Duke and Duchess of Sussex to visit Australia in spring

KENSINGTON Palace has confirmed the newly married Duke and Duchess of Sussex will travel to Australia in spring.

Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his new wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex will visit Australia later this year. Picture: Niklas Hallen/AFP

THE Duke and Duchess of Sussex will make an official visit to Australia this year for the Invictus Games in Sydney.

Kensington Palace confirmed the visit would take place as part of a tour of Fiji, the Kingdom of Tonga and New Zealand. The games take place between October 20 and 27.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has welcomed the announcement.

“As part of Their Royal Highnesses’ official engagements in Australia, they will attend the Invictus Games in Sydney.,” Mr Turnbull said in a statement.

“As the founder of the Invictus Games, The Duke of Sussex has become a champion for war veterans around the world, including in Australia.

“His attendance, alongside The Duchess of Sussex, will be a wonderful highlight for the more than 500 competitors and thousands of spectators.”

Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex will be in Sydney in October. Picture: James Whatling/MEGA

The couple will travel to Sydney for the 2018 Invictus Games — a Paralympics style event for defence veterans — of which Prince Harry is patron.

It hasn’t been revealed if they will travel elsewhere in Australia.

“I know the Australian people will greet Their Royal Highnesses with great warmth and excitement wherever they go during their time here,” Mr Turnbull said.

“Lucy and I look forward to hosting their visit and watching the remarkable feats of Invictus athletes from around the world.”

The couple are believed to have returned from their honeymoon recently after a stunning wedding in May that was watched by an estimated 1.9 billion people, making it the most-viewed event in history.

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The couple recently attended the Trooping the Colour 2018 ceremony. Photo credit: MEGA

Meghan Markle takes her place among the other members of the Royal family. Picture: MEGA

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attend The Prince of Wales' 70th birthday patronage celebration in the Gardens of Buckingham Palace, London, UK, on the 21st May 2018. Picture: Georges Rogers/SIPA/MEGA

The couple will follow in the footsteps of Prince Harry’s parents, Charles and Diana, whose first overseas tour after their marriage also took in Australia and New Zealand.

Prince Harry, a former soldier who served in Afghanistan, founded the Invictus Games in 2014.

More than 500 competitors from 18 nations will compete in 11 sports during the games, where the royal couple will each receive an Akubra hat specially crafted for them.

It’s unclear if they’ll also make time to meet the two koalas joeys named after them at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo.

Kensington Palace said more details about the tour will be released “in due course”.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry pictured on their wedding day at St George’s Chapel in Windsor. Picture: Givenchy/ MEGA

— With AAP