Meghan Markle ‘planning US trip without hubby Prince Harry’ to see friends and family in New York and LA
MEGHAN Markle is planning a solo trip to the US without Prince Harry within months, according to reports.
The Duchess of Sussex is said to be working on plans to leave hubby Harry in the UK while she visits family and friends in her native country.
Her alleged trip will take place before a rumoured official visit with the Duke to the United States next year — and a visit Down Under this autumn.
A source told "She's planning a personal, unofficial trip this summer to see family and friends".
The magazine reported that Meghan, 36, wants to return home before becoming a mum for the first time.
The source added: "Expect to hear the pitter-patter of a little prince or princess in 2019".
On where she is expected to visit, the Royal insider said: "She'll go to New York, then LA."
High on Meghan's list of priorities is likely to be a visit to dad Thomas — currently back in the US following his recent health scares.
He missed Meghan’s wedding to Prince Harry in May after undergoing heart surgery.
Thomas celebrated his 74th birthday with a lone McDonald's meal in Los Angeles on Wednesday after revealing he had lost all contact with his Royal daughter.
And he was this week forced to deny allegations he was a heavy drinker after being slammed by Sharon Osbourne.
On her show The Talk, the X Factor judge said: “It is so obvious that you have a bad drinking problem.
"And it’s obvious that over the last few years, you haven’t been close with your daughter."
She hit out after lonely dad Thomas said he wanted to make peace with Meghan following a series of PR blunders — including admitting staging paparazzi photos ahead of the Royal wedding.
He had told The Sun: “If I chose in a month, or couple of months, to go to England — I want to see my daughter. I’m thinking about it.
"I don’t care whether she is p***** off at me or not."
But Meghan will likely swerve estranged half-sister Samantha Markle who this week said she would blame the Duchess if their dad died.
An official tour of the US will come next spring, according to sources, as Meghan is "looking forward to introducing Harry to everything she loves about the US".
The mag's insider added: "Meghan and Harry want to solidify ties between the UK and the US. They want to highlight and foster these relationships."
The reported US jaunt will also come before Meghan and Harry go on their first long-haul Royal tour as a married couple to Australia and New Zealand.
They will mirror Prince Charles and Diana's inaugural foreign trip in 1983 by travelling around the Antipodes in October.
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It coincides with the Invictus Games — created by Harry, 33 — taking place in Sydney. They will also visit Fiji and Tonga.
A spokesman for Kensington Palace told The Sun Online: "At this stage, the only confirmed official visit that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will take part in is to Australia and New Zealand later this year.
"We do not comment on private trips."
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