Harry and Meghan to head Down Under later this year: palace

AFP  |  London 

and his new wife will visit Australia, Fiji, and later this year for their first overseas tour as a married couple, announced today.

Harry, the second son of heir-to-the-throne Charles, set up the global sports championship for wounded personnel after a decade in the

All four countries on the tour are members of the Commonwealth, the 53-nation grouping for which is a youth

is following in his parents' footsteps, after and his then wife visited and in their first tour as a married couple.

was in earlier this year to open the Commonwealth Games, his 16th tour of the country.

Harry's older brother and his wife also drew huge crowds during a 2014 visit to and with their baby Prince George.

"The Duke and Duchess of will undertake an official visit to Australia, Fiji, the Kingdom of Tonga, and New Zealand in the autumn," the palace statement said.

"Their Royal Highnesses have been invited to visit the realms of Australia and New Zealand by the countries' respective governments.

"The Duke and Duchess will visit the Commonwealth countries of and at the request of the

"The tour will fall on the occasion of the Invictus Games 2018." Australia and New Zealand welcomed the trip, saying that both their nations would warmly receive the

"The Duke of .. attendance (at the Games), alongside The Duchess of Sussex, will be a wonderful highlight for the more than 500 competitors and thousands of spectators," Australian said in a statement.

"I know the Australian people will greet Their Royal Highnesses with great warmth and excitement wherever they go during their time here." New Zealand leader said had enjoyed his last visit in 2015.

"This is the Duchess's second visit to our country and I know New Zealanders will be very much looking forward to welcoming her back," she added in a statement.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Mon, June 11 2018. 08:20 IST