Prince Harry and Meghan To Move To Africa

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry considering to move to Africa by 2020, preferably in Botswana. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have ...

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry considering to move to Africa by 2020, preferably in Botswana.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have just settled into their new home, a cottage near Windsor Castle, as they await the birth of their first child. But according to the Sunday Times of London, they may be packing their bags again soon. The Times reports the Duke and Duchess of Sussex could move to Africa following the birth of their baby. 

News of the possible move broke as members of the royal family attended an Easter Sunday church service on Queen Elizabeth's 93rd birthday. Buckingham Palace has already responded to the report with a statement. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are currently awaiting the arrival of their first baby, thought to be due at the end of April 2019.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend Awards for excellence in adventure and conservation on 26 October 2018 in Sydney, Australia. Photo: Jame D. Morgan.

And despite having only just moved into their new residence, Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, The Sunday Times is reporting that Meghan and Harry could be planning to leave England in the not-too-distant future. The Sunday Times labels Meghan and Harry as "rock stars" within the royal family. Royal reporters Tim Shipman and Roya Nikkhah write, "Courtiers have drawn up plans to hand the Duke and Duchess of Sussex a major international job that could see them moving abroad after the birth of their child."

The publication reports that "Discussions are at an early stage, but the plan is to find a new way of using their soft power abilities, most likely in Africa." But according to The Sunday Times, "a decision on where they would be based is unlikely to be taken until 2020 when they have settled down with their new baby which is due within days."


Africa has always been a special place for Meghan and Harry, with the couple spending a lot of time there, both together and separately, prior to getting married. Their romantic vacation to Botswana in August 2017 was caught on camera. And when the couple announced their engagement in November 2017, Harry explained in a TV interview that their third date ever had been in Botswana in the summer of 2016: "We camped out with each other, under the stars." He continued, "She came and joined me for five days out there, which was absolutely fantastic. Then we were really by ourselves, which was crucial to me to make sure that we had a chance to get to know each other."

Prince Harry teaching the school kids at the public park centre during their 2017 trip to Botswana.

According to a source (via The Sunday Times), Prince Harry's advisers have apparently been discussing questions such as, "How do we harness Harry and Meghan? How do you harness this phenomenon that has emerged? You make it productive." The so-called "bespoke" role would allegedly see the Duke and Duchess of Sussex continue their work within the Commonwealth, while also working with local charities.

According to Daily Express royal correspondent Richard Palmer via Twitter, "Buckingham Palace is not denying a report that officials have discussed sending Harry and Meghan to Africa as a way of capitalizing on their appeal to young people in the Commonwealth — and of putting further distance between them and the Cambridge." And Palmer also released a statement from Buckingham Palace which said, "Any future plans for The Duke and Duchess are speculative at this stage. No decisions have been taken about future roles." Buckingham Palace continued, "The Duke will continue to fulfil his role as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador."

It truly is the end of an era now that Harry and Meghan have left Kensington Palace. But for now, at least, it's unclear whether the duke and duchess will be leaving England for Africa.

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