Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has reportedly met Meghan Markle for the first time

Prince Harry has reportedly taken his girlfriend Meghan Markle to meet the Queen for tea, prompting speculation the couple are due to announce their engagement. 

The fifth in-line to the throne is believed to have taken his American girlfriend to Buckingham Palace last week to meet his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

The couple travelled there in a car with blacked out windows and visited her private sitting room for an informal tea, The Daily Mail reports.

The 5pm ritual is said to be the Queen’s favourite part of the day where she nibbles on sandwiches, fruit or cake and drinks her own blend of Darjeeling or Assam tea.

It comes after the news that Markle, 36, quit her job on the television show Suits which some saw as preparation for a move to London to take up royal life.

Kensington Palace refused to comment on the meeting, saying they have “refrained from commenting on all previous stories about Prince Harry introducing Meghan Markle to members of the Royal Family.”

It comes as the Queen and Prince Philip prepare to celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary in November, prompting some to speculate Harry may hold off on any announcements so as not to overshadow the celebrations.

The LA-based actress, who also films in Toronto, spent time in London last Christmas where she was spotted shopping by locals.

They made their first official public appearance together at Prince Harry’s Invictus Games in Toronto last month where they sat side-by-side watching games and walked around holding hands.