Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to marry on May 19

Britain's Prince Harry and his American fiancee Meghan Markle will marry in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, a royal residence west of London.

"His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales and Ms. Meghan Markle will marry on 19th May 2018," Kensington Palace said in a statement on Friday.

Read more: Prince Harry's and Meghan Markle's German roots

Harry and Markle chose to marry in Windsor, which has been the family home of British kings and queens for almost 1,000 years, because the site is "a special place for them," the statement added. 

Queen Elizabeth, Harry's grandmother, is set to attend the ceremony.

St George's Chapel holds a rich royal history, having been the venue of numerous royal weddings, particularly back in the 19th century.

The venue is said to be more intimate than Westminster Abbey, where Harry's older brother Prince William married Kate Middleton in 2011. 

Royal officials announced the couple's engagement last month following months of speculation. 

The royal wedding comes less than two years after the couple first met in London in July 2016. The two kept their relationship a secret from the media for several months.

Markle, who is best known for her role as Rachel Zane on the US legal drama "Suits," is planning to be baptized and confirmed into the Church of England before the wedding. She will apply for British citizenship, while also remaining a US citizen. 

The wedding date could present a conflict for William, however. The older prince, as president of the English Football Association, is usually scheduled to attend the FA Cup final, which this season also falls on May 19.

dm/rt (AP, AFP)