A Timeline of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Love Story in Pictures

July 2016

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle apparently met through mutual friends. Markus Anderson, Meghan's best friend and a consultant for the private club Soho House, is credited as the main matchmaker.

October 2016

The Sunday Express reported that Prince Harry and the Suits actress are dating. “The romance is in its early stages, but it’s no exaggeration to say he’s besotted with her,” a source told the UK tabloid. Photos of the couple wearing matching blue bracelets added fuel to the relationship rumors.

November 2016

The circumstances surrounding Prince Harry's official statement confirming his new relationship were not as joyous as one might expect. The prince released a statement through Kensington Palace slamming the media and the public for harassing Meghan. A few weeks later, Prince William came to his brother's defense, releasing a statement saying he understood Harry's privacy concerns and would support him through this ordeal.

December 2016

The first sighting of the new couple emerged at this time. The Sun published a photo of the pair holding hands while out on the town in London. They even bought a Christmas tree together. So sweet!

March 2017

The couple jetted off to Jamaica where Meghan accompanied her beau to the wedding of his friend Tom "Skipp" Inskip. Less than six months after confirming their relationship, the two were already discussing their future, an inside source said at the time: "They see a life together."

September 2017

Prince Harry and Meghan made their first appearance together at an official event at this time. Meghan cheered on her love as he hosted the fourth annual Invictus Games, which Harry created to bring together wounded military personnel to compete in sports.

October 2017

Meghan graced the cover of the October issue of Vanity Fair for her first in-depth interview about her then-boyfriend, Prince Harry. “We’re a couple. We’re in love,” she told the magazine. By this point, readers speculated that the two lovebirds had to be engaged, otherwise the royal family would not have signed off on the interview.

November 2017

On November 27, 2017, news broke that everyone's favorite royal bachelor was finally engaged to his girlfriend of about a year, Meghan Markle. The soon-to-be husband and wife looked completely in love during their official photo call, where Meghan showed off her stunning engagement ring. Her ring features a large diamond in the center flanked by two smaller stones from Princess Diana's personal collection.

The two planned a May 2018 ceremony at Windsor Castle.

December 2017

On December 1, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped out for their first royal engagement to a cheering crowd in Nottingham. Meghan looked completely relaxed as she smiled and shook hands with fans who had gathered.

March 2018

Meghan Markle's style was on full display at the 2018 Commonwealth Day Service on March 12. The navy dress under her bright white coat matched Kate Middleton's dark blue frock, which complemented the latter's baby bump.

Just a few months away from her May 19 nuptials, Meghan looked perfectly at ease with the rest of the royal family at the service and ready to begin her royal duties. Commonwealth Day is a celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations, which is a multi-government organization of 53 member states, many of which are former British colonies.