Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have given their first televised interview after the announcement of their engagement, running through the bona fides of their sweet relationship and assuring the British public that, yes, Markle is ready to spend the rest of her life as a figure of monumental public interest.
Speaking to the BBC’s Mishal Husain, the couple elaborated on their first meeting: a successful set-up by their mutual friend, who probably has not stopped fist-pumping since last night’s announcement.
That first date quickly turned into an overseas trip, Prince Harry explained, as they spent five days under the stars while camping in Botswana. Bless.
The pair then discussed Markle’s crash-course in royal do’s and do-not’s, with Prince Harry saying it was “hugely refreshing to get to know someone who isn’t necessarily in your circle.”
Still, Markle said “as naive as it sound now having gone through this learning curve in the past year and a half, I did not have any understanding of what it would be like.”
Prince Harry added “I tried to warn you as much as possible, but I think both of us were totally surprised by the reaction after the first five, six months that we had to ourselves, of what actually happened from then.”
Temporarily ignoring the massive intrinsic difficulties of embedding yourself in the British royal family, Prince Harry said Markle has made a good impression on the family’s most important members: the corgis.
“And the corgis took to you straight away,” he said.
“For the last 33 years, I’ve been barked at. This one walks in, absolutely nothing. Wagging tails.”
Can’t win ’em all, mate. Watch the full interview, which includes a discussion on the significance of the ring, right here:
