Communal leaders have congratulated the Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle on the announcement of their engagement.

A statement issued on Monday confirmed the pair will marry in spring 2018, with the location of the wedding not yet confirmed. 

Prince Harry, 33, and Ms Markle, 36,  plan to live in Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace.

Following the announcement, issued by Clarence House,  the Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said: "I am delighted to hear of the engagement of Prince Harry to Megan Markle. I wish them a lifetime of health, happiness and continued blessings together. Mazaltov."

The Board of Deputies of British Jews said: “Mazeltov to Prince Harry and Meghan. We wish them a very happy life together.“

Israel’s president Reuven Rivlin  also sent a message of congratulations to the couple, inviting them to Israel to celebrate their marriage.

Mazal Tov to HRH Prince Harry & fiancé @MeghanMarkle. Sending our warmest regards to Her Majesty the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, all the Royal Family & the British people, from Nechama & me, & all the Israeli people. We invite them to enjoy their honeymoon in Israel!

— Reuven Rivlin (@PresidentRuvi) November 27, 2017

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks also shared his best wishes to the couple. 

Mazal tov to Prince Harry & Meghan Markle on their engagement. I wish them happiness & joy as they embark on their new life together.

— Rabbi Sacks (@rabbisacks) November 27, 2017

"I am delighted to hear of the engagement of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle. I wish them a lifetime of health, happiness and continued blessings together. Mazal tov." - The Chief Rabbi #RoyalWedding

— Chief Rabbi Mirvis (@chiefrabbi) November 27, 2017

Ms Markle had previously been married to Trevor Engelson, a Jewish film producer from Great Neck, New York.

The pair married in September 2011 at Ocho Rios, Jamaica, after dating for seven years, but they divorced in August 2013, citing “irreconcilable differences”.

Ms Markle, who grew up in Los Angeles, played Rachel Zane in US TV drama Suits.

She has been dating Prince Harry since the summer of 2016,  and the pair secretly got engaged earlier this month.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh said they were "delighted for the couple and wish them every happiness", a Buckingham Palace spokesman said.

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, said they were "very excited for Harry and Meghan", adding: "It has been wonderful getting to know Meghan and to see how happy she and Harry are together".