Who is Meghan Markle?

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have announced their engagement

In 2018, the UK and British Commonwealth will have a new 'princess'!

Actress Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have announced their engagement after weeks of rumours.

The two are planning to get married in Spring 2018!

She'll also probably get the title of 'Duchess' rather than 'Princess'.

Who is Meghan?

Meghan is best known for her role as Rachel Zane in the TV drama Suits

Meghan Markle has over 1.9 million followers on Instagram and is the most 'googled' actress of the year.

She's 36 and was born on 4 August, 1981 in Los Angeles - a city in the state of California, USA.

Her mum is a yoga instructor and therapist and her dad is a lighting director.

In 2003, she finished a degree in theatre and international studies from Northwestern University, in Chicago. As part of her degree, she worked in Argentina!

Meghan and her mum, Doria, at this year's Invictus Games

She has had roles in lots of different US television shows, including General Hospital and 90210.

Her best known role is as a lawyer called Rachel Zane in a television drama called Suits.

Meghan is also passionate about working for charities.

She is an ambassador for a charity called World Vision Canada. She also campaigns for women's rights for the United Nations.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been dating for over a year since they met at last year's Invictus Games

She's been married before - to an American television producer, but they separated in 2011.

Her ex-husband is now producing a show about a man whose ex-wife marries into the British royal family!

Sadly, Meghan, whose father is white and mother is African-American, has been the target of racist and sexist abuse in the media.

Prince Harry was so upset about it that he released a statement in November 2016, defending Meghan - and urging the press to leave her, and her family, alone.

How did Meghan and Prince Harry meet?

Meghan met Prince Harry through mutual friends in July 2016.

She also attended the Invictus Games in Orlando in 2016 - a sporting event created by Prince Harry for wounded, sick or injured members of the Commonwealth armed forces.

However, the press did not find out about their new relationship until months after their first meeting.

According to reports, the couple went on their first holiday together in January 2017 - to see the Northern Lights in Norway. How romantic!

In late August this year, they had a holiday in Botswana, in Africa to celebrate Meghan's 36th birthday.

In September, in an interview with Vanity Fair magazine, she said they were "really happy and in love."

Over a year after they met, the couple made their first official public appearance together at the 2017 Invictus Games.

Top five fun facts about Meghan

1. Her nicknames include Flower, Meg, Nutmeg, MM and M&M.

2. While Meghan was auditioning as an actress, she made some extra money doing calligraphy for wedding invitations. Calligraphy is a type of very fancy handwriting!

3. She loves dogs and has two rescue dogs called Guy and Bogart.

4. During an interview before she met Prince Harry, she was asked which of the two British princes she preferred - Harry or William. She picked Harry! Phew!

5. Meghan loves food and is a big fan of hot sauce to make her food extra spicy!