Prince Harry And Meghan Markle First Public Pics Together, Harry And Meghan ‘Totally In Love’
The Prince Harry and Meghan Markle dating rumors just got a huge “visual confirmation” that the two are actually a couple. After the Christmas tree shopping trip a few days ago, it was pretty clear that a public pic would be coming up soon, and now it’s finally happened. The Sun was on the spot for the first photo of Harry and Meghan together, looking exactly like a couple out for an evening date.
WORLD EXCLUSIVE: Prince Harry has been photographed with Meghan Markle for the first time https://t.co/XurKUPYtxJ pic.twitter.com/D8rXXOVO4d
— The Sun (@TheSun) December 15, 2016
Markle and the prince “looked totally in love” as they strolled “hand-in-hand” through West End shoppers in London, U.K. They walked slowly, “admiring the Christmas lights,” almost as if they knew it was time to let royal watchers catch a glimpse of their romance. Prince Harry was on his own turf, and he chose to take his visiting girlfriend to the popular West End show The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.
The couple seemed completely open about their romance, and although it’s difficult to tell for certain in the pics, according to the Sun, Meghan and Harry were holding hands as they walked between “stunned passers-by on Shaftesbury Avenue — one of the busiest streets in the world.”
Tomorrow's front page: First pictures of Prince Harry and girlfriend Meghan Markle pic.twitter.com/uPGUYHLk8T
— The Sun (@TheSun) December 14, 2016
Vanity Fair writes that there were other clues pointing to an established romance between the prince and the Suits actress. Harry wore a blue beanie to go with Meghan’s black one, and “they certainly have the gait and posture, in relation to each other, of a couple in love.” There hasn’t been too much doubt about the relationship ever since Harry released a statement asking the public to respect Markle’s privacy, and attacking the racial undertones present in media coverage of the actress. But for royal watchers and Markle fans, it’s nice to see the pictures of the two clearly enjoying each other’s company.
A Prince Harry insider spoke to the Sun about the decision to go public in his relationship with Markle.
“Harry has said his privacy is important to him but they are clearly not afraid to be seen in public together. As an actress Meghan loves the theatre so this was an obvious date to go on.”
It was also an obvious place to be if Prince Harry wanted to be noticed with Markle, and all the signs say that Prince William’s younger brother was ready. There would have been thousands of Christmas shoppers on the street as the couple made their leisurely way to the Gielgud Theatre for their date. Since they had to have known that they’d be noticed on this first public date, the choice of matching beanies was a “particularly sweet” statement of togetherness.
“They are clearly crazy about each other and have told friends they are very much in love.”
Now that William and Kate have little Prince George to inherit the throne, Prince Harry is one step further away from the responsibility. Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince George all come before Prince Harry in line to becoming king. Harry may feel freer to think seriously about romance and marriage than he would have only a few years ago.
However serious Harry is about Meghan, they still won’t be spending their first Christmas together. There’s a longstanding and unbreakable tradition of the royal family gathering at Sandringham Castle for Christmas. Even Kate Middleton was not on the queen’s invitation list to the festivities until after she was formally engaged to William. Harry has to go to Her Majesty’s party, but it’s unlikely that Markle would be welcome there at this stage in her relationship with Harry.
As to whether or not the romance between Prince Harry and Meghan will grow, much of that will depend on how Meghan adjusts to living in England. Right now, it looks like Markle may love making the U.K. her future home. A Markle insider told Us Weekly that Meghan is loving her time in London.
“Meghan’s loving London more and more with every visit. You can say the same thing about Harry too!”
What do you think? Will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stay together, and will there be a royal engagement in 2017?
[Featured Images by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for ELLE and Geoff Pugh – WPA Pool /Getty Images]
