Meghan Markle and Prince Harry just gave their first interview as an engaged couple to the BBC's Mishal Husain—and they touched on everything: How they met and how fast they fell in love! How they did long distance! What it was like going public! Their plans for kids, Markle's plans for her career, and more! Here, the most important bits from it.
On how the two fell for each other—and fast: They were set up by a mutual friend—and didn't know much about each other. "Everything I learned about him I learned through him," Markle said.
"[After] only two dates and then going effectively on holiday together in the middle of nowhere [in Botswana]...it was amazing to get to know her as quickly as I did," Harry said.
On the proposal: It happened when they were home together one night at Nottingham Cottage."Just a standard, typical night for us," Harry said.
"Just a cozy night, it was—what were we doing? Roasting chicken and—"
"Trying to roast a chicken," Harry replied.
"Trying to roast a chicken. And it was just—just an amazing surprise, it was so sweet and natural and very romantic. He got on one knee."
Markle could barely let Prince Harry finish proposing before saying yes.
“I was like, ‘Can I say yes now?’”
On how they dealt with the long distance while Markle shot in Toronto: "It was just a choice, right? I think that very early on when we realized we were going to commit to each other, we had to invest the time and the energy to make that happen," Markle said.
With all the plane trips, rushing back to Toronto after being in London for a couple days, and dealing with the timezone difference, "we made it work and now we’re here," Harry added.
On whether either of them understood what it'd be like when they went public after a couple months of dating privately: "I think I can very safely say as naively as it sounds now … I did not have any understanding of what it’d be like," Markle said.
"I tried to warn you as much as possible, but I think both of us were totally surprised by the reaction after the first five or six months we had to ourselves," Harry said.
On their relationship suddenly appearing in the tabloids: "There’s a misconception that because I worked in the entertainment industry this is something I’d be familiar with," Markle said. "I’ve never been part of tabloid culture or pop culture. I lived a relatively quiet life. That was a really stark [change.]"
"I think we were hit so hard at the beginning I made the choice not to read anything…we focused all our energies on nurturing our relationship and on us," Markle said.
On the criticism she received for being biracial: "Of course it’s disheartening," Markle said. "It’s a shame that that is the climate in this word to focus that much on that or be discriminatory in that sense."
"At the end of the day, I’m really just proud of who I am. I’ve never put any focus on that. We’ve just focused on who we are as a couple," she finished.
On what Markle joining the royal family means to Prince Harry: "For me, it’s an added member of the family. it’s another team player....we want to carry out the right engagements, the right work."
"The fact that I fell in love with Meghan so incredibly quickly was confirmation to me that all the stars were aligned," Harry said. "The fact that she’ll be really unbelievably good at the job part of it is a huge relief to me. We’re a fantastic team, we know we are, the more we hope to over time to try have as much impact over time on the stuff we care about."
"As you said the causes that have been really important to me I can focus more energy on," Markle added. "I’m excited to just really get to know more about the different communities here, smaller organizations working on the same [causes we believe in]."
Markle on giving up acting to be with Harry: "I don’t see it as giving anything up. I just see it as a change. It’s a new chapter, right? And also keep in mind that I’ve been working on my show for seven years. We’re very very fortunate to have that kind of longevity in a series." But once she hit the 100th episode, she felt she had accomplished what she wanted to on Suits. "Now it’s time to work as a team with you," she said, looking straight at Harry.
Harry on asking Markle to give up acting and her life in the U.S. and Toronto to be with him: "That sense of responsibility was essentially day one or a couple of months when I realized I know that I’m in love with this girl," he said.
"[I told her,] what you’re letting yourself in for is a big deal. It’s not easy....[But] at the end of the day, she chooses me. I choose her. Whatever we have to tackle will be us together as a team."
"That’s so nicely said, isn’t it?" Markle replied.
"Both of us have passions for wanting to make change, change for good....and it was really one of the first things we connected on…just the different things we wanted to do to change the world." It's what got Harry a date 2, Markle added.
On whether they'll have kids: "No [not now], of course, you know, one step at a time," Harry said. "Hopefully we’ll start a family in the near future."
On Markle meeting the Queen: "I have. A couple of times, yeah. It’s incredible. A) to be able to meet her through his lens, not just with his honor and respect for her but the love and respect he has for her as his grandmother," Markle said. "All of those layers have been important to me. She’s an incredible women." The corgis really liked her. They were "just laying on my feet during tea."
Harry on introducing Markle to Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Prince Charles: "We’ve had a handful of teas and meetings over at his place (father’s). The family has absolutely been solid support."
"Catherine’s been absolutely amazing," Markle said.
"They’ve known for quite some time," Harry said, adding how they kept it a secret amazed him.
On Harry meeting Markle's friends and family—and their initial reactions to Markle and Harry dating: "Well, I’m sure at the onset both my parents and close friends were concerned [when it first became public with the scrutiny,]" Markle said.
"[But] they had never seen me so happy and I think once my friends were able to really meet Harry and my mom, who—"
"Her mom’s amazing," Harry interjected.
"It was just obvious that no matter what we were being put through, it was just temporary and we were going to be able to get through that," Markle said. She added Harry has talked to her dad several times but hasn't met him yet.
Harry on Markle's engagement ring: "The ring is obviously yellow gold because that’s her favorite, and the main stone is from Botswana, and the little diamonds are from my mother’s jewelry collection to make sure she’s with us on this journey," Harry said.
"It’s beautiful and he designed it," Markle said.
On wearing Diana's diamonds and her being with them: "It’s so important to know she’s a part of this with us and being able to meet his aunts [on Diana's side] and Julia [Samuel] and just other people who are so important to his mom, I’m able to know a part of her through him," Markle said.
On what Diana would have thought of Markle: "Oh, they'd be thick as thieves, without question," Harry said. "I think she would have be over the moon, jumping up and down, you know so excited for me, but then, as I said, would have probably been best friends—best friends with Meghan."
