Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes after announcing their engagementTom Cruise & Katie Holmes after announcing their engagementActor Tom Cruise is to marry girlfriend Katie Holmes.

The star popped the question at the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

The couple have been dating since April - but have constantly had to deny reports that it was all a publicity stunt.

Speaking at a Paris news conference alongside Katie, who was wearing an outsized ring, Tom said: "Yes, I proposed to her. It was early this morning at the Eiffel Tower, so I haven't slept at all.

"Today is a magnificent day for me, I'm engaged to a magnificent woman," he added.

Asked why he chose the famed Paris landmark, he said: "I've never been to the Eiffel Tower. It's Paris, it's a beautiful city, it's very romantic."

Katie's massive ringKatie's massive ringHe put off answering other questions about the wedding plans, saying they were up to Holmes' father to decide.

For the date of the wedding, Cruise said "we are taking it one step at a time, but we'll decide it soon."

Cruise, 42, was in Paris to promote the French release of the Steven Spielberg film War Of The Worlds next month.

He and 26-year-old Katie went public after she called off her engagement to actor Chris Klein.

At the world premiere of her new film Batman Begins recently in Tokyo, the 26-year-old actress gushed: "I couldn't be happier. I'm so happy.

"He's the most amazing man in the whole world."

The twice-married actor recently told chat show host Oprah Winfrey: "Honestly, I haven't had this kind of experience before."

This will be Tom's third wedding, he was married to actress Mimi Rogers from 1987 to 1990, then Nicole Kidman from 1990 to 2001.

Before Katie, he went out with actress Penelope Cruz from 2001 to 2004.