I remember this one time, I was asleep in my room and suddenly woke up to a loud ruckus. I thought people had broken into my house and were fighting over something! I rushed out, a vase in hand, ready to fight…. Turns out, it was NBD, just my grandpa watching the Lok Sabha LIVE on TV. SMH! While out Houses of Parliament resemble a fish market most of the time, Parliaments around the world play host to interesting things, other than civil politics!
The Australian Parliament has had a woman MP pass a motion while breastfeeding, and even had an MP propose to his boyfriend during a speech for legalising gay marriages! And now the UK Parliament too has found its moment of glory!
A civil servant proposed to his parliamentary researcher girlfriend by going down on one knee on the floor of UK’s House of Commons!
32-year-old Matthew Reville from South Norwood popped the question to his 32-year-old girlfriend Rachel Evans, a resident of Twickenham, with an epic backdrop—the trademark green seats of the British House of Commons!
They couple met in a bar in Westminster in April 2016. And now, almost 2 years after, on March 9, Reville decided to ask ‘The Question’ to Evans.
Speaking to The Daily Mail, Reville revealed,
“We are both quite private people, so I thought I’d surprise her with a very public proposal. We told all our family and then a few days later put it on social media to tell friends.”
So how did it all go down? Well, thank heavens, Reville managed to get a friend to inconspicuously record the whole thing!
That was a clever trick Reville had up his sleeve, apart from the engagement ring, of course!
“I asked Rachel to give a tour of the House to a colleague, who was actually there to film the big moment.”
Go ahead and watch the sweet moment here! Spoiler alert: She said “YES!”
Motion proposed on the floor of the House… @Rachel_L_Evanspic.twitter.com/pggDPmUMCi
— Matthew Reville (@MatthewReville) March 15, 2018
“The time we’ve spent together has been the best period of my life and that I want to share the rest of my life with you.”
Aww, you guys! <3
The now-engaged happy couple’s friends and followers on Twitter were cheering for them with some pretty kickass Parliament puns!
Because who said politicians can’t be funny, eh?
1. You have the floor, gentleman!
Urgent question granted https://t.co/pCF1TGTezD
— Sandra Glab (@glabsandra) March 15, 2018
2. If you thought this proposal was awesome, say “Aye”!
The ayes have it https://t.co/8A5nVZpnaq
— Tom de Grunwald 🇪🇺 (@tdgme) March 15, 2018
3. Full points to Reville for his choice!
Congratulations! What a location! 👍🏼😃😍
— Adrian A Harrop 🏳️🌈🩺 (@AdrianHarrop) March 15, 2018
4. Member of Parliament Debbie Abrahams had the sweetest reaction!
Dear @Rachel_L_Evans congratulations!! Must be the best proposal on the floor of the House for many years!! Xx https://t.co/hD36g6p2IK
— Debbie Abrahams MP (@Debbie_abrahams) March 15, 2018
The newly-engaged Rachel Evans admitted how her fiancé managed to pretty much trick her!
Thanks Debbie 🙂 I thought I was there to give Matt's colleague a Parliament tour… Turns out the colleague was there to film it!
— Rachel Reville (@Rachel_Reville) March 15, 2018
5. One of the other tour guides who was present during the proposal had something rather hilarious to say!
That’s so cool – congrats again! What did the chap say? “You know it’s parliament so he didn’t mean it?”.
— N. Reinis-Keightley (@nickreinis) March 15, 2018
Reville replied to the tweet, talking about how enthusiastic the group of tourists present for the proposal were!
Yep! Timed it late on Friday as that's the time with the fewest tourists, but still one group there. They were all lovely though 👍
— Matthew Reville (@MatthewReville) March 15, 2018
You’ve got to commend Matthew Reville for his phenomenal choice of venue. After all, a man’s proposal style says a lot about him, right?
This guy sure knows how to make it special for his lady!
“I proposed in the House of Commons because Rachel works in Parliament and it seemed a suitable place for the biggest event of our lives so far. We couldn’t be happier.”
Amidst all the mushy gushing, however, there was one astute observation by an Indian Twitter user that’s bound to resonate will every desi!
सोचो अगर ये हमारे सांसद भवन में होता तो लिबरल कोम क्या रिएक्शन देती।🤔 https://t.co/S3haJrqauB
— आत्मनिर्भर चार्ली। (@vbm6767) March 16, 2018
Touché, my friend! That being said, this was definitely a proposal to remember!