Baby Archie's first royal trip as Meghan and Harry go to Africa

Harry and Meghan plan to take their seven-week-old son on the trip, where he will most likely be looked after at a British High Commission residence while they meet the South African public. The Duke will also carry out solo visits to Angola, Malawi, and Botswana as part of the short tour. Palace officials have discussed basing the family in Africa for several months but if that happens, it is not likely to be before 2020.

A post on the couple's Instagram account said: "The Duke and Duchess are really looking forward to meeting so many of you on the ground and continuing to raise awareness of the high impact work local communities are doing across the Commonwealth and beyond. This will be their first official tour as a family!"

Harry and Meghan's son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, will be around five months old when his parents take him on his first official overseas tour in October.

In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will undertake an official visit to South Africa this autumn at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

"In addition, the Duke of Sussex will visit Angola and Malawi at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

"His Royal Highness will also undertake a working visit to Botswana."

Nigel Casey, Britain's high commissioner to South Africa, said he was "hugely looking forward" to the royal visit.

Responding to speculation the Sussexes could move to Africa, Mr Casey said: "This is a much shorter visit.They'll be here for a matter of days and not months."