A 22-year-old Kenyan maid was one of the very first people to know about the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton, even before the Queen.
Margret Lekartgi, who attended to the couple during the safari holiday in Kenya where William proposed Kate, knew about the engagement a month before it was told to other family members, including Queen and Prince Harry, the Daily Mail reported.
Lekartgi, who earns about 75 pounds a month as a maid, said: "I was so pleased when I found out about the engagement but we were told not to tell anyone anything about it. They were such lovely people, so happy together."
Speaking to The Mail, Lekartgi, who lives in the impoverished town of Isiolo, in northern Kenya, provided the first definitive account of the events leading to the couple's engagement.
"We were told that there was an engagement party for William and Kate and they were going to leave Lewa to attend, but we were not to tell anyone what it was all about. They left shortly afterwards," Lekartgi said.
"So that is when we knew that they were engaged. It is so lovely for them, I am so proud it happened here. We all wish them all the best."
William proposed to his girlfriend of eight years on the last day of their holiday.
{{/usCountry}}William proposed to his girlfriend of eight years on the last day of their holiday.
{{/usCountry}}Lekartgi bore witness to the couple's secret adventure as they travelled through Kenya.
Lekartgi speaks with pride about being told of the Royal engagement almost a month before anyone else.