Details of Harry and Meghan's first overseas tour released
It will be the royal couple's first big diplomatic test as they visit four nations on behalf of the Queen and the Foreign Office.
Monday 10 September 2018 15:59, UK
Details of Harry and Meghan's much-anticipated first major overseas tour have been released.
It was announced earlier in the year that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would be travelling to Australia, Fiji, the kingdom of Tonga and New Zealand.
But now Kensington Palace has confirmed the dates and locations that the newlyweds will be visiting between 16 October and the end of next month.
In just over a fortnight they will visit Sydney, Dubbo, Melbourne and Fraser Island in Australia, Suva and Nadi in Fiji, and Nuku'alofa in Tonga.
They will then head to Wellington, Abel Tasman National Park, Auckland and Rotorua in New Zealand.
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The couple have been busy carrying out royal engagements across the UK since they got engaged last November, and travelled to Dublin earlier in the summer.
But this tour will be their first big diplomatic test as they visit the four countries on behalf of the Queen and at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
"Their Royal Highnesses have been invited to visit the Commonwealth Realms of Australia and New Zealand by the countries' respective governments," Kensington Palace said.
"The Duke and Duchess will visit Fiji and Tonga at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
"The programme across these four Commonwealth countries will focus on youth leadership, environmental and conservation efforts - including the dedication of several new Queen's Commonwealth Canopy projects - and the recovery and rehabilitation of servicemen and women through the Invictus Games Sydney 2018."
While we know that the couple will want to spend time attending the Invictus Games - the sporting event for military personnel set up by Prince Harry - the palace is yet to release any further details of what exactly Harry and Meghan will be doing during the trip.
The pair have already shown they are keen to embrace the Commonwealth as part of their joint royal work together.
The Queen made Prince Harry a youth ambassador for the Commonwealth earlier this year, while the Duchess of Sussex had flowers and foliage from all 53 Commonwealth countries embroidered into her veil on her wedding day.