Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Australia tour – Dates, itinerary and countries the royal couple will visit
PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle delighted royal fans as they touched down in Australia for their first overseas tour as a married couple with the news of Meghan's pregnancy.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are no strangers to public engagements, but what does this long haul trip entail? Here's the lowdown.
When are they going and what are they getting up to?
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are spending October Down Under as they embark on their first overseas tour since their big day.
The well-timed trip coincides with the Invictus Games, which kick off in Sydney on October 20.
The couple's full itinerary is below:
October 16
- Visit to the Sydney Opera House to view rehearsal of Spirit 2018 by the Bangarra Dance Theatre
October 17
- Visit farmers hit by drought
- Travel to Victoria Park for picnic to celebrate community spirit
October 18
- Visit social enterprise café which offers training programmes for young Aboriginal people
- Duke and Duchess will travel on an iconic Melbourne tram to South Melbourne beach
October 19
- Visit to Bondi Beach to meet local surfing group to discuss mental health
- Duke will climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge to officially raise the Invictus Flag
October 20
- Duke and Duchess will travel by boat to attend the Invictus Games Sydney 2018
- Invictus Games Sydney 2018 Opening Ceremony where Prince will give speech
October 21
- Couple will watch some Invictus Games events including cycling and sailing
October 22
- Couple will take part in traditional smoking ceremony as part of welcome
October 23
- Fly to Fiji's capital Suva with a welcome ceremony known as Veirqaraqaravi Vakavanua
- Reception and a State Dinner hosted by The President of Fiji at the Grand Pacific Hotel
October 24
- His Royal Highness will lay a wreath at the Fiji War Memorial and meet Fijian war veterans
October 25
- Couple will fly to Tonga
- Official reception and dinner, and traditional Tongan entertainment
October 26
- Couple will return to the Royal Palace for an official farewell with the King of Tonga before departing for Sydney
October 27
- Final day of Invictus Games
- Couple will attend the closing ceremony and both give a speech on their final day in Australia
October 28
- Fly to Wellington, New Zealand
- Visit newly unveiled UK War Memorial
- Meetings with Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition at Government House
- Evening reception celebrating the 125th anniversary of women’s suffrage in New Zealand
October 29
- Morning meeting with young people from mental health projects in New Zealand
October 30
- Arrival in Auckland
- Evening reception hosted by the Prime Minister at the Auckland War Memorial Museum
October 31
- Visit to lakeside town of Rotorua
- Travel to Rainbow Springs to learn more about the centre’s kiwi bird breeding programme
- Return to Auckland in the evening
November 1
- Depart for London
Harry's parents Charles and Diana travelled 23,691 miles and spent 41 days overseas when they made their first trip as a married couple to Australia and New Zealand in 1983.
In April 2014, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also travelled to Australia and New Zealand, spending just 18 days away but covering a similar distance of 23,701 miles.
Which countries are the royal couple visiting?
As detailed above, the royal couple will be visiting Australia and New Zealand.
They'll also spend time in Fiji and the Kingdom of Tonga.
All eyes will be on Meghan for the demanding trip, her first tour of this magnitude as the Duchess of Sussex.
Is Meghan pregnant?
The royal couple landed in Australia on October 15, 2018 - at the same time, Kensington Palace confirmed the news that the Duchess of Sussex was pregnant with her first child.
Kensington Palace confirmed that the baby is due in spring 2019 – but no exact date or month was given.
If Meghan is just over three months pregnant at the time of annoncement, chances are the baby will be born in late March or early April.