Meghan Markle and Prince Harry to make bold Brexit move on Africa tour

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will embark on their first official trip as a family of three this month, taking their four-month-old baby Archie to South Africa. However, BBC royal correspondent Sarah Campbell claimed the couple may not just be going for photo-opportunities, but also to make a “soft power” move, as indicated by the invitation title on their notes. She told CBS News: “When you read the notes about them it’s always at the invitation of the Foreign and Commonwealth office. That kind of gives you a bit of a clue as to their importance.

“So yes they’re nice photo opportunities with members of the Royal Family, but essentially and particularly for Britain which at the moment is changing its relationship with the European Union.

“It’s very important for Britain to be looking at trading links with other partners and so trips like this are so important this kind of idea of soft power, which the royals are very good at.

“There’s going to be a reception with African business leaders, with Harry and Meghan, and that pre-emepts a meeting in London again in 2020, again with African business leaders coming here.

“So it’s kind of important on all those fronts, but really important on Britain’s links with the wider world.”

READ MORE: Meghan Markle Africa tour: The five moments to look out for

The pair have taken their young son on holiday this year, but have not yet attended an official engagement abroad with baby Archie.

Their schedule dictates the couple will arrive in Cape Town, South Africa, on Monday, September 23 and stay until Wednesday, October 2.

According to a statement from Buckingham Palace, the trip is at the behest of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

The couple will first visit Cape Town, touring the District Six Museum - a memorial to 60,000 residents who were made to leave their homes during the 1970s apartheid.

They will also travel to Monwabisi Beach, close to Cape Town’s Khayelitsha township, and spend time with charities working towards providing therapy and meals and ending poaching.

The tour also holds significance for Prince Harry, as he is to visit Huambo, the same location his mother Princess Diana visited and spend time with landmine victims.

During his time in Huambo, Harry will be greeted by the same official, Governor Joana Lina, who was the official host for Princess Diana’s visit.

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He will also pay a trip to the Huambo Orthopaedic Centre, which Diana visited in 1997.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “The Duke is especially proud to continue the legacy left by his mother with her work in Angola as he joins Halo Trust again in an effort to rid the world of landmines.”

Harry has followed in his mother’s footsteps and founded charity Sentebale, in the African country of Lesotho in 2006.

According to the charity’s official website, Sentebale works to protect “the most vulnerable children in Lesotho, Botswana and Malawi get the support they need to lead healthy and productive lives.”

Meghan Markle and Harry also have a romantic connection to Africa, as it is where Harry took Meghan for some time away a few weeks after their first date in 2017.

Harry spoke of their time in Botswana in an interview after announcing their engagement. He said: “I managed to persuade her to come and join me in Botswana and we camped out with each other under the stars.

“She came and joined me for five days out there, which was absolutely fantastic, so then we were really by ourselves, which I think was crucial to me to make sure we had a chance to get to know each other.”