‘Exhausted’ Meghan pulled out of royal trip with Harry to Zambia amid fears over Zika virus
- The Duchess of Sussex was advised to stay away from potential Zika virus areas
- She has now decided to stay at home with her mother instead of going to Zambia
- Prince Harry will now complete the two-day tour of the African country alone
An ‘exhausted’ Duchess of Sussex has pulled out of a visit to Zambia over fears about the Zika virus – deciding to spend quality time with her mother Doria instead.
Prince Harry will now complete the two-day tour of the African country alone while his pregnant wife rests up with her mother, who is visiting Britain.
Officially, Harry was always supposed to make the trip alone but palace insiders say that it was intended to be a joint visit.
Meghan will not be joining Harry on a two-day tour of Zambia (pictured are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in Tonga in October)
The Duke, 34, left last night and is expected to attend an official reception with Zambian officials later today.
His trip will also see him visit the Burma Barracks in the capital Lusaka, where he will commemorate the country’s World War veterans.
Meghan, 37, is believed to have been told to avoid foreign trips that risk exposing her to the Zika virus.
The Duke’s latest foreign trip comes less than a month after he and Meghan (pictured) visited Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga
An insider told the Sun: ‘As far as those on the ground in Zambia were concerned both Meghan and Harry were going. But Meghan is exhausted and, understandably, expressed serious concerns about travelling to a country with even the smallest Zika threat.
‘In the end it was agreed Harry would go it alone and Meghan could rest-up and spend some quality time with Doria, who is down in the UK visiting.’
The latest foreign trip comes less than a month after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga.
In October, Public Health England warned pregnant women not travel to a region of India amid fears they could be struck down with Zika.
Zika can cause microcephaly for children in the womb, causing babies to be born with abnormally small skulls.
Meghan is said to be ‘exhausted’ and will be spending some quality time with mother Doria instead