Prince William and Prince Harry have a very strong connection to Africa. They’ve both spoken about this tie, which they first formed after their mother died. Harry even got a large cushion diamond from Botswana to be featured at the center of Meghan’s engagement ring. The two are said to have fallen in love while on safari there when they first started dating.
Don’t forget, though, that William and his wife of nearly nine years, Kate Middleton, have their own connection to Africa. William proposed to Kate in the fall of 2010 in a log cabin at the foothills of the Mount Kenya. During a speech at his first solo-hosted Buckingham Palace reception for the U.K.-Africa Investment Summit, William mentioned his strong feelings for Kenya in particular. As Kate watched by his side, William recounted a bit of his process before he proposed to his wife.
“And when decided where best to propose to Catherine, I could think of no more fitting place than Kenya to get down on one knee,” he said. Kate laughed and smiled at the memory.
Like Harry and Meghan, Kate and William waited a few weeks to tell the public. They got engaged around October 20, and they announced—remember that big moment with the sapphire ring?—on November 16.
On their 2010 note to the property owners, Kate and William left a clue that it had been a special weekend:
“Thank you for such a wonderful 24 hours!,” Kate wrote. “Sadly no fish to be found, but we had fun trying. I love the warm fires and candle lights—so romantic. Hope to be back soon.” William added: “Such fun to be back! Brought more clothes this time! Looked after so well. Thank you guys! Look forward to next time, soon I hope.”