Get ready to swoon: A definitive timeline of Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry's love story
Prepare your cheek muscles - you're about to smile excessively.
Mid-2016: Blind date
A ginger royal and a striking brunette walk into a bar... and the rest was history - quite literally. After being set up with Harry on a blind date, Meghan said there was an instant connection. (Images: Getty)
A few weeks later: Harry invites Meghan to Africa
Mere weeks after meeting, Harry reportedly took the plunge and went all out for his new flame, inviting Meghan to accompany him to Botswana, where they camped out together "under the stars," Harry revealed to the BBC - how romantic! (Image: Getty)
Late 2016: matching bracelets
The couple had done well to keep things under wraps thus far, but by October 2016, the rumour mill was in full swing with many speculating that we had a new royal pairing on our hands. Eagle-eyed fans even spotted the royals sporting matching bracelets - a classic couple move that all but confirmed things! (Images: Getty (L), Instagram (R))
November 2016: Harry issues a rare statement for Meghan's safety
As speculation and rumours spread that the couple were courting, the media scrutiny intensified ten-fold. In fact, the pair were under such a magnifying glass that Prince Harry took it upon himself to issue a statement via Kensington Palace to defend Meghan's safety.
"Prince Harry is worried about Ms. Markle's safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her," the statement read.
"He knows that it is unusual to issue a statement like this, but hopes that fair-minded people will understand why he has felt it necessary to speak publically." (Image: Getty)
December 2016: First pictures of the couple together emerge
It was the moment we'd all been waiting for - Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were pictured together as they strolled to a show in London's West End. To add to the romance, the pair were hand-in-hand as they walked along Piccadilly surrounded by Christmas lights - swoon! (Images: Getty)
January 2017: Meghan meets the extended family
After reports of her first meeting with father-in-law-to-be Prince Charles in November 2016, Meghan was then introduced Harry's elder brother Prince William and wife Kate Middleton two months later - a big step for the new couple! (Images: Getty)
February 2017: Meghan and Harry's relationship continues to grow
2017 was off to a running start for these two, with the pair being spotted together on a date in London at the beginning of February. Over the next few months, various reports of the pair's outings surfaced. With each, the world rejoiced. (Images: Twitter)
May 2017: A smooch at the Polo
By May, things were well and truly serious - and candid snaps of the pair sharing a peck at the Polo was enough to send royal fans into frenzy - we've got the real deal here, folks! (Images: Mega)
August 2017: Another trip to Africa
The couple returned to Africa a year after their initial visit as a new couple. They reportedly spent three weeks there visiting Botswana and Victoria Falls - how dreamy! (Images: Getty)
September 2017: Meghan's declaration of love
In an unprecedented move, Meghan opened up about her relationship with Prince Harry in a candid interview with Vanity Fair, saying: "We're a couple. We're in love. I'm sure there will be a time when we will have to come forward and present ourselves and have stories to tell, but I hope what people will understand is that this is our time." (Image: Getty)
September 2017: Meghan and Harry go public
Finally and at long last, Harry and Meghan went completely public with their relationship when they were snapped happily together at the 2017 Invictus Games. (Image: Getty)
November 2017: The engagement announcement
And then it happened. The engagement announcement that swept the world and our hearts in one collective breath. Their photo call at the The Sunken Gardens in Kensington Palace was all the proof we needed that this couple are for keeps. (Image: Getty)
December 2017: Meghan attends Christmas with the royals
Just like that, she was part of the family! Meghan was snapped at the Christmas Day service at Sandringham shortly after her and Harry's big announcement. (Image: Getty)
Early 2018: Meghan and Harry tackle royal walkabouts together
As a royal, a public walkabout is part and parcel - and over the first few months of 2018, Meghan became well-acquainted with them as she and Harry made several official appearances across Britain. (Image: Getty)
Early 2018: The cute moments continue...
It seems the pair couldn't help but show their affection for each other - and snaps like these proved it. (Image: Getty)
May 2018: The Royal Wedding
And so it was! Meghan and Harry officially tied the knot at St George's Chapel, Windsor on May 19, 2018 and the world watched on (with barely a dry eye in the house, might we add). (Image: Getty)
July 2018: A kiss at the Polo
Ah, newlywed bliss... The royal couple shared a sweet smooch at the Polo shortly after their royal wedding, and pure glee would be an accurate description of the reactions it was met with. (Image: Getty)
October 2018: Baby on board!
What could be better than a royal wedding? A baby announcement, it seems! Mere hours after touching down in Australia to commence their royal tour Down Under, Meghan and Harry announced that they were expecting a baby together - what a time to be alive! (Image: Getty)
October 2018: A royal tour clad with PDAs
After announcing they were expecting their first child together, the couple couldn't have looked more excited (or more smitten!). A wholesome day at Syndey's Bondi beach was case in point - they couldn't take their eyes off each other. (Image: Getty)
February 2019: Royal tour of Morocco
The Sussexes commenced a three day tour of Morocco in early 2019, and in true Meghan-and-Harry fashion, the affectionate moments continued in full-force. (Image: Getty)
March 2019: An on-stage PDA
In a surprise moment, a heavily pregnant Meghan was pulled on-stage by her doting husband during a WE Day celebration at Wembly Stadium, and we couldn't take our eyes off the loved-up pair! Watch the sweet moment in the video below! (Image: Getty)
March 2019: The eve of parenthood
With Meghan only weeks away from giving birth, the royal couple put on a classic display of affection while attending Commonwealth Day celebrations in London. Little more than a month later, a VERY exciting new chapter began for the pair... (Image: Getty)
May 2019: Birth of Meghan and Harry's son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor
On May 6, the world delighted when Meghan and Harry officially welcomed a brand new addition to their family - baby Archie. Besotted with his wife and son, Prince Harry gushed to media in the hours following, stating that Archie was "absolutely to die for".
We couldn't help but agree! Just two days later, we clapped eyes on the gorgeous little newborn for the first time, and it was clear the brand new parents were already nailing parenthood, with Meghan commenting: "It's magic, it's pretty amazing. I have the two best guys in the world so I'm really happy."