They may have just welcomed their first child, Archie Harrison, just three weeks ago, but it seems there’s no slowing down for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who are reportedly planning their first royal tour very soon, with their newborn in tow.
According to the Daily Mail, Prince Harry and Meghan are firming up plans to make a trip to Africa with a source telling the publication that officials in South Africa have been told to expect a visit by the royal family of three later this year.
“People have been informed that the Duke and Duchess will be coming,” the source reveals.
“Early preparations have begun.”
The new parents are reportedly planning to visit a number of countries on the continent, with thoughts that this may act as a warm-up for an extended stay sometime next year.
In late April reports emerged that the royal couple could be appointed bespoke roles in the Commonwealth that would likely see them moving to one of the territories of the Commonwealth.
While countries like Australia and Canada were said to have been considered, they were ultimately decided against.
Africa is a continent which is very close to the couple’s hearts.
Not only has Prince Harry visited on a number of occasions – even taking gap year in Lesotho in 2004 – but Botswana was the backdrop of Harry and Meghan’s blossoming romance in 2016, with Harry taking a leap of faith and inviting the former actress on a romantic camping trip to the Southern African country after just two dates.
Opening up in their engagement interview with the BBC, Harry revealed, “We camped out with each other under the stars. She came and joined me for five days out there, which was absolutely fantastic.
“So then we were really by ourselves, which was crucial to me to make sure that we had a chance to know each other.”
The trip obviously paid off, with the couple returning one year later just months before they announced their engagement in 2017.
In fact, the couple also visited the Northern African country of Morocco in February this year for a whirlwind three-day tour, just months before baby Archie’s birth, which has us wondering whether Meghan will keep her promise to chef Moha Fedal to visit again “with the whole family next time.”
If the Sussexes do head to Africa this year, baby Archie will become the youngest royal to undertake a royal tour at just six-months-old.
Back in 1983 Prince Charles and Princess Diana took nine-month-old Prince William on a six-week tour of Australia and New Zealand, with Prince William and Duchess Catherine following in their footsteps, heading back to the same destinations with little Prince George when he was just eight-months-old in 2014.