Six years after meeting on an adventurous horseback safari in Kenya, Vere Harmsworth, elder son of Viscount and Viscountess Rothermere, and Alexandra Wood are engaged.

Vere, 30, and Zimbabwe-born Alexandra, 27, who is known as Mwana, or ‘little one’ in the Shona language, plan to marry next year.

The news was being celebrated last night. ‘We are over the moon and delighted Mwana is joining our family,’ said Lady Rothermere. 

‘It is like having another daughter. She is a lovely, gorgeous girl.’

Vere, whose father Jonathan is chairman of the Daily Mail and General Trust plc, publishers of the Daily Mail, MailOnline and The Mail on Sunday, was educated at Eton and St Peter’s College, Oxford, where he read history.

After working for BCG, the global management consulting group, he joined the family firm, learning all aspects of the publishing business. He has held a string of senior roles and is currently chief commercial officer for DMG Media.

Mwana, the daughter of tobacco farmers, was educated at Peterhouse Girls, one of the top independent schools in southern Africa. 

She is a project manager in the construction industry and currently completing a master’s in construction economics at University College London.

But it was their shared love of horses and riding that was to lead to romance. 

Alexandra was hired as one of the guides for a Rothermere family holiday in Kenya’s wild and beautiful Masai Mara region – and the couple have been inseparable ever since. 

Alexandra rides and plays polo as does Vere, who, in 2013, led Eton to a thumping victory over rivals Harrow.

He was part of another memorable winning team when Oxford beat Cambridge in the 2015 Varsity Polo Match.

The daughter of Duncan Wood and Hilary Campbell, Alexandra is the youngest of four – hence her nickname. 

She has three older brothers: Tommy who’s based in Marondera, south of Harare; Hugo who lives in Zambia, and James, a farmer in Herefordshire.

She also has two half-siblings, Emily and Victoria.

This weekend, Alexandra was sporting an exquisite marquise cut diamond ring chosen by Vere. 

The proposal was conducted in time-honoured tradition, after some meticulous planning.

On Saturday, despite indifferent weather, he asked her on a walk to Win Green, a beauty spot close to the Rothermere family country home, with views over the Wiltshire countryside. It was there that Vere dropped to one knee. 

‘I am thrilled that she said “yes”, and so excited and happy about this next chapter in our lives,’ Vere said last night. ‘I’m so very lucky that she is taking me on.’

The couple share a home in Notting Hill, west London with their one-year-old Cairn terrier, Toto. It’s thought life won’t change too much – at least to start with.