeted athletes and presented trophies.

September 2023: The Secret Vacation

According to Page Six, the royal couple took a secret trip to Portugal, where they stayed for three nights with a royal relative. While there, the pair reportedly visited Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank—and they went unnoticed the entire time.

A source told Nova Gente, “They arrived in Portugal without their children and as soon as they landed, they headed to Alentejo and more precisely to Melides.”