Royal Engagement Protocol: What to Expect When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Announce Their Engagement

With rumors of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's engagement reaching an all-time high, it's time for a refresher course on Royal Engagement Protocol.

Last week, news broke that an engagement was imminent, due in part to Markle moving to London, bookmakers suspending bets on when an engagement would take place, and finally, reports the BBC is primed and ready for a green light to release the news via their channels – a perfect trinity of events meaning it's nearly go time.

However, aside from this anecdotal evidence, there are of course a series of Royal Protocols that will occur to mark Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's engagement.

Permission from the Queen

According to a law that dates back to the 18th century, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle need to first seek permission from the Queen in order to marry.

The Royal Marriages Act 1772 states the monarch must approve the marriage of her children, as well as direct descendants of King George II.

This is then enshrined in a legal document called the Instrument of Consent, which is a historic document that is still handwritten to this day and basically outlines the Queen's formal consent for the couple to marry.

This is later presented to the couple after their wedding day.

The Proposal

This very personal part is what we can't speculate on.

It is up to Prince Harry when and how he proposes.

If he hasn't already, Royal Watchers believe he will choose an heirloom ring from the Royal Family's collection to pop the question, in keeping with Royal tradition.

Informing the Family

Meghan's close family, as well as the Royal Family, is then informed prior to a public announcement.

Prince Harry will only tell the news to his father Prince Charles, his mother-in-law the Duchess of Cornwall, as well as Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge, before the public is informed.

Informing the Prime Minister

It is a custom to inform the Prime Minister of a Royal engagement, which means the Royal Family will let Prime Minister Theresa May know before the media.

The Announcement

To mark the official news to the public and press, a formal announcement will be issued by the Royal Family.

This is likely to be issued from Kensington Palace rather than Buckingham Palace, which is where Prince Harry's official communications base lies.

Ahead of time, the Palace will also inform the BBC who will prepare their newsreels.

The Palace will then release a statement on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram simultaneously, which is also likely to contain details of the ring.

Following this will be the reactions from the Royal Family, with Harry's father Prince Charles and brother Prince William to release their own statements supporting the engagement.

The First Interview

Lastly, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will conduct their first interview.

The official first interview is a sit-down in-depth television interview conducted by the BBC.

The couple is able to select a reporter they feel comfortable with and this is where we will get to hear details of the proposal and also see the ring for the first time.

If you remember Prince William and Kate Middleton's television announcement, you'll know it was an iconic moment for the couple, with Middleton's royal blue Issa dress selling out within 24 hours and coining the sartorial term the Kate Effect.