It was a romantic fairytale of New York for former Miss Northern Ireland and Cool FM’s Katharine Walker.
The 30-year-old, who is also a children’s nurse, was overwhelmed with emotion when her partner of two-and-a-half years Melvyn Nicholls got down on one knee and popped the question in Central Park.
Katharine told this newspaper how she “can’t wait for the life we’re going to make together”.
The Miss Universe Ireland 2021 and Miss NI 2018 hosts the Cool Saturday Show with Stuart Robinson.
She met Melvyn at a charity dinner in the Europa in April 2022 and they started dating that September.
Asked how she knew he was the one, Katharine, from Hillsborough, said her now fiancé (35), who is from Comber and works in film and TV production, is her “best friend”. “He just makes me a better person. My brother said he’s the son dad didn’t have because he is so like my dad in all the ways I love,” she said.
“We just have so much fun together, but equally he can give me tough love when I need it. And it’s the little things he does for me without asking. He takes care of me and I feel very lucky.”
Melvyn Nicholls and Katharine Walker on their romantic engagement in NYC. Photo Credit: Adelaide Chantilly
Katharine explained how Melvyn managed to keep his planned proposal under wraps.
“My friends were convinced it was happening, so I thought it might, but the trip to New York was actually a birthday present from him for my 30th,” she said.
“I did think it could happen, but equally I was just so excited to be in New York and didn’t want to get my hopes up because I knew that it would happen eventually. He gave nothing away, though.”
The day of the proposal — December 14 — is one she says she will never forget.
Explaining how it all unfolded, she laughed that she put his distraction down to Liverpool’s draw with Fulham that day, when the Reds twice found themselves behind at Anfield.
“We had visited the Summit One Vanderbilt building and Central Station in the morning, and all day he was checking his phone, but he was keeping up with the football which is totally normal for him to do. He’s a big Liverpool fan and they drew 2-2 that day,” she explained.
“Then, after lunch, we headed to Central Park, but he genuinely gave nothing away. He was slightly distracted, but I thought it was because of the football result.
“It was so cold in Central Park, like -4C. I was trying to get him to go into a museum to get indoors and heat up, but he kept me walking round. And then we got to the famous spot of the Gapstow bridge in front of the Plaza Hotel.
“We walked down to a more private place in front of the frozen lake and he just got down on one knee and asked.
“He said he was very relieved to have it over!”
Katharine said it was perfect.
“SantaCon was on that day and it was crazy busy in the city,” she added.
“He’s a very private person, so the fact there were so many people around and he was trying to keep it a surprise while coordinating with the photographer and not lose the ring, it was a lot to organise, but to me it was just perfect. “
Katharine told of how, when the moment came, she cried with emotion.
Asked was she shocked, she explained: “Yes and no. I felt it might happen, however I was overwhelmed with emotion when it happened.
“It was just so lovely. Even though I had my suspicions, he didn’t give a lot away. He had the ring from September, so he really did a good job of keeping it a secret.”
And forward-thinking Melvyn had found NYC photographer Adelaide Chantilly on Instagram because he knew his fiancée would want pictures of the moment.
She said: “He felt it took the pressure off him trying to capture it. Her name was Adelaide and she was the kindest human, she made it very special.
“She captured the candid moments and genuine emotion, and I will treasure these photos forever.”
Back home, their families are both so “excited and supportive”.
“I think they can all see how this relationship has been different and how happy he makes me, so they’re very happy for us,” she said.
Melvyn Nicholls and Katharine Walker on their romantic engagement in NYC. Photo Credit: Adelaide Chantilly
Now that they’re back in Northern Ireland, the couple are “jet lagged but delighted”, enjoying their “little bubble” and having fun celebrating with no rush on wedding planning just yet.
“Melvyn works away often, so we are just enjoying the engagement for now and then we can maybe look once he knows where he’s going to work next year,” she added.
The bride-to-be said she has “absolutely no idea” what kind of wedding she would like.
“There are so many options and I swing between doing something small and intimate or going all out because you only do it once, so why not?”
And in a touching message to her fiancé — she admits it is still “strange calling him that” — Katharine said she can’t wait for their new life together.
“My fiancé did such a great job with the proposal.
“It’s so special to find someone who you genuinely share such a bond with. Friends and family are everything to me and it is a dream of mine to have a family some day. I feel like our foundation is so solid and I can’t wait for the life we’re going to make together.”
Asked if any of her Cool FM colleagues would be having roles DJing or taking part in the wedding, she joked: “Stuart Robinson is set to be a bridesmaid.”