Prince Harry embarked on a secretive holiday trip a year before proposing to Meghan Markle, royal biographers claimed.

New book Finding Freedom biographers Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand claim that the couple first met in London in June 2016 and quickly developed strong feelings for each other.

Even before Harry proposed, it is reported that he had been planning an engagement ring since as early as May 2017, having obtained a "conflict-free" diamond during a clandestine scouting mission in Africa with the help of a close friend.

The authors claim: “Unbeknownst to most, [Harry] already had an engagement ring in the works. That May, Harry travelled alone to Botswana in his role as patron of Rhino Conversation Botswana. While in Africa, he did a little secret diamond scouting with a close friend who helped him to source the perfect conflict-free stone.”

It wasn’t until November 2017 that the couple publicly said they intended to marry, at that point they revealed the Duke had popped the question “earlier this month” while “roasting a chicken” during a “cosy night in”. 

But even that is being contested by the authors of the book who claim the couple were “secretly engaged” much earlier than they originally shared.

The authors claim Harry popped the question in August 2017 while the couple were on a romantic holiday in Botswana - where they are said to have celebrated both Meghan's 36th birthday and their first year as a couple. 

According to the biography, Meghan slipped up and gave a huge hint that she and Harry were "already engaged".

The games were the couple's first official outing together, and the now Duchess of Sussex wore a £137 blouse by her fashion designer friend Misha Nonoo dubbed the 'Husband' shirt for the occasion, at the time royal watchers took this as a sign of Meghan’s intentions towards Harry. 

Speaking after their official engagement announcement, Meghan Markle said it was “an amazing surprise.”

She added: 'It was so sweet and natural and very romantic. He got on one knee.” In the interview given to the BBC's Mishal Husain at Kensington Palace, Harry said: “She didn't even let me finish, she said, 'Can I say yes, can I say yes' and then there were hugs and I had the ring in my finger and I was like, 'Can I, can I give you the ring?' She goes, 'Oh yes the ring'.”

He added: “So no, it was - it was a really nice moment, it was just the two of us and I think I managed to catch her by surprise as well.”