Royal newlyweds tipped to visit Australia

Australia could be one of the first countries to receive a visit from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after they marry in early 2018.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Source: AAP

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could become regular visitors to Australia after they tie the knot early next year.

After announcing their engagement in London overnight, the 33-year-old prince and the American actress talked about their desire to promote humanitarian causes close to their hearts across Commonwealth member countries.

And Australia could be one of the first places they visit after they marry, with Prince Harry's Invictus Games for wounded defence force veterans heading to Sydney next October.

In their first TV interview as a couple, Prince Harry said there was a "hell of a lot of work" for ahead of him and Ms Markle, who is a United Nations women's ambassador and World Vision spokeswoman.

"Both of us have passions for wanting to make change, change for good and with lots of young people running around the Commonwealth, that's where we are going to spend most of our time hopefully," Harry said.

Juliet Rieden, The Australian Women's Weekly editor and author of The Royals in Australia, says there's a strong chance the newlyweds could choose Australia for their official overseas visit given Sydney is hosting the Invictus Games.

"I think we might actually be the first to see them in the Commonwealth because we have the Invictus Games in October and Harry will most definitely be here and now we can hope he will be bringing his new wife with him," she told AAP.

Harry's parents, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, chose Australia for their first official overseas tour in 1983 and brought their nine-month-old son Prince William with them.

William and wife Catherine also brought their son, Prince George, to Australia when he was just nine months old in 2014.

Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove has already rolled out the welcome mat in anticipation of a visit from the newlyweds.

"Prince Harry has always been a very welcome and popular visitor to Australia and we all look forward to warmly welcoming his wife to our shores in the future," he said after the royal engagement was announced.

But before Harry and Ms Markle plan any trips, there's a wedding to organise.

If they choose to have a public wedding, they are expected to stick with royal protocol and invite dignitaries including Australia's governor-general and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

But the 33-year-old prince also has plenty of Aussie mates to consider, from celebrities to soldiers he trained alongside in Perth and Darwin during the final weeks of his 10-year stint as an officer in the British Army in 2015.


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Source: AAP


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Royal newlyweds tipped to visit Australia | SBS News