Katie Couric gets engaged to John Molner on Labor Day weekend

Katie Couric got engaged to her financier boyfriend of nearly two years, John Molner, on Labor Day weekend.

John Molner popped the question on a beach in East Hampton, New York, as the sun went down, with a “spectacular diamond ring”.

A widow since her husband, Jay Monahan died from colon cancer in 1998, mother-of-two Katie Couric, 56, has had several suitors over the years, but never seemed to find the right match.

Katie Couric told People magazine in 2011 that she always imagined herself as a “modern-day” version of the twice married TV character, Carol Brady.

Finally, though, she decided to stop worrying about finding a suitor.

“I used to worry a lot about the future. [But] who knows what it will bring?” Katie Couric said.

“Hopefully it will bring good things.”

However, Katie Couric met 50-year-old John Molner, a partner at the investment firm Brown Brothers Harriman, in early 2012 and soon hit it off.

Katie Couric and John Molner first went public with their relationship in April 2012 and she said later that year: “He’s great. He’s from Chicago. I love Midwesterners!”

She also made it clear that she was looking to take things to the next level, telling Parade that she liked the “idea of having a life partner”.

Before John Molner, Katie Couric was dating entrepreneur, Brooks Perlin, who is 17 years her junior.

Katie Couric and Brooks Perlin met at a charity event held to raise money for cancer research in 2006 and remained together for five years.

There was speculation at the time that her new relationship with John Molner came too soon after the split.

However, mutual friends of the couple reportedly said that they had been trying to set them up for years.

John Molner is said to have been a fan of Katie Couric’s for some time.

Speaking to People magazine about dating, Katie Couric once said: “I thought, it’s important for me to go out. I’m always excited to meet new people and have a social life.

“I think dating is fun actually. I enjoy that part of my life.”

John Molner will become a step-father to Katie Couric’s two daughters with Jay Monahan, Ellie, 21, and Carrie, 17.

Making her engagement public today, Katie Couric tweeted: “Yes it’s true! So touched by all the kind Tweets & warm wishes-thank you! A great end to the summer & looking fwd to seeing you all Monday!!”

Her talk show, Katie returns for a second season on September 9.