Harry and Meghan got secretly engaged in Botswana two months before their official announcement, claims book
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had secretly got engaged while they were on a trip to Botswana, around two months before they had officially told the rest of the world, a new biography claims.
It has been reported that Harry proposed to Meghan while the two were in Botswana, extracts obtained by The Sunday Times revealed. Back in 2017, pictures by The Sun had shown the couple arriving together on their holiday. At the time, a source had told the publication, "Who knows what will happen when they’re watching a sensational African sunset together? Maybe he’ll get down on one knee."
The biography 'Finding Freedom' also says that Harry's relationship with his older brother Prince William had started to deteriorate "shortly before the couple became secretly engaged in August 2017". The new biography which will be released on August 11 will reveal further details of the couple's trip. Up until now, the pair had maintained that they had got engaged over a low key roast chicken dinner in November 2017.
They had given an interview to BBC's Mishal Hussain after they announced their engagement. Harry had claimed, "It happened earlier this month, just a standard typical night for us." Meghan had added, "Just a cozy night, we were just roasting chicken." She also shared that it had been an "amazing surprise" and revealed, "It was so sweet and natural and very romantic. He got on one knee."
The two authors, Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, say that the claims made in the book have been based on "participation of those closest to the couple" which includes members of Harry and Meghan's inner circle. The book also details out the tension between the couple and Prince William and also Meghan and Kate. The book reportedly says, "The two duchesses’ relationship had struggled to move past the distant politeness of when they first met. Their cordial but distant rapport was apparent when they appeared at the King Power Royal Charity Polo Day. While the doting mothers were photographed next to each other with their children, the two appeared to barely exchange a word," the book claims.
Harry and Meghan had chosen to step down as senior members of the royal family back earlier this year with their final royal engagement being the Commonwealth Day Service in Westminster Abbey on March 9. The pair had not been included in the procession of senior royals as insiders said that it was due to their decision to step down. However, the book reveals, "The decision had been made without their consultation. This year it would be the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince of Wales, and the Duchess of Cornwall walking through the abbey with the Queen."
"It felt intentional. Harry was more than disappointed," a friend said. While Harry and Meghan both greeted William and Kate with smiles, the Cambridges showed little response. William and Kate sat with their backs to the couple, only turning around to chat with Prince Edward and Sophie, next to the Sussexes, the book added. "They purposefully chose not to put them in the procession and not be welcoming. It was most unpleasant," the book claimed.
The book speaks about Harry and Meghan's decision to keep the full family in the dark over their plans to quit royal duties and that the couple moving abroad had created a "lot of ill will in the household and especially in the family". The book also says palace officials "simply didn't like Meghan and would stop at nothing to make her life difficult".