A man dressed as a town crier is spreading the news of Meghan Markle's and Prince Harry's engagement - but he has nothing to do with the royal family

Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images

• A town crier is spreading the news of Meghan Markle's and Prince Harry of Wales' engagement.
• However, the crier in question has no connection to the royal family.
• The "unofficial" town crier is known for his flamboyant appearances whenever the royal family has a major news announcement.

An apparent town crier has set up shop in front of Kensington Palace to proclaim the news of Meghan Markle's and Prince Harry's engagement.

Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images

Appleton poses outside Buckingham Palace in 2015, when Queen Elizabeth II became the longest reigning monarch in British history.

"Oyez, oyez, oyz!" the crier yells in an ABC News video from the scene.

"Buckingham Palace is proud to announce the engagement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. God save the queen!"

Many were quick to celebrate the apparently British approach to spreading the news.

There is, however, one problem - the crier in question has no connection to the royal family.

Tony Appleton has become well-known for broadcasting the royal family's news, dressed in traditional town crier garb, without their permission. Appleton rose to prominence when Americans newscasters accepted him as a bizarre part of British pageantry when he announced the birth of Prince George of Cambridge in 2013.

'I was not invited, I just crashed the party," Appleton told the Daily Mail at the time. "I got out of my cab and I stood in front of the steps, because I didn't think I would be allowed on them, and did my bit. It was great."

Appleton's unofficial status didn't stop him from making a splash on Monday.

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