Timeline of Prince Harry and Meghan’s relationship as they celebrate 4 years of marriage

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were first introduced by a mutual friend named Misha Nonoo at London’s Soho House in 2016 and quickly fell in love

The whirlwind romance that saw Prince Harry cross the pond to California has long captivated the public and brings together two of the world’s most talked about institutions – the royal family and Hollywood.

Regarded as a feral child, the Duke of Sussex has since dedicated his life to humanitarian causes and his widely acclaimed Invictus Games.

His wife Meghan Markle seems to have found a kindred spirit in Harry as before she met him she was heavily involved in food campaigns, clean water causes and women’s issues such as the stigma of menstruation in India.

Four years after their marriage, the couple now have two children together, Archie and Lilibet, and live near Santa Barbara, California.

Following the Duke and Duchess’ decision to step down from royal duties in 2020 after repeated alleged media smear and friction with family members, the couple agreed not to use the “Royal Highness” style. From strangers to the Sussexes, here’s a full timeline of their relationship.

Timeline of Harry and Meghan’s relationship

2016

The pair were arranged on a blind date at London’s Soho House in early July by mutual friend and fashion designer Misha Nonoo.

“We met for a drink,” Markle said, “and then I think very quickly that we said, ‘Well, what are we going to do tomorrow? We should meet again.’”

Things moved quickly from there, with Harry inviting Meghan on a trip to Africa just weeks later.

The prince said: “I managed to persuade her to come to my place in Botswana and we camped together under the stars,” he said, describing the hurricane romance. “Then we were really alone, which for me was crucial for us to get to know each other.”

In October, the secret was revealed and reports surfaced claiming Prince Harry had been secretly dating the Suits star. A month later, the prince issued a statement urging the media to respect his girlfriend’s privacy, noting he was “concerned for Ms Markle’s safety and deeply disappointed that he was unable to protect her.”

The couple were then spotted in London’s Battersea Park choosing a Christmas tree.

2017

To ring in the new year, Harry and Meghan visited Norway to see the Northern Lights and reportedly stayed in Tromso. Later that month, Meghan met Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte.

In May, the prince and actress attended their first public event as a couple and were pictured kissing at the annual Audi Polo Challenge in Ascot, England. In September, Prince Harry orchestrated a secret performance between his girlfriend and the Queen when the couple visited Scotland.

When rumors of a royal engagement surfaced in November, Markle left Suits after six years on the hit streak. Just days later, Kensington Palace confirmed that “His Royal Highness and Ms Markle became engaged in London earlier this month”.

2018

May witnessed one of the most anticipated weddings in the world as millions tuned in to see Meghan and Harry say ‘I do’ at Windsor Castle’s St George’s Chapel.

It was announced in October that the couple was expecting their first child, and Kensington Palace confirmed: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are delighted to announce that the Duchess of Sussex is expecting a baby in Spring 2019”.

The following day, the pair flew on their first official tour, visiting Australia, Fiji, the Kingdom of Tonga and New Zealand on a trip to coincide with the Invictus Games in Sydney.

2019

Meghan had her baby shower in February in the penthouse suite at New York’s Mark Hotel – America’s most expensive hotel room – hosted and paid for by friend Serena Williams.

In May, Meghan and Harry welcomed their first child, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, just days before their first wedding anniversary.

2020

In the first month of 2020, Meghan and Harry announced they were stepping down as senior members of the royal family and intend to be financially independent from any royal funding.

After living in Tyler Perry’s Beverly Hills mansion, the duo officially moved to California in July and bought a home in Montecito, near Santa Barbara — 100 miles north of Los Angeles.

In September, the Sussexes were finally independent after paying all the remaining costs of refurbishing their Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.

In November, Meghan opened up about the miscarriage she suffered in July. Her heartbreaking essay aimed to break the taboo of miscarriage and its psychological impact on mothers.

2021

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they are expecting their second child on Valentine’s Day in February. In one post, they said, “We can confirm Archie is going to be a big brother.”

Four months later, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor arrived weighing 7 pounds, 11 ounces. A According to the official announcement, “Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet.”