Prince Harry could propose to girlfriend Meghan Markle "at any time".

Prince Harry

Prince Harry

The 33-year-old royal has been romancing the 'Suits' actress since mid 2016, and although rumours of an engagement have been circling for months, royal commentator Richard Fitzpatrick believes the announcement could be closer than people think.

Richard believes Meghan's Vanity Fair interview in which she states the couple are "in love" marks an important turning point for the pair, as the "unprecedented" comment could be reflective of the seriousness of their romance.

Speaking to Express.co.uk, Richard said: "All the signs have pointed that way for some time. The Vanity Fair interview was unorthodox and unprecedented so I expect an engagement at any time. It is so clear Meghan, actress, humanitarian activist and someone who has had to fight her way to the top, is ideal for him."

But Richard also warned the pair that if they are planning on tying the knot, the increase in attention on Meghan, 36, could prove "hard to bear".

He added: "She is used to dealing with the media but this will be a challenge for them both."

The news comes after Meghan claimed in her interview earlier this month that the pair are "really happy", and insisted the only thing which has changed about her is "people's perceptions".

She said: "I can tell you that at the end of the day I think it's really simple.

"We're two people who are really happy and in love. We were very quietly dating for about six months before it became news, and I was working during that whole time, and the only thing that changed was people's perception.

"Nothing about me changed. I'm still the same person that I am, and I've never defined myself by my relationship.

"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. This is for us. It's part of what makes it so special, that it's just ours. But we're happy. Personally, I love a great love story."