Prince Harry fell in love with Meghan Markle shortly after they met and their romance quickly blossomed.
When they started dating, Meghan was living in Toronto and working as an actress on Suits, while Harry was diligently carrying out his job as a royal in the United Kingdom and living in Nottingham Cottage on the grounds of Kensington Palace.
As things became more serious between the couple, a public appearance together became more likely and even rumors of an imminent engagement circulated.
Royal biographer Andrew Morton revealed in his book Meghan: A Hollywood Princess the fine details of how exactly Harry introduced his future wife to the world.
Harry launched the Invictus Games in 2014 and participates in various related sporting events each year.
In 2017, the prince chose a wheelchair tennis match between Australia and New Zealand as the occasion to be officially seen with Meghan for the first time.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry watching wheelchair tennis at their first public appearance together in 2017.
Meghan and Harry holding hands at the Invictus Games event in Toronto
At one point during the event, Meghan was given a bottle of water, but Harry advised her to leave it on the floor.
Before the couple entered the pitch, photographers covering the match were informed at the last minute by a Kensington Palace press officer.
Morton wrote how the press officer told reporters: “When you arrive, stay in your seats and don’t move from them.” If you do, they will leave.
He didn’t explicitly name the prince or his bride, but it soon became clear when Harry and Meghan entered the court hand in hand and took their seats.
“In the choreography of their romance, this was spectacular,” Morton wrote.
The couple was careful with their moves and how their big moment would be captured.
At one point, Meghan was given a bottle of water, but “Harry advised her to put it on the floor and not drink it on camera,” Morton wrote.
Together, they put on a display of love: leaning in to talk to each other and even whispering in each other’s ears.
Harry and Meghan held hands as they walked together and seemed to be having fun.
Meghan also seemed to have a natural interaction with the audience. He shook the hand of a boy sitting nearby and waved to the children as Harry watched proudly.
They both wore dark sunglasses in the 30-degree heat.
The appearance sparked rumors of an imminent royal engagement. The announcement came two months later.
Meghan bowing as Harry speaks during the event in Toronto in 2017.
The Prince whispering to Meghan, who is wearing a Misha Nonoo’s Husband t-shirt
Harry looked casual in a black Invictus Games polo and jeans, while Meghan made her own statement wearing a white shirt called The Husband, designed by her friend Misha Nonoo.
Meghan had previously written on her lifestyle blog, Tig, that the shirt was her “favorite button-down,” Morton said. In a sign of things for some, the shirt turned out to be a popular fashion choice that soon sold out.
Even her bag was carefully chosen and was a light brown Everlane bag, a company that is committed to sustainable fashion.
Meghan appeared again next to Harry at the closing ceremony of the Games.
She sat in a darkened VIP box at the side of the stage with her friend, Canadian stylist Jessica Mulroney, and her mother, Doria Ragland.
In a romantic moment, Harry was seen kissing his girlfriend on the cheek before leaving her in her box to go down to the stage and give his closing speech.
As he spoke, Meghan and her mother could be seen clapping enthusiastically as they stood together in their box, the Mail reported at the time.
The initial photocall seemed to be a success and Harry and Meghan announced their engagement just two months later.
Harry guiding Meghan during their first official appearance together; she is wearing ripped jeans and sunglasses.
Meghan and Harry smiling during their first engagement together
On November 27, 2017, they were together in Kensington Palace’s Sunken Garden and talked about their exciting news.
Meghan stroked Harry’s arm as they spoke to reporters, who asked: “When did you know she was the one?” and he replied, ‘Since the first time we met.’
It was a big step from meeting each other to a blind date supposedly set up by a friend the year before.
Harry and Meghan married on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.