Meghan and Harry's Africa tour: 'No official plans for Archie to be seen'

Ellen Manning

There may be no official plans for Royal baby Archie to be seen on the Duke and Duchess’s forthcoming tour to South Africa, but it could provide a chance to see the “family of three” together, royal experts predict.

While no official engagements featuring four-month-old Archie are “on the cards” for Meghan and Harry’s 10-day trip, we might get to see the trio together, The Sun’s Royal Correspondent Emily Andrews tells Yahoo UK’s The Royal Box.

The trip, which starts in Cape Town on September 23 and finishes in Johannesburg on October 2, is the first royal tour for the family of three.

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Archie's First Tour
Archie's First Tour

Harry has expressed his excitement at the trip, saying he “can’t wait” to introduce his son and wife to South Africa.

Speaking on The Royal Box, Andrews says there are no official plans for Archie to be seen on any of the public engagements, but points out that there may be opportunities, including the moments that aren’t considered ‘official engagements’, like when the couple land.

“Quite a lot of the locations for the engagements have been embargoed because of security issues,” she says.

“Then there are some other lovely things they’re doing, they’re going to be doing a visit to the beach, they’re going to be visiting lots of charities for female empowerment.”

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Other engagements are expected to include references to the legacy of apartheid, she says.

“Hopefully we might also get to see Archie as well. Nothing is on the cards officially but we hope we might be able to see them as a family of three. Either they’ll take Archie or there’ll be a photograph issued by their team.”

This official christening photograph released by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shows Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex with their son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor at Windsor Castle with with the Rose Garden in the background, near London, Britain July 6, 2019. Chris Allerton/Pool via REUTERS NEWS EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO COMMERCIAL USE. NO MERCHANDISING, ADVERTISING, SOUVENIRS, MEMORABILIA or COLOURABLY SIMILAR. NOT FOR USE AFTER AFTER 31 DECEMBER, 2019 WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION FROM ROYAL COMMUNICATIONS. NO CROPPING. Copyright in this photograph is vested in The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. No charge should be made for the supply, release or publication of the photograph. The photograph must not be digitally enhanced, manipulated or modified in any manner or form and must include all of the individuals in the photograph when published.
Meghan and Harry's tour to South Africa might be a chance to see them and baby Archie as a family of three, experts predict (Picture: Chris Allerton/Pool via REUTERS)

During the tour, Prince Harry will also make solo trips to Botswana, Malawi and Angola at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Describing the nation as his "second home", Harry said via social media: “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.”

As patron of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, Meghan will meet female entrepreneurs, academics and community leaders and is said to be “looking forward to the opportunity to learn from inspirational women in the region”.

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