Why republicans should cheer the engagement of Harry and Meghan

The engagement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is great news. Great news for them, of course, because they are clearly in love, and who doesn’t like to see a handsome young-ish couple in love? And it’s great news for republicans like me, too, because it confirms the monarchy has now completed its transformation from a mystical, godly outfit into a celebrity enterprise, which I’m convinced will prove to be the final nail, or one of the last nails, in the coffin of this archaic institution. Harry and Meghan, we salute you! (Metaphorically, not literally. Republicans don’t do that.)

In the coming days, the press will likely be packed with commentary on how Ms Markle will do a world of good for the ageing, bent-over, old-millennium House of Windsor, like Kate did but with bolts on. And it’s true, she will — in a short-term PR sense at least. She is beautiful, intelligent, had a career pre-royal life (and might even keep it), and — there’s no escaping this — she has a very different heritage to the slightly strange, soft-chinned, super-European inhabitants of our royal palaces.