Harry and Meghan WILL visit South Africa in the autumn: British High Commissioner confirms royal tour and jokes couple will boost the economy – because there’ll be a ‘hat and frock-buying frenzy’
- The couple will visit South Africa in the autumn, it was confirmed today
- British High Commissioner to South Africa, Nigel Casey, made the announcement at a press conference this morning
- Casey joked that the couple’s visit could boost the South African economy because the royal visit cold spark a ‘hat and frock buying frenzy’
- It’s unclear whether baby Archie, born on May 6th, will travel with his parents
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are to visit South Africa in the autumn, the country’s British High Commissioner today confirmed.
Addressing journalists at the press conference in London this morning, commissioner Nigel Casey confirmed that new parents Meghan and Harry will, as speculated, embark upon a royal tour of the Rainbow Nation later this year.
It’s unclear whether the couple’s son Archie will travel with his parents or remain at home. High Commissioner Casey said the trip, part of a longer tour, would be a ‘short one’.
While it will be autumn in the UK, it will be springtime in the Southern Hemisphere.
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will make the trip to South Africa later this year, the British High Commissioner to the country, Nigel Casey, confirmed this morning
Nigel Casey, British High Commissioner to South Africa, making the announcement today; he joked that the couple’s visit could single-handedly boost the country’s economy because they’ll spark a ‘hat and frock buying frenzy’
Mr Casey told a press conference this morning that the royals were ‘coming back to visit South Africa in the autumn’.
He joked: ‘That’s great news for us, and I predict it’s also good news for the South African economy.
‘I predict a hat and frock buying frenzy to rival SONA [the country’s State of the Nation Address, which took place last Thursday] which could restore economic growth all on its own.
‘We’re hugely looking forward to that and thanks in anticipation for that and all the support that I know we’re going to receive.’
He added: ‘This a much shorter visit, they’ll be here for a matter of days and not months.’
MailOnline has contacted Buckingham Palace for confirmation.
It’s unclear whether the new parents will take their young son Archie, born May 6th, with them. High Commissioner Casey said the trip would be a ‘short one’.
The news comes after speculation that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will also travel to Asia later in the year for a major official tour.
It is understood the trip will focus on Commonwealth countries, meaning destinations might include Bangladesh, India, Malaysia and Singapore.
Sources believe there is a good chance of a visit to Sri Lanka, where a terror attack on Easter Sunday left at least 258 people dead, but less likelihood of a stop in Brunei, which has attracted criticism for its human rights record. It is believed China was considered but was ruled out.
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