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LONDON — Prince Harry, fifth in line to the British throne, will marry American actress Meghan Markle in the spring, palace officials announced Monday, confirming months of speculation.
Markle, a humanitarian campaigner and lifestyle blogger who succeeded in show business before falling for Harry, will become a senior member of the royal family as the wife of one of the monarchy’s most popular figures.
Harry, a bad-boy-made-good by his tireless devotion to wounded veterans and his embrace of a variety of charitable causes, has said for several years that he wants to start a family, and the rumors of his engagement to Markle have been flying for some time.
The marriage represents a first-ever blending of Hollywood glamor with the once-stuffy royal family, which has of late seemed less fixed in its ways, and brings a mixed-race American divorcee into a highly visible role.
The couple made a brief appearance before photographers on the grounds of Kensington Palace hours after their engagement was announced.
Harry, wearing a blue suit and tie, said he was “thrilled” and that details about his proposal would come out later. He was then asked if the proposal was romantic, and he replied: “Of course!”
Markle, who said she was “so happy,” was wearing an engagement ring for the first time in public. She held Harry’s hand and rubbed his arm.
They left with their arms around each other. The couple plan to give their first interview later in the day.
Harry’s brother, Prince William, and his pregnant wife Kate welcomed Markle to the royal family.
“We are very excited for Harry and Meghan,” they said in a statement. “It has been wonderful getting to know Meghan and to see how happy she and Harry are together.”
Harry’s father, Prince Charles, told reporters he was “thrilled” with the engagement.
“They’ll be very happy indeed,” he said.
The engagement announcement says the couple became engaged in London earlier this month and that Harry has informed his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. It says he sought and received the permission of Markle’s parents.
The couple plan to live in Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace. Markle, who lived in Toronto while filming TV series “Suits” since 2011, is also reported to have started the sometimes time-consuming process of moving her dogs from Canada to Britain. She reportedly recently left the television show, a development that helped fueled engagement speculation.
Congratulations also came in from the queen and her husband, Prince Philip, and from Prime Minister Theresa May. Markle’s parents also welcomed the news.
Thomas Markle and Doria Ragland said their daughter Meghan “has always been a kind and loving person. To see her union with Harry, who shares the same qualities, is a source of great joy for us as parents.”
Markle was raised in the Los Angeles area. Her father is a Hollywood lighting director, her mother a yoga instructor and psychotherapist.
In some ways, Markle — a mixed-race American raised in California, an outspoken full-time actress, and a divorcee — makes a surprising addition to Britain’s monarchy.
But the institution has moved on with the times, and the romance between Markle and Harry — who has repeatedly stressed his wish to lead as “normal” a life as he could — has a decidedly unstuffy, modern feel to it.
The announcement means another grand royal wedding may be in the offing — the first since William and Kate married in 2011 — though it is possible the couple may choose to have a private ceremony, perhaps in a remote location far from the paparazzi who bedeviled Harry’s mother, Princess Diana.
Markle, best known for her role as an ambitious paralegal in the hit U.S. legal drama “Suits,” surprised many when she shared her feelings for Harry in a September cover story for Vanity Fair.
Asked about the media frenzy surrounding their courtship, the 36-year-old said: “At the end of the day I think it’s really simple ... we’re two people who are really happy and in love.”
Harry, once known for his dicey antics, including being photographed playing strip billiards in Las Vegas, has largely charmed the British public with his winning smile, his military career and his devotion to charities aimed at helping disabled veterans and other causes.
The 33-year-old prince recently won praise with his work campaigning for more openness about mental health issues. Speaking candidly about his personal struggle to cope with the loss of his mother when he was only 12, he encouraged others to talk about their own problems rather than keeping them bottled up inside.
Markle’s Vanity Fair interview broke new ground. It is unusual for a royal love interest to speak so publicly, and candidly, before becoming engaged.
Harry’s past reported girlfriends all shied away from the media limelight, and his sister-in-law, formerly known as Kate Middleton, stayed silent until she and Prince William gave a formal televised interview at Buckingham Palace after their engagement became public.
It won’t be the first time that a British royal has married an American, or a divorcee. In 1936, Edward VIII famously abdicated after he was forced to choose between the monarchy and his relationship with twice-divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson.
—Sylvia Hui and Jill Lawless contributed to this report.

U.S. 90 will be reduced to one east lane Dec. 4-5 and one west lane Dec. 6-7 between Morgan City and Amelia to allow crews to make routine bridge inspections on the Bayou Ramos bridge, a state Department of Transportation and Development news release said.

This closure will take place from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day, weather permitting.

In other road work, the outside lane and shoulder on U.S. 90 east, between Duhon Boulevard in Amelia and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Morgan City, is closed Nov. 29 for tree trimming.

Additionally, the outside lane and shoulder on U.S. 90 west in the same area will be closed Nov. 30 for tree trimming, weather permitting. That work will take place from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. There are no restrictions for permit loads.

April 21, 1921 — November 20, 2017
Leonelle “Nan” Folse Melancon, a resident of Raceland, Louisiana, passed away peacefully at the Morgan City Health Care Center at the age of 96, surrounded by her family on Nov. 20, 2017.
Nan, born on April 21, 1921, in Raceland, was the daughter of Emile Folse and Serillia Bourgeous Folse.
She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her daughter, Donna Rae Melancon Conner and spouse Paul of Morgan City; one sister, Zefa Folse Penisson; one brother, Gatewood “Pot” Folse; a sister-in-law, Marlene Beauvais Folse, all of Raceland; and two brothers-in-law, Clifford “Boy” Zerangue of Lafayette and Connie Ulysess Melancon of Bayou Blue.
Nan is also survived by six grandchildren, Kimberly Conner Hernandez and husband Cecil, Gavin P. Conner and wife Cindy, both of Morgan City, Timothy Shane Melancon and wife Nancy of Niceville, Florida, Sherri Melancon Herrera of Texas, Kelly Melancon of Houma and Jason Melancon Tompkins of California.
She also leaves six great-grandchildren, Julianna Hernandez and Collin Paul Conner, both of Morgan City and Shane, Lauren, Devin and Michelle Melancon, all of Niceville, Florida.
She was well known among the townspeople as “Aunt Nan” because she had so many nieces and nephews with some of the closest being Laurie Folse Matherne who claimed “Aunt Nan” as her second mother; her fishing buddy and niece Carolyn Folse LeGendre; her nephew Hodges Folse who was her helpful handyman; and her nephew BooBoo Folse who always supplied her with many fresh vegetables from his garden.
Nan was a homemaker who kept an immaculate house, and was a wonderful cook. Her hobbies were reading, gardening (she could make a stick grow) and fishing. She was a devout Catholic and a conservative Republican who served as the Secretary in the Women’s Republican Club of LaFourche Parish in the 60’s.
Nan suffered from Rheumatic Fever during her childhood which eventually caused heart problems as a young mother in the early 1950’s. With only months to live and no hope for recovery, because heart surgery had never been attempted as yet, Dr. Phillip Robichaux Sr. submitted her name to a Dr. Glover in Philadelphia. He, at the time, was experimenting on canine hearts, trying to find a way to open a calcium-blocked mitral valve. When three of the five canines lived, he sent word that he would perform surgery and try to save her life. She was flown to Philadelphia on a gurney and made history by becoming one of the first 25 people to ever have heart surgery in the United States. He was assisted by Drs. Benton Cooley and Michael BeBakey who both went on to become renown heart surgeons. The operation was very successful, but the doctors gave her only eight more years to live. She defied all odds by living to be 96 years of age.
After recuperating for six months, she was like an energizer bunny and decided to become a beautician. Traveling every day to New Orleans on a bus, she obtained her license from Molar Beauty College and opened “Nan’s Beauty Shop” in 1957 which was highly successful for 16 years. She then retired, bought a bass boat with a 75 horsepower motor, and fished every bayou, lake and stream in and around Raceland, Houma and the Leesville area for the next 28 years. Nan was considered, in the hearts of those who loved her, to be a “True Steel Magnolia” who prevailed against unimaginable odds in her life.
She was preceded in death by her devoted and loving husband of 57 years, Wilbert “Casey” Melancon; her son, Timothy Lee Melancon; four brothers, Harold Folse Sr., Clayton Folse, Reed Folse and Hodges “DeeDee” Folse; one sister, Helen Folse Zerangue; five sisters-in-law, Adriel Zerangue Folse, Leota Breaux Folse, Sylvia Authement Folse, Lois Melancon and Hazel Theriot Melancon; one brother-in-law, Thomas Penisson II; two nephews, Thomas Penisson III and Tommy “Tom-toe” Zerangue; and one great-grandson, Ryan Herrera.
Nan’s family would like to give special thanks to her devoted sitters who watched over her with loving care, Gail Rogers, Pat Phillips, Lee Johnson, Barbara Johnson, Kelly Cavalier, Nicky Aucoin and Wanda Crappell.
Pallbearers will be Gavin Conner, Collin Conner, Tim Melancon, Shane Melancon, Devin Melancon, Jan Reed Folse, Dirk Matherne and Jason Melancon Tompkins.
Honorary pallbearers are Joe LeGendre, Matt Melancon, Hodges Folse, Emile Folse, BooBoo Folse, Cecil Hernandez and Paul Conner.
Visitation will be Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, at St. Mary Nativity Church in Raceland, Louisiana, from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial to be held immediately following the visitation at 11 a.m. with Reverend Charlie Perkins officiating and Collin Conner as altar server.
Falgout Funeral Homes LLC, 3838 La. 1, Raceland, Louisiana 70394 (985-537-5261), is in charge of arrangements.

March 14, 1923 — November 27, 2017
Dorothy G. Thomas, 94, a resident of Bayou Vista, Louisiana, passed away at her home on Nov. 27, 2017.
Dorothy was born March 14, 1923, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, daughter of Edgar W. Garvin Sr. and Katherine McVay Garvin.
She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a loyal friend.
Mrs. Thomas is survived by her son, Ogden U. Thomas Jr. and his wife Linda of Patterson; four grandchildren, William Garvin Thomas Jr. of New Orleans, Michele Thomas Boustany and her husband Ron of Lafayette, Scott Anthony Thomas and his wife Dominique of Berwick, and Tracy Thomas Gum of Baton Rouge; seven great-grandchildren, Mary Grace, Sarah and Thomas Boustany, Ross and Rhett Thomas, and Alexandre and Jeanne Madeline Favret; numerous nieces and nephews; and Doris Darnell, a very special friend, “daughter,” and loving caregiver for over 60 years. Special love and thanks to Pam Hensgens, a loving friend and “daughter.”
Mrs. Thomas was a member of Atkinson Memorial Presbyterian Church where she served as a church elder. She taught Sunday school and was active in the Women of the Church. She worked for First National Bank for 33 years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ogden U. Thomas Sr.; her son, William Garvin Thomas Sr.; granddaughter, Vesper Brightman Thomas; her father, Edgar Wayne Garvin Sr.; her mother, Katherine McVay Garvin; two brothers, Edgar Wayne Garvin Jr. and John Garvin; her sister-in-law, Joan Garvin; and her dog, Tipper.
Serving as pallbearers are William G. Thomas Jr., Scott A. Thomas, Alexandre B. Favret, Ron Boustany, Nicholas Hensgens and Joseph Hensgens.
Serving as honorary pallbearers are Edgar “Skip” W. Garvin and Nicholas “Tony” A. Hensgens Jr.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to her loving caregivers, Jackie LeJeune, Vickie Ford and Tempest Jackson.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Atkinson Memorial Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 3164 Morgan City, Louisiana 70381.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017, at Atkinson Memorial Presbyterian Church with a visitation being held from 9 a.m. until the time of the services. Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery in Patterson.