Here’s What You Need To Know In Order To Date A Royal

In light of the exciting news, we're resurfacing our piece on what you'd need to know in order to date a member of the royal family.

In case you hadn't heard, Prince Harry is currently taken — and by a pretty stellar lady, might we add.

While this certainly isn't the first time Prince Harry has dated someone who isn't a fellow royal or from a "noble" family, his relationship with actress Meghan Markle has already bucked a few typical traditions.

After all, there was that time that Kensington Palace issued a rare statement confirming the relationship and slamming "social media trolls" and newspapers for harassing Markle and her family. And the time Harry broke a royal rule to visit Markle in Toronto, Canada.

Also unprecedented? Markle is the first American woman to whom Prince Harry has been seriously linked.

"Traditionally, years ago, a member of the royal family did not ‘court’ anyone outside of a royal or noble family from Britain or Europe," says William Hanson, a leading etiquette coach and expert.

As such, there's little precedence or protocol for how Markle might conduct herself in public while dating the Prince, Hanson tells us. But just because there's no official handbook for how to date a royal doesn't mean there aren't expectations for how one should act.

"Anyone courting any member of royalty should first respect the lover, but secondly (and equally as important), respect the institution to which their new squeeze represents and act in a civilised and dignified manner," Hanson tells us.

To do so includes following a few simple rules of etiquette and manners, which Hanson has so kindly filled us in on. Click ahead for your unofficial guide to dating a royal — you know, for when that inevitably happens. We know this isn't exactly practical knowledge, but isn't it fun to get an inside look at how the other half lives (and behaves)?