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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2017/nov/27/prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-engagement-live-updates
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| Meghan Markle and Prince Harry appear together for first time as engaged couple – live | Meghan Markle and Prince Harry appear together for first time as engaged couple – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Nigel Farage, look away now. Meghan Markle appears to be a remainer. | |
| On 2 July last year, thousands protested against the Brexit vote in central London. Meghan Markle seems to have been among them. That day, she posted a photo on Instagram showing a sign reading: “If EU leave me now, you take away the biggest part of me.” | |
| If EU leave me now... #brexit #parliament #referendum #London | |
| A post shared by Meghan Markle (@meghanmarkle) on Jul 2, 2016 at 5:06am PDT | |
| Still no word from the US president but Justin Trudeau in Canada has offered his sincere congratulations. | |
| Markle has a connection with Canada as Suits is filmed in Toronto and she has lived there as a result. Additionally, Harry and Markle’s first public appearance as a couple was at the Invictus Games in the city. | |
| Le premier ministre Justin Trudeau offre ses sincères félicitations et ses meilleurs vœux au prince Harry et à Meghan Markle. 🇨🇦 🇬🇧 https://t.co/YxOg3KjyNi | Le premier ministre Justin Trudeau offre ses sincères félicitations et ses meilleurs vœux au prince Harry et à Meghan Markle. 🇨🇦 🇬🇧 https://t.co/YxOg3KjyNi |
| Here is a video the Guardian has made about Meghan Markle: | Here is a video the Guardian has made about Meghan Markle: |
| The writer and broadcaster Afua Hirsch writes that the royal engagement “represents something genuinely different from everything that has gone before”. She continues: | |
| Their marriage will bring into reality what the British establishment lacked the imagination to even conceive of as possible 17 years ago – that a senior royal can love, and marry, someone whose ethnic heritage is not just different to his own, but the heritage that has always been most othered in Britain – black and African. | Their marriage will bring into reality what the British establishment lacked the imagination to even conceive of as possible 17 years ago – that a senior royal can love, and marry, someone whose ethnic heritage is not just different to his own, but the heritage that has always been most othered in Britain – black and African. |
| The royal family plays a largely symbolic role in our society, so it’s the symbolism of this engagement that interests me. I struggled growing up with the feeling that the monarchy were fundamental to Britishness, but that the Britishness they represented was one that excluded me. | The royal family plays a largely symbolic role in our society, so it’s the symbolism of this engagement that interests me. I struggled growing up with the feeling that the monarchy were fundamental to Britishness, but that the Britishness they represented was one that excluded me. |
| This exclusion mattered. It made other people perceive being truly British, and being black, as incompatible identities. It represented a giant taboo. Every government that I can remember made some attempt, rhetorical at least, to acknowledge and protect racial diversity. The family at the apex of our society was doing anything but. | This exclusion mattered. It made other people perceive being truly British, and being black, as incompatible identities. It represented a giant taboo. Every government that I can remember made some attempt, rhetorical at least, to acknowledge and protect racial diversity. The family at the apex of our society was doing anything but. |
| This is not the news people wanted to hear (not that it makes much difference to us journalists who will all have to work whatever) but Downing Street has said there are “no plans” for a bank holiday on the day of Prince Harry’s wedding. | This is not the news people wanted to hear (not that it makes much difference to us journalists who will all have to work whatever) but Downing Street has said there are “no plans” for a bank holiday on the day of Prince Harry’s wedding. |
| When William and Kate were married there was a bonus bank holiday but the difference in this case is that William is a likely future king while Harry is not. | When William and Kate were married there was a bonus bank holiday but the difference in this case is that William is a likely future king while Harry is not. |
| Markle’s on-screen father in Suits, Wendell Pierce, has tweeted his congratulations. He is perhaps the coolest person to have publicly offered his good wishes to date (no offence to Theresa May, Jeremy Corbyn, Philip Hammond, Fearne Cotton, Ronan Keating etc). Pierce, who plays Robert Zane in Suits and was also Bunk in the Wire, wrote: | |
| Congratulations to my TV daughter Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on the news of their wedding engagement. Harry you have her TV Father’s blessing. Robert Zane approves @Suits_USA | Congratulations to my TV daughter Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on the news of their wedding engagement. Harry you have her TV Father’s blessing. Robert Zane approves @Suits_USA |
| The ring, like the outfit, is a self-assured choice, with three diamonds and no coloured stones. This differs from Diana’s sapphire ring, worn by the Duchess of Cambridge, and Sarah Ferguson’s ruby ring. | The ring, like the outfit, is a self-assured choice, with three diamonds and no coloured stones. This differs from Diana’s sapphire ring, worn by the Duchess of Cambridge, and Sarah Ferguson’s ruby ring. |
| The jewellery expert Susan Rumfitt says the ring, designed by Harry using two diamonds from Diana’s collection and one from Botswana, fits with tradition. She compares it with the Queen’s engagement ring from 1947, made using a stone from Prince Philip’s mother’s tiara. | |
| “To use a piece of family jewellery is a traditional idea,” she said. The choice of diamonds, meanwhile, is both fashionable and traditional. Rumfitt said: | “To use a piece of family jewellery is a traditional idea,” she said. The choice of diamonds, meanwhile, is both fashionable and traditional. Rumfitt said: |
| The current fashion is for diamond engagement rings. But it’s very traditional as well. | The current fashion is for diamond engagement rings. But it’s very traditional as well. |
| Stephen Bates, formerly religious and royal correspondent of the Guardian, writes that Meghan Markle is not so different from royal brides in days of yore, and that the Windsors have become accustomed to the intrusive publicity that accompanies such events. | Stephen Bates, formerly religious and royal correspondent of the Guardian, writes that Meghan Markle is not so different from royal brides in days of yore, and that the Windsors have become accustomed to the intrusive publicity that accompanies such events. |
| Time moves on, and although we can expect much comment on Markle’s acting career, her Americanness, mixed heritage, even before getting to speculation about how to become a first-time mother in your late 30s – such things are novel these days neither to most families, nor even to the royal family. | Time moves on, and although we can expect much comment on Markle’s acting career, her Americanness, mixed heritage, even before getting to speculation about how to become a first-time mother in your late 30s – such things are novel these days neither to most families, nor even to the royal family. |
| It is thought that George III’s long-suffering wife, Charlotte, who had a German background, may also have may have had mixed-race ancestry. And their son the Duke of Clarence – later William IV – lived with the Irish actor Dorothea Jordan for 20 years and had 10 children with her, until he was reminded that he might become king one day and if he wanted a royal pension he ought to find a more suitable wife. He ditched her for the minor German princess Adelaide, who was 30 years his junior ... | It is thought that George III’s long-suffering wife, Charlotte, who had a German background, may also have may have had mixed-race ancestry. And their son the Duke of Clarence – later William IV – lived with the Irish actor Dorothea Jordan for 20 years and had 10 children with her, until he was reminded that he might become king one day and if he wanted a royal pension he ought to find a more suitable wife. He ditched her for the minor German princess Adelaide, who was 30 years his junior ... |
| Having an actor in the family is not the social stigma it was in old William IV’s day either: Markle is sure to be a hot property for agents and producers across the world now, if she chooses to continue her career. And why not, though she may have to be a bit careful about the roles she chooses from now on. | Having an actor in the family is not the social stigma it was in old William IV’s day either: Markle is sure to be a hot property for agents and producers across the world now, if she chooses to continue her career. And why not, though she may have to be a bit careful about the roles she chooses from now on. |
| Prince Harry designed the ring that Markle showed off to photographers this afternoon, using diamonds that belonged to his mother, Princess Diana. | Prince Harry designed the ring that Markle showed off to photographers this afternoon, using diamonds that belonged to his mother, Princess Diana. |
| The two outside stones came from the late princess’s personal collection, with the centrepiece a large diamond from Botswana. The country holds special significance for Harry who has visited many times since he was a child and is a place where the couple have spent time together over the past year and a half, Kensington Palace said. | The two outside stones came from the late princess’s personal collection, with the centrepiece a large diamond from Botswana. The country holds special significance for Harry who has visited many times since he was a child and is a place where the couple have spent time together over the past year and a half, Kensington Palace said. |
| The band is made of gold and the ring was made by Cleave and Company. | The band is made of gold and the ring was made by Cleave and Company. |
| By designing his bride-to-be’s engagement ring using jewels that belonged to his mother, Harry is following in the footsteps of his grandfather. | By designing his bride-to-be’s engagement ring using jewels that belonged to his mother, Harry is following in the footsteps of his grandfather. |
| The Duke of Edinburgh designed an engagement ring for the Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, in 1947. The Duke had the ring made by the jewellers Philip Antrobus Ltd, using diamonds from a tiara belonging to his mother, Princess Alice of Greece. | The Duke of Edinburgh designed an engagement ring for the Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, in 1947. The Duke had the ring made by the jewellers Philip Antrobus Ltd, using diamonds from a tiara belonging to his mother, Princess Alice of Greece. |
| When Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge, he gave her Diana’s famous sapphire and diamond engagement ring. He hid the priceless heirloom in a rucksack so he could pop the question on holiday in Kenya. | When Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge, he gave her Diana’s famous sapphire and diamond engagement ring. He hid the priceless heirloom in a rucksack so he could pop the question on holiday in Kenya. |
| Will Meghan Markle, an American national, need to apply for a visa to join her soon-to-be spouse in the UK? Downing Street declined to comment to reporters who asked the question at this morning’s lobby briefing and directed the question to the House Office. | Will Meghan Markle, an American national, need to apply for a visa to join her soon-to-be spouse in the UK? Downing Street declined to comment to reporters who asked the question at this morning’s lobby briefing and directed the question to the House Office. |
| The Home Office “does not comment on individual cases” but pointed the Guardian towards the rules for family visas, which are needed if you wish to remain in the UK with your spouse or fiance. | The Home Office “does not comment on individual cases” but pointed the Guardian towards the rules for family visas, which are needed if you wish to remain in the UK with your spouse or fiance. |
| The decision is usually made within eight weeks and will cost £993, or £1,583 if Meghan decides to use the premium service. There are restrictions, including if you cannot prove your knowledge of English or your spouse does not meet the minimum income requirement of £18,000 or cash savings above £16,000, but that is unlikely to be an issue for the couple. | The decision is usually made within eight weeks and will cost £993, or £1,583 if Meghan decides to use the premium service. There are restrictions, including if you cannot prove your knowledge of English or your spouse does not meet the minimum income requirement of £18,000 or cash savings above £16,000, but that is unlikely to be an issue for the couple. |
| It is not clear which visa Meghan is currently using to be in the UK, but if she is here on a visitor visa, under the official system, she would need to leave the UK in order to apply for her family visa. | It is not clear which visa Meghan is currently using to be in the UK, but if she is here on a visitor visa, under the official system, she would need to leave the UK in order to apply for her family visa. |
| Hysteria ensues. | Hysteria ensues. |
| Meghan appeared for her first photocall as Harry’s fiancee in a white coat by the Canadian brand Line the Label, as well as a dress by Parosh. | Meghan appeared for her first photocall as Harry’s fiancee in a white coat by the Canadian brand Line the Label, as well as a dress by Parosh. |
| Immediately after the appearance, Line the Label’s website crashed because of the numbers of people trying to access its site. | Immediately after the appearance, Line the Label’s website crashed because of the numbers of people trying to access its site. |
| Still no word from Trump. | Still no word from Trump. |
| He’s sent three tweets in the last 45 minutes. Washington DC is five hours behind UK time. | He’s sent three tweets in the last 45 minutes. Washington DC is five hours behind UK time. |
| As previously discussed, the diplomatic course of action would be to congratulate them. But Markle did once call the president of the US “misogynistic”. | As previously discussed, the diplomatic course of action would be to congratulate them. But Markle did once call the president of the US “misogynistic”. |
| What will he do? | What will he do? |