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Meghan Markle 'really happy and in love' with Prince Harry: Vanity Fair

The Associated Press Published Tuesday, September 5, 2017 10:53AM EDT

FILE - In this Thursday, March 17, 2016 file photo, actress Meghan Markle participates in AOL's BUILD Speaker Series to discuss her role on the television show, "Suits", in New York. Britain's Prince Harry has condemned racist abuse and harassment of his girlfriend Meghan Markle in the media, issuing a highly unusual statement Tuesday Nov. 8, 2016, that confirmed the relationship and expressed concern for her safety. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

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NEW YORK -- Meghan Markle says she and Prince Harry are "two people who are really happy and in love."

The 36-year-old American actress has opened up on her relationship with the 33-year-old prince in an interview with Vanity Fair. Markle says they met in London through friends in July 2016 and have been dating for about a year. She adds that they were together about six months before the relationship became news.

While she expects that she and Harry will have to "come forward" as a couple at some point, Markle refers to the quiet start to their romance as "our time."

The interview has prompted British bet-maker Betfair to offer 6-to-4 odds that the couple is engaged by the end of 2017 and 3-to-1 odds that they marry in 2018.