27/11/2017

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0:00:16 > 0:00:19Hello and welcome to The One Show, with Matt Baker...

0:00:19 > 0:00:22and Michelle Ackerley - after the announcement

0:00:22 > 0:00:25of the royal engagement today, we will be showing the first

0:00:25 > 0:00:30and only interview with Prince Harry and his fiancee, Meghan Markle,

0:00:30 > 0:00:32right here on The One Show, in full.

0:00:32 > 0:00:36They spoke earlier today to the BBC's Mishal Hussain -

0:00:36 > 0:00:39who's with us tonight...

0:00:39 > 0:00:41along with someone who also has

0:00:41 > 0:00:43a big announcement to make - Gabby Logan will be exclusively

0:00:43 > 0:00:45revealing the contenders for this year's

0:00:45 > 0:00:49Sports Personality of the Year.

0:00:49 > 0:00:53We will be over very shortly. There has been a lot of talk about the

0:00:53 > 0:00:57royal couple. Sadly, they wouldn't come onto our sofa, so here they are

0:00:57 > 0:01:06on theirs.Here's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle talking to Michelle.

0:01:08 > 0:01:10Your Royal Highness, Meghan Markle, congratulations to you both.

0:01:10 > 0:01:11Thank you.

0:01:11 > 0:01:14Can we start with the proposal and the actual moment

0:01:14 > 0:01:15of your engagement?

0:01:15 > 0:01:17When did it happen, how did it happen?

0:01:17 > 0:01:19It happened a few weeks ago, earlier this month,

0:01:19 > 0:01:20here at our cottage.

0:01:20 > 0:01:21Just a standard, typical night for us.

0:01:21 > 0:01:22Just a cosy night.

0:01:22 > 0:01:24What were we doing?

0:01:24 > 0:01:25Just roasting chicken.

0:01:25 > 0:01:26Trying to roast a chicken.

0:01:26 > 0:01:27Trying to roast a chicken.

0:01:27 > 0:01:29And it was just an amazing surprise.

0:01:29 > 0:01:31It was so sweet, and natural, and very romantic.

0:01:31 > 0:01:32He got on one knee.

0:01:32 > 0:01:33Of course.

0:01:33 > 0:01:35Was it an instant yes from you?

0:01:35 > 0:01:36Yes!

0:01:36 > 0:01:39As a matter of fact, I could barely let you finish proposing.

0:01:39 > 0:01:41I said, "Can I say yes now?"

0:01:41 > 0:01:42She didn't even let me finish.

0:01:42 > 0:01:43She said, "Can I say yes?"

0:01:43 > 0:01:47And then there was hugs, and I had the ring on my finger,

0:01:47 > 0:01:49and I was like, "Can I give you the ring?"

0:01:49 > 0:01:51And she was like, "Oh, yes, the ring!"

0:01:51 > 0:01:53So it was a really nice moment.

0:01:53 > 0:01:56It was just the two of us, and I think I managed

0:01:56 > 0:01:57to catch her by surprise as well.

0:01:57 > 0:01:59And this is how long after you first met?

0:01:59 > 0:02:03It would be a year and a half, a little bit more than that.

0:02:03 > 0:02:04Just about a year and a half.

0:02:04 > 0:02:07Which, for most people, would be quite a whirlwind.

0:02:07 > 0:02:08Is that how it's felt to you?

0:02:08 > 0:02:11I don't think that I would call it a whirlwind in terms

0:02:11 > 0:02:12of our relationship.

0:02:12 > 0:02:14Obviously, there have been layers attached to how

0:02:14 > 0:02:16public it has become, after we had a good five

0:02:16 > 0:02:20or six months with just privacy, which was amazing.

0:02:20 > 0:02:23But, no, I think we were able to really have so much

0:02:23 > 0:02:26time just to connect, and we never went longer than two

0:02:26 > 0:02:28weeks without seeing each other, even though we were obviously doing

0:02:28 > 0:02:31a long distance relationship, so...

0:02:31 > 0:02:36We made it work.

0:02:36 > 0:02:37How did you first meet?

0:02:37 > 0:02:39Er...

0:02:39 > 0:02:40Yes, we first met.

0:02:40 > 0:02:43We were introduced, actually, by a mutual friend, who we will...

0:02:43 > 0:02:45We should protect her privacy.

0:02:45 > 0:02:46..protect her privacy, yeah.

0:02:46 > 0:02:49A little too much of that.

0:02:49 > 0:02:53And, but, it was literally through her, and then we met once

0:02:53 > 0:02:58and then twice back-to-back, two dates, in London last July,

0:02:58 > 0:03:01beginning of July, and then it was I think about three,

0:03:01 > 0:03:03maybe four, weeks later that I managed to persuade her to come

0:03:03 > 0:03:06and join me in Botswana, and we camped out with each other

0:03:06 > 0:03:10under the stars, and we spent...

0:03:10 > 0:03:12She came and joined me for five days out there,

0:03:12 > 0:03:17which was absolutely fantastic.

0:03:17 > 0:03:20So, then we were really by ourselves, which was crucial,

0:03:20 > 0:03:25to me, to make sure that we had a chance to get to know each other.

0:03:25 > 0:03:28Your friend who introduced you - was she trying to set you up?

0:03:28 > 0:03:29Yes, it was definitely a setup.

0:03:29 > 0:03:31It was a blind date.

0:03:31 > 0:03:32It was a blind date, for sure.

0:03:32 > 0:03:35And it's so interesting because we talk about it now,

0:03:35 > 0:03:37and even then, you know, because I'm from the States,

0:03:37 > 0:03:42you don't grow up with the same understanding of the Royal Family,

0:03:42 > 0:03:46and so, while I now understand very clearly there is a global interest

0:03:46 > 0:03:50there, I didn't know much about him, and so the only thing I had

0:03:50 > 0:03:53asked her when she said she wanted to set us up was one question -

0:03:53 > 0:03:56I said, is he nice?

0:03:56 > 0:03:59Because if he wasn't kind, it didn't seem like it would make sense,

0:03:59 > 0:04:04so we went and met for a drink, and I think very quickly into that,

0:04:04 > 0:04:06we said, what are we doing tomorrow?

0:04:06 > 0:04:08We should meet again.

0:04:08 > 0:04:10What are you doing tomorrow, let's meet again.

0:04:10 > 0:04:13And then it was like, right, diaries, we need to get the diaries

0:04:13 > 0:04:16out and find out how we are going to make this work,

0:04:16 > 0:04:19because I was off to Africa for a month, she was working,

0:04:19 > 0:04:21and we just said, right, where's the gap?

0:04:21 > 0:04:23And the gap happened to be in the perfect place, so...

0:04:23 > 0:04:26So how much did you, Prince Harry, know about Meghan?

0:04:26 > 0:04:27Had you seen her on TV?

0:04:27 > 0:04:29No.

0:04:29 > 0:04:31I'd never even heard about her until this

0:04:31 > 0:04:33friend said "Meghan Markle".

0:04:33 > 0:04:35I was like, right, OK, give me a bit of background, like,

0:04:35 > 0:04:39what's going on here?

0:04:39 > 0:04:42So I'd never watched Suits, I'd never heard of Meghan before,

0:04:42 > 0:04:45and I was beautifully surprised when I walked into that room

0:04:45 > 0:04:49and saw her, and there she was sitting there.

0:04:49 > 0:04:52I was like, OK, I'm going to have to really up my game here.

0:04:52 > 0:04:56Sit down and make sure I've got good chat.

0:04:56 > 0:05:00I think for both of us it was really refreshing, because,

0:05:00 > 0:05:03given that I didn't know a lot about him, everything that

0:05:03 > 0:05:05I've learned about him, I learned through him,

0:05:05 > 0:05:08as opposed to having grown up around different news stories

0:05:08 > 0:05:10or tabloids or whatever else.

0:05:10 > 0:05:12Everything I learned about him and his family

0:05:12 > 0:05:15was what he would share with me, and vice versa, so for both of us

0:05:15 > 0:05:18it was just a really authentic and organic way to get

0:05:18 > 0:05:20to know each other.

0:05:20 > 0:05:22Was that quite refreshing for you in the way that

0:05:22 > 0:05:24you'd been brought up, with a lot of people

0:05:24 > 0:05:25knowing a lot about you?

0:05:25 > 0:05:27Or thinking they know.

0:05:27 > 0:05:28Or thinking they know.

0:05:28 > 0:05:29Exactly.

0:05:29 > 0:05:32It was hugely refreshing, to be able to get to know someone

0:05:32 > 0:05:33who isn't necessarily within your circle,

0:05:33 > 0:05:37doesn't know much about me.

0:05:37 > 0:05:40I don't know much about her, so to be able to start almost

0:05:40 > 0:05:43afresh, right from the beginning, and getting to know each other

0:05:43 > 0:05:46step by step, and then taking that huge leap of only two dates and then

0:05:46 > 0:05:51going effectively on holiday together in the middle of nowhere,

0:05:51 > 0:05:53and sharing a tent together and all that kind of

0:05:53 > 0:05:55stuff, it was fantastic.

0:05:55 > 0:06:00It was absolutely amazing to get to know her as quickly as I did.

0:06:00 > 0:06:02And starting a long-distance relationship.

0:06:02 > 0:06:04You were working on Suits.

0:06:04 > 0:06:05You had, I imagine, a packed filming schedule.

0:06:05 > 0:06:07You've got lots of commitments of your own.

0:06:07 > 0:06:11How hard was it to keep things going?

0:06:11 > 0:06:14It was just a choice, right?

0:06:14 > 0:06:17I think that, very early on, when we realised we were going

0:06:17 > 0:06:21to commit to each other, we knew we had to invest the time

0:06:21 > 0:06:24and the energy and whatever it took to make that happen.

0:06:24 > 0:06:26So, yes, with the filming schedule, it was not the easiest,

0:06:26 > 0:06:34because of course it included a lot of travel back and forth, but...

0:06:34 > 0:06:37I don't think you've had any idea what time zone you've been

0:06:37 > 0:06:38on for the last year and a half.

0:06:38 > 0:06:42No, no.

0:06:42 > 0:06:45Coming over here for days or weeks, and going back and straight

0:06:45 > 0:06:47into filming the next day, 4am wake-up calls on a Monday,

0:06:47 > 0:06:48straight into set.

0:06:48 > 0:06:51Right off the plane and straight to set, just coming back...

0:06:51 > 0:06:54And just trying to stay as close as possible,

0:06:54 > 0:06:57but on two different time zones, and five hours apart,

0:06:57 > 0:06:59does have its challenges, but we made it work,

0:06:59 > 0:07:01and now we're here, so...

0:07:01 > 0:07:04We're thrilled.

0:07:04 > 0:07:06In the case of your relationship, unlike for most people,

0:07:06 > 0:07:09there's this whole layer of what it means to get involved with someone

0:07:09 > 0:07:11from the Royal Family.

0:07:11 > 0:07:13How much of a sense did you have, Meghan, of the enormity

0:07:13 > 0:07:16of what you were getting into and what it might

0:07:16 > 0:07:17mean for your life?

0:07:17 > 0:07:21I think I can very safely say, as naive as it sounds now,

0:07:21 > 0:07:24having gone through this learning curve in the past year and a half,

0:07:24 > 0:07:27I did not have any understanding of just what it would be like.

0:07:27 > 0:07:29I don't think either of us did.

0:07:29 > 0:07:30We've both said that.

0:07:30 > 0:07:33Even though we knew that it would be...

0:07:33 > 0:07:37I tried to warn you as much as possible, but I think both of us

0:07:37 > 0:07:43were totally surprised by the reaction after the first five

0:07:43 > 0:07:46or six months that we had to ourselves of what would actually

0:07:46 > 0:07:49happen from then, so you can have as many conversations as you want

0:07:49 > 0:07:52and try and prepare as much as possible, but we were totally

0:07:52 > 0:07:53unprepared for what happened after that.

0:07:53 > 0:07:54The scrutiny.

0:07:54 > 0:07:55Well, all sorts.

0:07:55 > 0:07:58I think also because...

0:07:58 > 0:08:01It's a misconception that because I worked

0:08:01 > 0:08:04in the entertainment industry, that this would be something

0:08:04 > 0:08:06I would be familiar with.

0:08:06 > 0:08:09Even though I'd been on my show for six years at that point,

0:08:09 > 0:08:11and working before that, I've never been part of tabloid

0:08:11 > 0:08:16culture, never been in pop culture to that degree,

0:08:16 > 0:08:19and lived a relatively quiet life, even though I focused so much

0:08:19 > 0:08:22on my job, so that was a really stark difference

0:08:22 > 0:08:27out of the gate, but...

0:08:27 > 0:08:31And I think we were just hit so hard at the beginning with a lot

0:08:31 > 0:08:34of mistruths that I made the choice to not read anything,

0:08:34 > 0:08:35positive or negative.

0:08:35 > 0:08:37It just didn't make sense.

0:08:37 > 0:08:39Instead, we focused all of our energies just

0:08:39 > 0:08:40on nurturing our relationship.

0:08:40 > 0:08:41On us, yeah.

0:08:41 > 0:08:43On us.

0:08:43 > 0:08:46And some of that scrutiny - and you ended up making a very

0:08:46 > 0:08:49public statement about it - some of that scrutiny was centred

0:08:49 > 0:08:50around your ethnicity, Meghan.

0:08:50 > 0:08:52When you realised that, what did you think?

0:08:52 > 0:08:58Of course it's disheartening, you know.

0:08:58 > 0:09:05It's a shame that that is the climate, in this world,

0:09:05 > 0:09:08to focus that much on that, or be discriminatory in that sense.

0:09:08 > 0:09:12But I think, at the end of the day, I'm really just proud of who I am

0:09:12 > 0:09:14and where I come from, and we have never put

0:09:14 > 0:09:16any focus on that.

0:09:16 > 0:09:18We've just focused on who we are as a couple, and so,

0:09:18 > 0:09:22when you take all those extra layers away, and all of that noise,

0:09:22 > 0:09:24I think it makes it really easy to just enjoy being together,

0:09:24 > 0:09:28and tune all the rest of that out.

0:09:28 > 0:09:32Now that it is all official, Prince Harry, do you have that sense

0:09:32 > 0:09:34that the combination of the two of you and your different

0:09:34 > 0:09:36backgrounds, that you together represent something

0:09:36 > 0:09:37new for the Royal Family?

0:09:37 > 0:09:41I don't know if it's something new.

0:09:41 > 0:09:44For me, it's an added member of the family.

0:09:44 > 0:09:49It's another team player as part of the bigger team.

0:09:49 > 0:09:52For all of us, all we want to do is be able to carry out

0:09:52 > 0:09:55the right engagements, carry out our work, and try

0:09:55 > 0:09:58and encourage others and the younger generation to be able to see

0:09:58 > 0:10:00the world in the correct sense, rather than perhaps

0:10:00 > 0:10:07being a distorted view.

0:10:07 > 0:10:10So, you know, the fact that I fell in love with Meghan so incredibly

0:10:10 > 0:10:13quickly was sort of confirmation to me that everything,

0:10:13 > 0:10:17all the stars were aligned, everything was just perfect.

0:10:17 > 0:10:19There was this beautiful woman who had literally tripped

0:10:19 > 0:10:20and fell into my life.

0:10:20 > 0:10:21I fell into her life.

0:10:21 > 0:10:24And the fact that she...

0:10:24 > 0:10:28I know the fact that she'll be really, unbelievably good at

0:10:28 > 0:10:32the job part of it as well is obviously a huge relief to me,

0:10:32 > 0:10:35because she will be able to deal with everything else that comes

0:10:35 > 0:10:37with it, but we are a fantastic team.

0:10:37 > 0:10:40We know we are.

0:10:40 > 0:10:43We hope to, over time, try and have as much impact

0:10:43 > 0:10:45for all the things we care about as much as possible.

0:10:45 > 0:10:48I'm very excited about that.

0:10:48 > 0:10:50And, Meghan, given your acting and the profiles you'd had,

0:10:50 > 0:10:52you'd already been involved in various causes.

0:10:52 > 0:10:54You'd been an ambassador for the UN.

0:10:54 > 0:10:57What about this new role?

0:10:57 > 0:10:59You're going to have a bigger platform, a bigger voice.

0:10:59 > 0:11:01What do you want to do with that?

0:11:01 > 0:11:02I mean...

0:11:02 > 0:11:03Sing!

0:11:03 > 0:11:04Can you imagine?

0:11:04 > 0:11:10No.

0:11:10 > 0:11:12I'm not a singer!

0:11:12 > 0:11:14I think what's been really exciting as we talk about the transition

0:11:14 > 0:11:17of this out of my career but into the role, is that,

0:11:17 > 0:11:20as you said, the causes that have been really important to me,

0:11:20 > 0:11:23I can focus more energy on, because very early out of the gate,

0:11:23 > 0:11:28I think you realise once you have access, or a voice that people

0:11:28 > 0:11:30are willing to listen to, with that comes a lot

0:11:30 > 0:11:32of responsibility, which I take seriously.

0:11:32 > 0:11:34And at the same time I think, in these beginning few months,

0:11:34 > 0:11:38and now being boots on the ground in the UK, I'm excited to just

0:11:38 > 0:11:40really get to know more about the different communities

0:11:40 > 0:11:42here, smaller organisations who are working on the same causes

0:11:42 > 0:11:48that I've always been passionate about under the same umbrella,

0:11:48 > 0:11:51and also being able to go round to the Commonwealth.

0:11:51 > 0:11:52I think it's just the beginning of...

0:11:52 > 0:11:53There's a lot to do!

0:11:54 > 0:11:55There's a lot to do.

0:11:55 > 0:11:56And it's an immense change.

0:11:56 > 0:11:58You're getting a new country out of it.

0:11:58 > 0:12:00A husband, obviously.

0:12:00 > 0:12:03That sounds nice.

0:12:03 > 0:12:04It does.

0:12:04 > 0:12:06But also giving up your career.

0:12:06 > 0:12:07Yes.

0:12:07 > 0:12:09But I don't see it as giving anything up.

0:12:09 > 0:12:11I see it as a change.

0:12:11 > 0:12:12It's a new challenge.

0:12:12 > 0:12:15It's a new chapter, right?

0:12:15 > 0:12:18And also, keep in mind I've been working on my show for seven years,

0:12:18 > 0:12:21so we were very, very fortunate to be able to have that sort

0:12:21 > 0:12:24of longevity on a series, and for me, once we hit

0:12:24 > 0:12:28the 100 episode marker, I thought, you know what?

0:12:28 > 0:12:31I have ticked this box and I feel really proud

0:12:31 > 0:12:34of the work I've done there, and now it's time to, as I said,

0:12:34 > 0:12:38work as a team with you.

0:12:38 > 0:12:40Do you have that sense of responsibility, Prince Harry,

0:12:40 > 0:12:43for what you are asking Meghan to do?

0:12:43 > 0:12:47Of course.

0:12:47 > 0:12:50That sense of responsibility was essentially from day one,

0:12:50 > 0:12:52or maybe a couple of months in, when I realised that

0:12:52 > 0:12:56actually this is...

0:12:56 > 0:12:58You know, I know that I'm in love with this girl,

0:12:58 > 0:13:02and I hope that she is in love with me, but we still had to sit down

0:13:02 > 0:13:05on the sofa, and I still had to have some pretty frank conversations

0:13:05 > 0:13:08with her to say, you know, what you're letting yourself

0:13:08 > 0:13:09in for, it is a big deal.

0:13:09 > 0:13:14And it's not, it's not easy for anybody.

0:13:14 > 0:13:17But I know that, at the end of the day, she chooses me,

0:13:17 > 0:13:20and I choose her, and therefore whatever we have to tackle together,

0:13:20 > 0:13:25or individually, it will always be us together as a team,

0:13:25 > 0:13:27so I think she's capable...

0:13:27 > 0:13:30That's so nicely said, isn't it?

0:13:30 > 0:13:38She's capable of anything, and together, as I said,

0:13:38 > 0:13:41there's a hell of a lot of stuff and work that needs doing.

0:13:41 > 0:13:44At the moment, for us, it's going to be making sure

0:13:44 > 0:13:47that our relationship is always put first, but both of us have

0:13:47 > 0:13:51passions for wanting to make change, change for good,

0:13:51 > 0:13:54and with lots of young people running around the Commonwealth,

0:13:54 > 0:13:56that's where we're going to spend most of our time.

0:13:56 > 0:13:59And it was really one of the first things we connected on.

0:13:59 > 0:14:01It was one of the first things we started talking

0:14:01 > 0:14:03about when we met, was just the different things

0:14:03 > 0:14:06that we wanted to do in the world, and how passionate

0:14:06 > 0:14:07we were about seeing change.

0:14:07 > 0:14:09That's what got date two!

0:14:09 > 0:14:11Plenty to talk about.

0:14:11 > 0:14:12Children?

0:14:12 > 0:14:16Not currently, no.

0:14:16 > 0:14:19Of course, you know, one step at a time, and hopefully

0:14:19 > 0:14:22we'll start a family in the near future.

0:14:22 > 0:14:26You've met each other's families, I imagine?

0:14:26 > 0:14:28Yes, his family has been so welcoming, and...

0:14:28 > 0:14:30You've met quite a few of them, actually.

0:14:30 > 0:14:31I have, on both sides.

0:14:31 > 0:14:33His mom's side as well, which has been really

0:14:33 > 0:14:35important to me too.

0:14:35 > 0:14:39But, yes, the family has been great, and over the past year and a half,

0:14:39 > 0:14:42we've just had a really nice time getting to know them,

0:14:42 > 0:14:45and progressively helping me feel a part of not just the institution

0:14:45 > 0:14:50but also part of the family, which has been really special.

0:14:50 > 0:14:53Trying to track them down and make sure that they are around

0:14:53 > 0:14:57at the same time that she's popping in without telling too many people.

0:14:57 > 0:14:59We've actually done incredibly well to make sure that you've

0:14:59 > 0:15:02met all the key people.

0:15:02 > 0:15:06A lot of the time that you've been together in this

0:15:06 > 0:15:09last year and a half, you've been at home a lot?

0:15:09 > 0:15:11Yes.

0:15:11 > 0:15:16We had to sort of reverse the whole process, and cosy nights

0:15:16 > 0:15:22in in front of the television, cooking dinner with just the two

0:15:22 > 0:15:24of us by ourselves in our little cottage, rather

0:15:24 > 0:15:26than going out for dinner

0:15:26 > 0:15:28and being seen in public, so we've reversed the whole

0:15:28 > 0:15:29process, which is...

0:15:29 > 0:15:31It has provided different opportunities, and it's made us

0:15:31 > 0:15:34a hell of a lot closer in a short space of time, without question,

0:15:34 > 0:15:36so if anybody else...

0:15:36 > 0:15:42Maybe slow down on the dates, and spend more time at home.

0:15:42 > 0:15:45For us, it's an opportunity to really get to know each other

0:15:45 > 0:15:47without other people looking, or trying to take photos

0:15:47 > 0:15:49on their phone and stuff.

0:15:49 > 0:15:51That comes with the job, comes with the role,

0:15:51 > 0:15:54but, where possible...

0:15:54 > 0:15:57And we were able to really get to know each other that way,

0:15:57 > 0:16:01but also then to go and have friends over for dinner,

0:16:01 > 0:16:04or go to his family for tea, or any of those sort of things.

0:16:04 > 0:16:07Just to take the time to be able to go on long country walks,

0:16:07 > 0:16:10and just talk.

0:16:10 > 0:16:11We've been all over the place.

0:16:11 > 0:16:12Have you met the Queen?

0:16:12 > 0:16:14I have, yes.

0:16:14 > 0:16:15A couple of times.

0:16:15 > 0:16:17What was that like?

0:16:17 > 0:16:25It's incredible.

0:16:25 > 0:16:28I think, a) to be able to meet her through his lens,

0:16:28 > 0:16:30not just with his honour and respect for her as the monarch,

0:16:30 > 0:16:33but the love that he has for her as his grandmother,

0:16:33 > 0:16:35all of those layers have been so important for me,

0:16:35 > 0:16:39so that when I met her I had a deep understanding, and of course

0:16:39 > 0:16:41incredible respect for being able to have that time with her.

0:16:41 > 0:16:46She's an incredible woman.

0:16:46 > 0:16:49And the corgis took to you straightaway.

0:16:49 > 0:16:51I've spent the last 33 years being barked at,

0:16:51 > 0:16:53and this woman walks in, and absolutely nothing.

0:16:53 > 0:16:54Just laying on my feet during tea.

0:16:54 > 0:16:55Wagging tails...

0:16:55 > 0:16:57I was just like, oh.

0:16:57 > 0:16:58That has to be a good sign.

0:16:58 > 0:17:01Speaking of dogs, have you brought yours to the UK?

0:17:01 > 0:17:04Well, I have two dogs that I've had for quite a long time,

0:17:04 > 0:17:07my rescue pups, and one is now staying with very close friends,

0:17:07 > 0:17:11and my other little guy, yes, he's in the UK.

0:17:11 > 0:17:13He's been here for a while.

0:17:13 > 0:17:14OK.

0:17:14 > 0:17:15Let's hope he adjusts well.

0:17:15 > 0:17:17Yeah, I think he's doing just fine.

0:17:17 > 0:17:20What was it like introducing Meghan to your father and your brother?

0:17:20 > 0:17:22Um...

0:17:22 > 0:17:24What was it like?

0:17:24 > 0:17:25It was exciting.

0:17:25 > 0:17:28I mean, I'd been seeing her for a period of time

0:17:28 > 0:17:32when I literally didn't tell anybody at all, and then William

0:17:32 > 0:17:36was longing to meet her, and so was Catherine,

0:17:36 > 0:17:38and being our neighbours, we managed to get that

0:17:38 > 0:17:41in quite a few times now, and Catherine's been

0:17:41 > 0:17:43absolutely amazing.

0:17:43 > 0:17:44She's been wonderful.

0:17:44 > 0:17:46As has William as well.

0:17:46 > 0:17:47They've been fantastic support.

0:17:47 > 0:17:49And then my father as well, we've had a couple...

0:17:49 > 0:17:51No, more than that.

0:17:51 > 0:17:54A handful of teas and meetings and all sorts of gatherings

0:17:54 > 0:18:00over at his place as well, so the family together have been

0:18:00 > 0:18:03absolutely solid support, and my grandparents as well have

0:18:03 > 0:18:06been wonderful throughout this whole process, and have known

0:18:06 > 0:18:10for quite some time, so how they haven't told anybody is,

0:18:10 > 0:18:13again, a miracle in itself.

0:18:13 > 0:18:16The whole family have come together and have been

0:18:16 > 0:18:17a huge amount of support.

0:18:17 > 0:18:18They've been amazing.

0:18:18 > 0:18:19And, Meghan, your parents?

0:18:19 > 0:18:22Do you think, you know, while very happy for you,

0:18:22 > 0:18:25obviously, are they worried at all about the scale

0:18:25 > 0:18:27of what you're getting into?

0:18:27 > 0:18:31I'm sure in the onset, both my parents and my close

0:18:31 > 0:18:34friends were concerned, because we got very quickly swept up

0:18:34 > 0:18:40in a media storm that was not part of my life before that.

0:18:40 > 0:18:45But they also had never seen me so happy, and I think also

0:18:45 > 0:18:51once my friends were able to really meet Harry, and my mom,

0:18:51 > 0:18:54who we spend a lot of time with, who is so much fun.

0:18:54 > 0:18:56Your mum's amazing.

0:18:56 > 0:19:02It was just obvious that no matter what we were being put through,

0:19:02 > 0:19:06that it was just temporary, and that we were going to be able

0:19:06 > 0:19:09to get through that, so everyone was really happy.

0:19:09 > 0:19:11He's talked to my dad a few times.

0:19:11 > 0:19:14He hasn't been able to meet him just yet, but it's all been

0:19:14 > 0:19:16worth every effort.

0:19:16 > 0:19:19And your ring?

0:19:19 > 0:19:22Tell us about your ring.

0:19:22 > 0:19:27The ring is obviously yellow gold, because that's her favourite,

0:19:27 > 0:19:32and the main stone itself I sourced from Botswana, and the little

0:19:32 > 0:19:35diamonds either side are from my mother's jewellery

0:19:35 > 0:19:38collection, to make sure that she is with us on this

0:19:38 > 0:19:42crazy journey together.

0:19:42 > 0:19:43It's beautiful.

0:19:43 > 0:19:44And he designed it.

0:19:44 > 0:19:46It's incredible.

0:19:46 > 0:19:47Yeah.

0:19:47 > 0:19:49Make sure it stays on that finger!

0:19:49 > 0:19:51Of course.

0:19:51 > 0:19:54What does it mean to you, Meghan, to have those stones on your finger

0:19:54 > 0:19:57that once belonged to Princess Diana?

0:19:57 > 0:20:04I think everything about Harry's thoughtfulness and the inclusion

0:20:04 > 0:20:07of that, and obviously not being able to meet his mom,

0:20:07 > 0:20:13it's so important to me to know that she's a part of this with us,

0:20:13 > 0:20:21and I think in being able to meet his aunts,

0:20:21 > 0:20:23and also like Julia, and just different people

0:20:23 > 0:20:27who were so important to his mom, and able to in some way know part

0:20:27 > 0:20:31of her through them, and of course through him.

0:20:31 > 0:20:33It's incredibly special to be able to have this,

0:20:33 > 0:20:36which sort of links where you come from, and Botswana,

0:20:36 > 0:20:37which is important to us.

0:20:37 > 0:20:40It's perfect.

0:20:40 > 0:20:42What do you think your mother would have thought of Meghan,

0:20:42 > 0:20:43or said about Meghan?

0:20:43 > 0:20:47They'd be thick as thieves, without question.

0:20:47 > 0:20:50I mean, she would be over the moon, jumping up and down,

0:20:50 > 0:20:55so excited for me, but then, would probably have been best

0:20:55 > 0:21:00friends with Meghan, so it is days like today

0:21:00 > 0:21:04when I really miss having her around and being able to share the happy

0:21:04 > 0:21:07news, but with the ring and everything else that's going on,

0:21:07 > 0:21:12I'm sure she's with us, you know, jumping up and down somewhere else.

0:21:12 > 0:21:16Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, thank you both very much.

0:21:16 > 0:21:17Thank you so much.

0:21:17 > 0:21:23Thank you.

0:21:23 > 0:21:35APPLAUSE What a couple.That was so lovely.Is not necessarily what was

0:21:35 > 0:21:39said, but the way it was said, and they way they were looking at each

0:21:39 > 0:21:44other.And holding each other's hands.And finishing each other's

0:21:44 > 0:21:50sentences. Mishal, you were there before the cameras started rolling.

0:21:50 > 0:21:55What sort of sense did you get of them as a couple?I had a bit of

0:21:55 > 0:22:00time with them ahead of us recording the interview, so we talked a bit in

0:22:00 > 0:22:04that time as well. The overall impression I came away with...

0:22:04 > 0:22:09Clearly, you can see they are couple very much in love, which you can see

0:22:09 > 0:22:14with the body language. This was a couple who had to decide really

0:22:14 > 0:22:23early on in their relationship, after a couple of dates, whether

0:22:23 > 0:22:26this had potential. When Prince Harry said they had to do things the

0:22:26 > 0:22:28other way round, not out on dates, but home alone together, trying to

0:22:28 > 0:22:32work out whether this person is worth putting that much time into. I

0:22:32 > 0:22:37was struck by the amount of time they had put into what it means to

0:22:37 > 0:22:41be together, not just for the two of them, but of course they are going

0:22:41 > 0:22:47to have a very public aspect of their lives.Meghan comes across as

0:22:47 > 0:22:52calm, collected and composed. But what is the reality? What does the

0:22:52 > 0:22:56future hold and how will she prepare for it?I was struck by the fact

0:22:56 > 0:23:00that both of them said that the amount of scrutiny on their

0:23:00 > 0:23:04relationship took them both by surprise. Prince Harry has grown up

0:23:04 > 0:23:09with it, and Meghan Markle has had a certain amount of success as an

0:23:09 > 0:23:13actress, but nothing really prepared them for it. They've got the rest of

0:23:13 > 0:23:17their lives where this will be a fact of their lives. This is just

0:23:17 > 0:23:22the beginning. But I was struck by their sense of purpose. They both

0:23:22 > 0:23:28have causes they care about. We know about his, but she has been a UN

0:23:28 > 0:23:32ambassador and has done trips to the developing world. We don't know what

0:23:32 > 0:23:37they are going to put their focus on, but I think they will harness

0:23:37 > 0:23:41their energies towards the causes they care about. They are going to

0:23:41 > 0:23:48focus on each other, but I think we are going to see a lot of them.Just

0:23:48 > 0:23:55a great couple.The charisma. You are getting swept up! Young love.

0:23:55 > 0:23:58The good news is...

0:23:58 > 0:24:01It's time again... When we reveal the short list

0:24:01 > 0:24:02for this year's Sports Personality of the Year.

0:24:02 > 0:24:04Sir Andy Murray won it last year.

0:24:04 > 0:24:07Gabby, how many in the running this year?

0:24:07 > 0:24:0912 names for your consideration and -

0:24:09 > 0:24:15in alphabetical order - here are the first four...

0:24:15 > 0:24:21Elise Christie - The Ice Queen, speed skater, Elise.

0:24:21 > 0:24:28She became a triple world champion in March. Sir Mo Farah claimed his

0:24:28 > 0:24:34tenth gold in London. Chris Froome won his fourth Tour de France in

0:24:34 > 0:24:432017. Lewis Hamilton won his fourth Formula One world title in October.

0:24:43 > 0:24:50There's four. Off to a flying start already. Let's start with Elise.She

0:24:50 > 0:24:54has won three golds on a world stage. She had a terrible Sochi and

0:24:54 > 0:24:59was disqualified from all her races. She received death threats. She has

0:24:59 > 0:25:03already won the Sunday Times sportswoman of the year.And we have

0:25:03 > 0:25:08Sir Mo Farah.He has finished his track career with his tenth global

0:25:08 > 0:25:14gold. Will he make it onto the podium this year with white and

0:25:14 > 0:25:22Chris Froome. To win four Tour de Frances, and then to win the

0:25:22 > 0:25:27Valletta, he is a phenomenal racer, with an incredible, steely

0:25:27 > 0:25:31determination, and cycling is always popular.Lewis Hamilton has won

0:25:31 > 0:25:37before.He has, and if he wins again, he will join Nigel Mansell as

0:25:37 > 0:25:42being a motor racing driver to win the award twice. It is a sport that

0:25:42 > 0:25:46galvanises the votes. It is only five motor racers who have done

0:25:46 > 0:25:54that.There are 12 in all. Let's have a look at the next four.

0:25:54 > 0:26:02Anthony Joshua saw him unify several boxing titles with his win over

0:26:02 > 0:26:07Wladimir Klitschko. Harry Kane was top scorer once again in the 2016-17

0:26:07 > 0:26:13season. It was a great year for Johanna Konta, who won the Miami

0:26:13 > 0:26:16open and reached the Wimbledon semifinals. Jonnie Peacock won gold

0:26:16 > 0:26:27yet again in front of a home crowd in London in the para athletics.

0:26:27 > 0:26:31Anthony Joshua, first of all, has had an incredible year. A really

0:26:31 > 0:26:35quick rise to stardom.He was an amateur in 2012 at the Olympics,

0:26:35 > 0:26:40when he won the gold there. He's taken it very steadily and has not

0:26:40 > 0:26:44done too many fights. It's an incredible rise over the four years,

0:26:44 > 0:26:48but now he's sitting on top of the heap, and I think will be there for

0:26:48 > 0:26:56a long time.On to football, and Harry Kane.Footballers don't do too

0:26:56 > 0:27:01well in Sports Personality of the Year. Ryan Giggs was the last to win

0:27:01 > 0:27:04in 2009. But Harry Kane is an old-fashioned centre forward in his

0:27:04 > 0:27:09attitude and the way he plays. Johanna Konta has had an amazing

0:27:09 > 0:27:15career.She has had a really good year as well. Semifinals at

0:27:15 > 0:27:19Wimbledon, winning the Miami open. She has the confidence to go on and

0:27:19 > 0:27:23take these big titles as well. Surely Strictly will have helped

0:27:23 > 0:27:31with Jonnie Peacock.We have had so much success with para athletics,

0:27:31 > 0:27:37but he is at the vanguard. World record-holder Adam Peaty took

0:27:37 > 0:27:39gold in the World Championships in the 50 metre breaststroke in

0:27:39 > 0:27:48Hungary. Johnny Weir clinched three successive world Superbike titles.

0:27:48 > 0:27:53England's women won the Cricket World Cup in July, and bowler Anya

0:27:53 > 0:27:58Shrubsole was the star. Bianca Walkden claimed her second

0:27:58 > 0:28:05successive world title at the world taekwondo Grand Prix.A good line up

0:28:05 > 0:28:09again. Adam Peaty, world record-holder.He broke the world

0:28:09 > 0:28:13record price on the way to the title, and he backed up his Olympic

0:28:13 > 0:28:19gold from last year. He's a very charismatic, likeable guy.Could

0:28:19 > 0:28:26Johnny Riera be a bit of a dark horse?He has a huge fan base in

0:28:26 > 0:28:32Northern Ireland. It is not a sport that gets a lot of attention, but

0:28:32 > 0:28:37Johnny will be good.And Johanna Konta and Bianca Walkden.Two great

0:28:37 > 0:28:43women to finish it off. I think it is a cracking 12.There your

0:28:43 > 0:28:46line-up.

0:28:46 > 0:28:48As Gabby said, Sports Personality of the Year

0:28:48 > 0:28:50will be on Sunday 17th December on BBC One.

0:28:50 > 0:28:54I'll be back with Alex tomorrow and we'll be talking to music star,

0:28:54 > 0:28:55Dizzee Rascal.

0:28:55 > 0:28:57Congratulations to Harry and Meghan!