Harry and Meghan asked to tour Africa as they can ‘connect to young people better than other royals’

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office say Meghan and Harry will fly the flag for a ‘young, multi-cultural Britain’ when they travel to Africa for their first tour as a family later this month.

Sources said the couple were asked to undertake their two-week tour to South Africa, Angola, Botswana and Malawi because they could connect with the young people out there in way other royals couldn’t.

‘They are a diverse couple, they represent modern Britain, ‘ a senior official said yesterday.

‘They are also modern, forward thinking, dynamic young people.

‘Everyone is extraordinarily excited about this visit. ‘ Officials said that 62 per cent of the population in sub Saharan Africa was under 25, and felt that Harry and Meghan – who are also taking their baby son, Archie – were a ‘perfect fit’ for the trip.

Sources said they were asked to undertake their two-week tour to South Africa, Angola, Botswana and Malawi because they could connect with the young people out there in way other royals couldn’t. Pictured on their last royal tour in Sydney, Australia 

It is taking place at the request of the FCO and the British Government which believes there is huge post Brexit economic opportunities in the region. 

The news comes just a day after the Duchess of Sussex returned from maternity leave.  

She arrived in London yesterday to show off the collection created by Jigsaw, her designer friend Misha Nonoo and leading high street brands John Lewis and Marks and Spencer.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office say Meghan and Harry will fly the flag for a 'young, multi-cultural Britain' when they travel to Africa for their first tour as a family later this month. Pictured: Meghan returns from maternity leave yesterday

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office say Meghan and Harry will fly the flag for a ‘young, multi-cultural Britain’ when they travel to Africa for their first tour as a family later this month. Pictured: Meghan returns from maternity leave yesterday

Meghan was wearing butterfly earrings that once belonged to Prince Harry’s late mother Princess Diana, as well as a £120 blouse by Nonoo – whom she warmly hugged – and a pair of £120 Jigsaw trousers from the new Smart Set collection. She also wore an armful of gold bracelets worth more than £2,000, including one Diana also once had.

Since the birth of Archie on May 6, she has been caring for her son –  but privately attended a polo match where Harry was playing and watched the women’s tennis finals at Wimbledon and the US Open in New York.

The couple have not been shy about their love of Africa in the past.

Earlier this month, Prince Harry shared an excited Instagram post on the couple’s Sussex Royal page today ahead of their trip, admitting he ‘can’t wait’ to return to his ‘second home’ with his wife and son.   

The family will travel to South Africa on a royal tour this autumn – with the Duke of Sussex, 34, making additional trips to Angola, Malawi and Botswana alone.

It will be Harry and Meghan’s first royal tour as a family since welcoming baby Archie, now three months old, in May. 

The couple shared a grid of nine colourful images featuring African wildlife, young children and locals dressed in traditional outfits. 

Since the birth of Archie on May 6, Meghan has been caring for her son - but privately attended a polo match where Harry was playing and watched the women's tennis finals at Wimbledon and the US Open in New York

Since the birth of Archie on May 6, Meghan has been caring for her son – but privately attended a polo match where Harry was playing and watched the women’s tennis finals at Wimbledon and the US Open in New York

The post was captioned with a personal message from Prince Harry, in which he wrote: ‘In just a few weeks our family will be taking its first official tour to Africa, a region of the world that over the past two decades has been a second home to me. 

‘Our team has helped create a meaningful programme that we’re so excited to share with you. 

‘On a personal note, I can’t wait to introduce my wife and son to South Africa! We’ll see all of you very soon.’  

A statement released by the palace in June said: ‘The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will undertake an official visit to South Africa this Autumn at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Prince Harry shared an excited Instagram post on the couple's Sussex Royal page ahead of their trip to Africa, admitting he 'can't wait' to return to his 'second home' with his wife and son

Prince Harry shared an excited Instagram post on the couple’s Sussex Royal page ahead of their trip to Africa, admitting he ‘can’t wait’ to return to his ‘second home’ with his wife and son

The post was captioned with a personal message from Prince Harry which hinted at a 'meaningful programme' for the couple during the trip

The post was captioned with a personal message from Prince Harry which hinted at a ‘meaningful programme’ for the couple during the trip

‘In addition, The Duke of Sussex will visit Angola and Malawi at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

‘His Royal Highness will also undertake a working visit to Botswana while in the region. Further details will be advised in due course.’

South Africa’s British High Commissioner Nigel Casey said the trip to the country would be a ‘short one’, adding: ‘That’s great news for us, and I predict it’s also good news for the South African economy.

Friends of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex claimed they fear the pair have accelerated plans to leave Britain – after apparently snubbing Prince Charles’ plans for them to take on an estate in Herefordshire. 

 

Land had been earmarked for Harry as part of a long-standing scheme by the Prince of Wales to help his son create a country estate for his family near the Welsh Borders.

But his second son has so far shown little interest in making the move, raising fears among friends that the couple may be preparing to head abroad – with LA high on the list of possibilities.

It has long been thought that the pair might at some time in the future relish a new life in Meghan’s birthplace, with her mother Doria keen to see more of her grandson and eager for him to broaden his horizons to help him live a normal, modern life. 

Meghan cradles her son Archie as they get off a private jet at Nice Airport in France last month

Meghan cradles her son Archie as they get off a private jet at Nice Airport in France last month

Prince Harry gets on board a private jet in Nice last month following a visit to see Sir Elton John

Prince Harry gets on board a private jet in Nice last month following a visit to see Sir Elton John

The tour comes amid backlash over the royal couple’s use of private jets.

Meghan and Harry were accused of hypocrisy for using charter flights six times this summer, while urging the public to cut their carbon footprint. 

The prince refused to apologise for his flights to Italy, France and Spain, saying: ‘I spend 99 per cent of my life travelling the world by commercial.

‘Occasionally there needs to be an opportunity [to fly privately] based on a unique circumstance to ensure that my family are safe – it’s as simple as that. 

The prince refused to apologise for his recent private flights to Italy, France and Spain, saying: 'I spend 99 per cent of my life travelling the world by commercial'. Pictured giving a speech about Travalyst at the A'dam Tower

The prince refused to apologise for his recent private flights to Italy, France and Spain, saying: ‘I spend 99 per cent of my life travelling the world by commercial’. Pictured giving a speech about Travalyst at the A’dam Tower

‘For me it’s about balance. It’s not a decision I would want to take, but if I have to do that, I will ensure that I balance out the impact that I have.’

Despite his comments, analysis of Harry and Meghan’s known flights since their wedding last year shows six of the ten return trips they took were by private jet – 60 per cent of the total.

Harry dismissed concerns over his carbon footprint by insisting that he ‘offsets’ his emissions by donating to renewable energy incentives and planting trees.



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk