'I proposed to my boyfriend - more women should take the reins and do the same'

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

This year brought another leap year – along with an age-old tradition allowing women to propose to their partners. A leap day is also only time women are permitted to get down on one knee instead of men, according to an ancient Irish tradition.

Dating back to the 5th century, women are allowed to propose to their significant others on February 29 if they are taking too long to do so. Join our WhatsApp Top Stories and Breaking News group by clicking this link And recent data shows nearly one in five women in committed relationships have thought about taking the lead and proposing to their male partners this year.

One woman who decided to take that leap of faith is 32-year-old Carys – a research assistant who popped the question to her partner Harry last September.

Carys had booked Harry, 33, on a microlight plane experience as a birthday present when she asked him to marry her. Harry was flying over their house in Norfolk when he spotted the words ‘MARRY ME?’ spelled out in their garden. “Obviously I couldn’t say yes to her at the time because I was in the air,” Harry said. “But the pilot heard me say ‘of course!’ because I was so excited. “What made the surprise even better was that it was so memorable and personal.