Royal Family

Photos of Meghan Markle striking some sexy poses raise one very important question -- what the hell took Prince Harry so long to propose???

Megs posed for the photo shoot back in 2013 for a Canadian magazine called Sharp. She was already starring in "Suits" by that time, but thank God the photographer did not take a literal approach to the theme of this shoot.

Ya gotta admit, it's kinda interesting to see someone who's about to be a member of the prim and proper British royal family posing like this. And, seeing as how Harry met Meghan in the summer of 2016 ... he probably would've seen these if he did some Internet research.

So, again we ask ... what took ya so long, Harry?

This seems to run in the fam. You'll recall -- and if you don't we're about to remind you -- Kate Middleton was walking in a fashion show when Prince William first laid eyes on her.

Well played, Princes.

Meghan Markle won't have to wait to become a Brit before she gets to use a royal title ... that is, if Queen Elizabeth is game.

TMZ broke the story, Kensington Palace told us Meghan won't be cut a break to become a British citizen. She'll have to wait up to 5 years, like everyone else. That said, it calls into question whether she can become a princess or a duchess during the time she's a lady in waiting to become a Brit.

Our rusty trusty Buckingham Palace sources tell TMZ ... Meghan's citizenship won't be a buzzkill for her becoming a true Royal. We're told the Queen has the power to bestow a title on Meghan, even before she becomes officially British.

If the Queen makes Meghan an HRH, it will be the first time an non-Brit gets the title.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are fresh off announcing their engagement but already in full swing with their royal duties ... shaking hands and probably kissing babies.

The newly-engaged couple visited Nottingham Friday and greeted a throng of adoring fans. The couple was there to raise HIV/AIDS and youth crime awareness. They later hit up the elegant Contemporary, which hosted the Terrence Higgins Trust World AIDS Day charity fair.

Check it out ... Harry and Meghan certainly are movers and shakers and play the royal couple part flawlessly.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be saying their "I dos" at Windsor Castle on live TV for the whole world to see ... just like his brother, William, and sister-in-law, Kate Middleton.

Harry and Meghan's wedding is still in the early planning stages, but our Kensington Palace contact tells us they'll allow cameras in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle to make it available on the tele.

We're told it will be a pool camera, meaning all media outlets can plug in and run the wedding on broadcast and cable TV as well as all digital platforms.

Here's the contest. Around 23 million Americans and 27 million Brits tuned in to Kate and William's wedding back in 2011. Our guess ... Harry and Meghan will beat that, especially in America because she's one of US.

If you want to set your DVR, there are reports that the wedding will go down May 26 during Memorial Day weekend. The precise date will be revealed next week.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are giving friends and family an extra day to recover from their wedding because they're reportedly tying the knot over Memorial Day Weekend.

The wedding date is set for Saturday, May 26 ... according to one British tabloid. That would work out perfectly not only for their American guests, but also the Brits. That Monday is a Bank Holiday in the UK.

As we reported, they're getting hitched at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle outside of London.

If you're a Royal fam fan ... plan your holiday accordingly.

No doubt it's good to be the Prince's fiancée, but Meghan Markle still won't get special treatment when it comes to becoming a citizen in the United Kingdom ... TMZ has learned.

Prince Harry's betrothed announced she intends to apply to be a legal Brit -- a process that can take up to 5 years for commoners. You'd think Meghan could get on some kinda Royal fam fast track, but Kensington Palace tells us no dice.

Official word is Meghan will have to go through the process like any "normal" subject of the crown.

Don't panic ... this won't delay the wedding, but here's how it could have an impact. Presumably, Queen Elizabeth will bestow a title on Harry and Meghan on their wedding day -- just like William and Kate got on theirs. It's still unclear if Meghan would be allowed to use her title before she's a UK citizen.

Prince William's now reduced to running errands for the other future King of England, although it's a very important one -- delivering Prince George's Christmas list to Jolly Ol' St. Nick!

Wills hit up Santa Thursday in Helsinki, Finland -- not too far from his North Pole HQ -- and handed him a very short list for the 4-year-old prince. It's a little hard to make out, but looks like all lil Geo wants is a police car.

It's unclear if he means a toy car, or the real deal.

One things's for sure. This look on Santa's face screams ... Can't YOU handle this one on your own, PRINCE?!!

Meghan Markle is officially saying sayonara to her day job ... and her bosses at "Suits" couldn't be happier for her.

USA Network congratulated Meg and Prince Harry saying, "Meghan has been a member of our family for seven years and it has been a joy to work with her. We want to thank her for her undeniable passion and dedication to 'Suits,' and we wish her the very best."

There was speculation Meghan would be leaving "Suits" as she and Harry got tighter, and she hinted she'd be leaving after the engagement news broke. Works out well ... her lead character on the drama also got married.

She told the BBC she was proud of her work on the show, "and now it's time to work as a team [with Harry]."

Royal life over TV life. Ya can't blame her.

Meghan Markle's gonna be a May bride ... she and Prince Harry announced the month and location of their wedding -- and Harry's got history there.

Kensington Palace says the royal couple will walk down the aisle in May 2018 at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. They didn't say the date yet.

Looks like they opted for May because April is Kate Middleton's due date for her and Prince William's third child. As for the Chapel ... that's where Harry was christened way back in 1984.

Best part of the announcement ... "The Royal Family will pay for the wedding."

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are a turn-off .... but only when the mics are off.

Here's the couple right after finishing up their first interview Monday to the BBC announcing their engagement. You've seen some snippets already looking royal and speaking eloquently as hell ... but here they let loose after the interview ends and the mics are turned off.

Check it out ... sure, there's no sound. But you can still appreciate -- or throw up, depending on whether you're salty -- their silliness.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle can walk down the aisle under the eyes of God if they want, 'cause there's no issue with a church wedding ... despite her being a divorcee.

British author Katie Nicholl -- an expert on all things Royal -- tells TMZ Harry and Meghan can get married in a church if they please, because the rules have been relaxed on divorcees getting married on sacred ground.

There are several options available to Harry and Meghan, including St. Paul's -- where Prince Charles married Lady Diana -- as well as the Westminster Abbey -- where Prince William and Kate tied the knot in 2011.

There's a buzz Harry and Meghan want a smaller, more intimate affair and he might opt for something like St. George's chapel in Windsor Castle.

You may recall ... Prince Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles at Windsor Guildhall, which is like getting married at city hall. They chose that venue partly because they were both divorced and they had an affair so they wanted to low-key it for PR reasons.

By the way, Nicholl has a book coming out on Harry. Timing is everything!!!

Hell yeah! Giada De Laurentiis will get behind the grill for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding ... all they gotta do is ask.

We got the star chef at LAX Monday and had to ask her if she's down to cater the royal wedding ... given she's got SOME royal experience. Giada once cooked for Prince William and Kate Middleton during their trip to Santa Barbara back in 2011.

Prince Harry hadn't even finished his proposal when Meghan Markle kept interrupting -- CAN I SAY YES NOW?!

The newly engaged couple dished details about their engagement in an interview with the BBC ... revealing some pretty spectacular details about how it all went down. According to the couple ... the engagement happened a few weeks ago earlier this month at Harry's Nottingham Cottage inside Kensington Palace.

Harry got down on one knee and made his case ... but apparently a way-too-excited Meghan couldn't and wouldn't let him finish before charmingly butting in and asking, "Can I say yes now?" Adorbs.

And check this out ... Harry included 2 diamonds that belonged to his mother, Princess Diana, in Meghan's engagement ring "to make sure that she's with us on this crazy journey together."

Harry and Meghan met about a year and a half ago, but the relationship was turbocharged just 4 weeks into it ... when they headed to Botswana. Turns out, they never went more than 2 weeks without seeing each other. Completely fooled us.

Meghan Markle will become part of the Royal Family next Spring ... the question is whether she'll be able to use the title Her Royal Highness.

As you know, Meghan's an American citizen and the protocol is ... you have to live in England for 5 years to become a British citizen. And here's the key ... you can't use a royal title unless you're a citizen.

In addition to 5 years' residency in the UK, a prospective British citizen must be 18 or over, of "good character" and fluent in the English language. They must also take an oath of allegiance to the Queen.

It's unclear if Meghan can short-circuit the process. It's gotta be helpful she has the Queen's blessing in marrying Harry.

When she does get the title, she will probably become a duchess, like her soon-to-be in-law, Kate Middleton. The rumor is ... Harry will become the Duke of Sussex, and she would become the Duchess of Sussex.

And finally, check this out ... if Meghan has to wait 5 years before becoming a British citizen and before that happens she has a child, that kid will get dual citizenship. If for some reason that child ascends to the throne, it would be the first monarch in British history to be both a U.S. and British citizen.

Meghan Markle will not be living in royal opulence ... not by a long shot.

She'll be moving into Harry's bachelor pad -- aka, Nottingham Cottage. It's a 2-bedroom, 1,324-sq ft home ... closer to a nice apartment than a royal abode.

The Cottage sits on the grounds of Kensington Palace, a stone's throw from where William and Kate live. William and Kate have 22 rooms.

BTW ... Harry will not be the first Royal to live with his fiancee before getting hitched. William and Kate shacked up before their 2011 nuptials.

As for whether Meghan and Harry will live in the Cottage after they get married ... nothing's been made public.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their first public appearance since announcing their engagement.

The couple walked hand-in-hand at Kensington Palace's Sunken Garden and fans gathered outside the gates to cheer them on.

Kensington Palace is where Harry grew up with his parents, Charles and Diana. It's also where William and Kate call home.

As for Meghan's ring ... it's made of 3 stones -- 2 diamonds from Princess Diana's personal collection and a third stone from Botswana where the couple recently went on holiday.