Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle were hiding a huge secret in this famous photo

prince harry and meghan markle
(Image credit: Chris Jackson)

Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle were hiding a huge secret in this famous photo of them together.

Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle were reportedly hiding something major when they made their first ever public appearance together back in 2017.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were seen on their first official outing together back in the September of 2017 when they attended the Toronto Invictus Games hand in hand.

Just two months later, Clarence House announced the couple’s engagement, but, according to the new book Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family, it turns out that the pair were already secretly engaged when they made their first Toronto appearance together.

prince harry and meghan markle

Duchess Meghan is also said to have hinted at the engagement with the stylish summer outfit that she wore, as her crisp white button-down short from designer friend Misha Nonoo’s collection was actually named the ‘Husband Shirt’.

The secret engagement came as quite a surprise to royal fans, as when Clarence House announced the new in the November, they wrote, ‘His Royal Highness and Ms. Markle became engaged in London earlier this month’.

prince harry and meghan markle

‘Prince Harry has informed Her Majesty The Queen and other close members of his family. Prince Harry has also sought and received the blessing of Ms. Markle’s parents’.

When speaking about the engagement, Prince Harry also hinted that he had proposed to Duchess Meghan in the November, saying in the couple’s engagement interview, "It happened a few weeks ago, earlier this month, here at our cottage; just a standard typical night for us”.

"It just – just an amazing surprise,” added Duchess Meghan, “it was so sweet and natural and very romantic”.

Aleesha Badkar
Digital Beauty Editor, woman&home

Aleesha is Digital Beauty Editor at woman&home, where she gets to share her expertise into all the best techniques, sharpest tools and newest products—with a particular savvy in skincare and fragrance.

Previously, she was Deputy Editor and Beauty & Fashion Editor for My Imperfect Life, where she headed up the beauty, fashion and eCommerce pages. In the past, she has worked as Shopping Writer at woman&home, gained an AOP awards nomination after working on their news team, contributed to Women's Health, Stylist and Goodto and earned an MA in Magazine Journalism from City, University of London.