Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to visit New Zealand

Monday, 10 September 2018

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during their wedding service in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are to visit New Zealand in October as part of their first international tour outside of the United Kingdom.

Kensington Palace has confirmed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be visiting New Zealand from October 28 to November 1.

The Duke and Duchess will arrive in Wellington and will visit Abel Tasman National Park, Auckland and Rotorua.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said: 'It's wonderful news that the Duke and Duchess are coming to New Zealand as part of their first major tour outside the United Kingdom. I know they will receive a very warm Kiwi welcome wherever they go.

'I hope many New Zealanders will have the opportunity to see the Duke and Duchess as they visit some of our beautiful provinces and national parks, and experience our hospitality.'

The couple will arrive in New Zealand after attending the Invictus Games in Sydney and visits to Fiji and Tonga.

The tour will focus on 'youth leadership, and 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, according to a statement from Kensington Palace.

There had long been speculation that the pair would visit New Zealand.

Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle during an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace on November 27, 2017.

A source told Stuff earlier in 2018 that they planned to cross the ditch for a royal tour of Aotearoa on about October 28.

Both Harry and Meghan have visited New Zealand before - Harry as part of his first official royal tour in 2015 and Meghan on a campervan roadie the year before.

While she was initially hesitant about the idea, writing on her former blog The Tig that she asked herself 'Could I campervan? Should I campervan? Am I a campervanning girl?', the South Island and Waiheke won her over, inspiring her to write a 'love letter to all things Kiwi'.

The couple's tour of the four countries will begin in Sydney on October 16, with Rotorua listed as the last stop.

More information about their trip will be released closer to their arrival.

TOUR DATES

Tuesday 16th October: Sydney, Australia

Wednesday 17th October: Dubbo, Australia

Thursday 18th October: Melbourne, Australia

Friday 19th October: Sydney, Australia

Saturday 20th October: Sydney, Australia

Sunday 21st October: Sydney, Australia

Monday 22nd October: Fraser Island, Australia

Tuesday 23rd October: Suva, Fiji

Wednesday 24th October: Suva, Fiji

Thursday 25th October: Nadi, Fiji and Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Friday 26th October: Nuku'alofa, Tonga and Sydney, Australia

Saturday 27th October: Sydney, Australia

Sunday 28th October: Wellington, New Zealand

Monday 29th October: Wellington and Abel Tasman, New Zealand

Tuesday 30th October: Auckland, New Zealand

Wednesday 31st October: Rotorua, New Zealand

Comments have been closed.