Prince Harry and Meghan Markle decided to wed while on a romantic holiday under the stars in this luxury camp in Botswana
PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle decided to wed while on a romantic holiday in Botswana during the summer, The Sun on Sunday can reveal.
The loved-up couple committed to marriage when they were camping under the stars in the African wilderness, just a year after they started dating.
But Harry could not pop the question until he’d been given written permission by his grandmother, the Queen - a requirement under British law.
A source close to the couple said: “The trip to Botswana was Harry’s chance to introduce the two loves of his life - Meghan and the country he first visited just weeks after his mother’s death when he was 12.
“That was the moment it all began, started the process that led up to Monday’s official announcement.
“It was, as far as Harry was concerned, the point at which the two of them decided they would get married.
“But the reality is that, under British law, as fifth-in-line to the throne, they are not officially engaged until after the Queen has given her blessing.
“So unlike a normal couple, who make a private decision, Harry knew he had to go through the formal hoops before the engagement was official.
“With that in mind there was no way Harry could have ‘popped the question’ before getting that literal Royal seal of approval.”
Due to the Royal Marriages Act 1772, the monarch has the right to veto the marriage of a member of his or her family and is required to give formal consent to any family marriages in order to guard against those who could "diminish the status of the royal house."
The fact that Meghan is a divorcée had been speculated to hurt her chances, but royal marriage rules have become more lax in recent years.
A change in the law in 2013 means it is now only the six people closest in line to the throne - Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Harry, and Prince Andrew - who need to seek permission from the monarch.
With the birth of Charlotte in May 2015, Princess Beatrice of York became seventh in line and her sister Eugenie slid down to eighth, so they can marry whoever they want without checking with their grandmother first. And when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's third child arrives in 2018, Andrew will be able to do the same.
Once Harry had jumped through all the hoops and all the forms had been filled, he got down on one knee at Kensington Palace and asked Meghan to be his bride.
In their interview on Monday, Harry and Meghan both made references to their time “under the stars” in Botswana, which is a significant hint to when they really made their decision.
There is also another clue in the fact that Harry sourced the main stone in the engagement ring from Botswana, which is one of the world’s most renowned places for diamond mining.
The source said: “From the day they returned from Botswana, the two of them embarked on a ‘drip, drip’ of events that paved the way for the official announcement.
“Harry allowed Meghan to declare her love in an interview with Vanity Fair.
The couple posed for pictures of them together at the Invictus games. And she decided to quit her role on Suits and move to London several weeks ago.
“Meghan never would have made such a life changing decision if she hadn’t already made up her mind that her life was about to change.”
Brit guys top voice
AMERICAN women find Prince Harry’s accent a turn-on, a survey found.
Two in ten said the British accent was the sexiest in the world.
The Scottish were voted second followed by the Spanish and Aussies.
MissTravel.com, which polled 1,423 women, said: “Americans often associate British accents with intelligence and class, both desirable qualities for a mate.”
American men found women with Israeli accents sexiest, Brits did not rank for them at all.
Harry and Meghan jetted out to Botswana in early August, where they celebrated Meghan's 36th birthday.
After enjoying a BBQ at a friend's ranch they headed to the Okavango Delta in Botswana, travelling around by mokoro, a shallow wooden canoe propelled through the swamp by pole.
The pair shunned luxury safari lodges in favour of fly camping, setting up their tents in areas off the beaten track.
Harry's taxpayer-funded police protection officers were their only company on the three-week adventure. The besotted couple were pictured arriving in Africa for their romantic getaway.
Loved-up Harry appeared to give a thumbs-up to other passengers as he walked across the airport tarmac after leaving the plane.
Later they moved on to Zambia where they stayed in the lap of luxury at a £2,500-a-night safari lodge complete with chef, butlers and private guide.
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The loved-up prince and his actress belle finished their romantic month-long holiday at Tongabezi, an exclusive retreat on the banks of the Zambezi river.
The pair checked into the resort's luxurious Tangala House last Thursday to see the spectacular Victoria Falls.
After almost three weeks of safari in Botswana's Okavango Delta, the lovebirds chose the secluded villa to round off the holiday of a lifetime.
A golden girl boyo
MEGHAN has been hail- ed for boosting Welsh gold as she is set to wear it in her wedding ring.
Ten lots tipped to fetch £8,500 at auction last week went for £40,000.
That made it 20 times pricier than other gold. Its rarity means it is usually just five times dearer.
Auctioneer David Rogers-Jones said of the sale in Colwyn Bay, North Wales: “It raised a princely sum. We believe it’s Royal wedding fever.”
Welsh gold has been used in every Royal wedding ring since 1923.