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The engagement was announced of Prince Henry of Wales, aged 33, and the Los Angeles-born Meghan Markle, an actress aged 36. They are to marry at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, in May. Ms Markle scotched rumours that she might be a Catholic, declaring herself a Protestant preparing to be baptised into the Church of England and receive Confirmation before the wedding. Though Ms Markle is divorced, she has been allowed to marry in a church service. The couple told the broadcaster Mishal Husain in a televised interview that they were attempting to cook a chicken one day last month when the prince went down on one knee to propose. During the interview, Prince Harry said: ‘The corgis took to you straight away.’
Britain agreed to a formula to decide the sum that it must pay to leave the European Union; the result would be up to £50 billion. On 4 December Theresa May, the Prime Minister, was to have lunch with Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the European Commission. It was hoped that the EU might this month allow talks to progress to questions of trade. In the meantime the Irish border remained a baffling obstacle, although Liam Fox, the International Trade Secretary, said that there could be no final decisions on the issue until Britain and the EU reached a trade agreement. The Bank of England reported that the British financial system was strong enough to withstand a ‘disorderly Brexit’. The UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency allowed Viagra to be sold over the counter in chemists’ shops.
Dame Professor Glynis Breakwell resigned as vice-chancellor of the University of Bath, where she had been paid £468,000 a year, attracting some criticism; but first she would take a year’s sabbatical on full pay.
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