Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot in May 2018 [1], and even though we've all had to put our own ambitions about marrying the royal to bed, the silver lining is that we got one badass, philanthropic American duchess [2] — and that has a lot of people happy for various reasons [3].
The main reason is that these two seem truly, deliriously happy and in love. The evidence: oh, just everything they've said about each other [4] and how quickly — or efficiently — their relationship [5] has developed. Here is a timeline of their relationship milestones that'll make you believe in the adage of "when you know, you know."
— Additional reporting by Monica Sisavat
March 2017: Meghan Becomes Harry's Plus One
Is there anything more official in a relationship than becoming your new BF's wedding date? The couple hit that milestone in March, when Meghan came to a wedding of a friend of Harry's [6] in Jamaica. Two months later, she also attended an even bigger wedding when she came to Pippa Middleton's wedding reception [7] as Harry's date.
September 2017: Meghan Gives Her First Interview About Harry
Just after the Invictus Games, Meghan opened up to Vanity Fair about Harry [8], saying, "We're two people who are really happy and in love," marking the first time she spoke about him publicly. Meanwhile, rumours were beginning to spread that she would be leaving her TV series Suits. [9]
November 2017: They're Engaged!
Which brings us to today: after that fortuitous meeting with the queen, Meghan and Harry announced their engagement, posing for fairy-tale-worthy engagement photos [10] and giving an interview about their relationship [11]. The romantic proposal [12] was private and sweet and took place in early November.
May 2016: The Prince and the Actress Meet
Harry and Meghan were set up by a mutual friend [13] in May of 2016, in Toronto, the city where she filmed her series Suits and where Harry was launching the 2017 Invictus Games.
Summer to Fall 2016: Meeting the Parents
Though the biggest royal family meeting wouldn't come for a while, Harry was introduced to the most important woman in Meghan's life when he met her mom over the Summer [14], shortly after they started dating. Meghan reportedly met Prince Charles [15] in September 2016, and soon after, she met Harry's big brother, Prince William [16], in November.
November 2016: Harry Publicly Confirms Their Relationship
After news broke that Meghan and Harry were dating, Meghan was subjected to nasty attacks in the tabloids and on social media. Despite being quite private, Harry gallantly — and very publicly — defended Meghan in a statement [17] on the Kensington Palace Twitter account, urging the media and public to respect his new girlfriend's privacy. It just so happened to be the first time he publicly called her his girlfriend.
December 2016: Spotted!
Even though the general public had known about the relationship for months by then, it wasn't until December 2016 that that the two were spotted together [18], out on a date in London. The two travelled back and forth between his home in London and hers in Toronto, nurturing their long-distance relationship. She also started wearing a necklace with his and her initials on it in the cutest (and most fashionable) subliminal declaration of love.
September 2017: Their First Public Event as a Couple
Over a year after they started dating, Meghan and Harry attended their first public event together [19], the 2017 Invictus Games. They even showed a little PDA [20] after the event.
October 2017: Meghan Meets the Queen
Over a year after Meghan and Harry had met their other important family members, Meghan finally met the queen [21], and it happened in the most British, most royal way: they had tea together.
November 2017: They're Engaged!
After that fortuitous meeting with the queen, Meghan and Harry announced their engagement, posing for fairy-tale-worthy engagement photos [22] and giving an interview about their relationship [23]. The romantic proposal [24] was private and sweet and took place in early November.
January 2018: Their First Royal Engagement
Following their engagement, Harry and Meghan visited Nottingham [25], England, for their first official appearance together. Kensington Palace tweeted that Harry was "delighted to be introducing the city to Ms. Markle," and she certainly received a warm welcome.
May 2018: They're Married!
Meghan and Harry made their love official [26] when they tied the knot [27] in a lavish wedding at Windsor Castle's St. George's Chapel in May. The affair brought out the royal family [28], including Prince William, Kate Middleton, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince George, and Princess Charlotte, as well as celebrities like Serena Williams [29], Priyanka Chopra, Oprah, and George and Amal Clooney.
A few days later, Harry and Meghan made their first royal engagement as a married couple [30] as they celebrated Prince Charles's 70th birthday patronage at Buckingham Palace. The duchess also received her very own coat of arms [31].
June 2018: Their First Trooping the Colour
After returning from their top-secret honeymoon [32], Harry and Meghan attended Trooping the Colour for the very first time together. The couple looked so happy [33] as they smiled and waved to the crowds during the carriage procession. They also made their Royal Ascot debut [34] as a married couple that same month.
October 2018: They're Expecting!
Harry and Meghan are going to be parents! Kensington Palace announced the exciting news [37] during the pair's first royal tour [38] as husband and wife in Australia. "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," the statement read. While Harry and Meghan are keeping the sex a surprise, baby Sussex is due [39] in late April.
February 2019: Their First Morocco Tour
Even though Meghan is just months away from giving birth, she's showing no signs [40] of slowing down. In February, Meghan made a special solo trip to NYC to celebrate her baby shower [41] with her friends, and shortly after, she and Harry embarked on a three-day trip [42]maternity leave [43] at the end of March, and after that, it's only a matter of time before baby Sussex arrives.
May 2019: And Baby Makes 3!
On May 6, 2019, nearly a year after their wedding, Meghan and Harry welcomed their first child [44], a baby boy.
July 2019: Their First-Ever Movie Premiere
Meghan and Harry stepped out for the UK premiere of The Lion King [45] on July 14, 2019. It was their first time attending a movie premiere together, and it proved to be a memorable occasion [46] — especially because they got to meet Beyoncé and JAY-Z [47]!
September 2019: Their First Royal Tour With Archie
Four months after welcoming Archie, the duke and duchess took their bundle of joy [48] along for their royal tour of Southern Africa [49]. They gave fans a few adorable glimpses of the tot [50] and attended several gatherings, including educational workshops [51], and took part in humanitarian efforts, such as visiting a community [52] that was once affected by a dangerous minefield.
January 2020: They Step Back From Royal Duties
To kick off the new decade, Harry and Meghan announced that they'd be stepping back as "senior members" of the royal family [53]. In a heartfelt Instagram post, the duo — who spent the holidays in Canada [54] — shared that they're working to "become financially independent," [55] adding, "We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages."