Prince Harry endures embarrassing proposal on Caribbean royal visit

PRINCE Harry has had to endure a cringe-worthy ribbing over his new romance while on royal visit to the Caribbean. Warning: Excruciating awkwardness.

Prince Harry would rather be anywhere else during this excruciating shout-out at an event hosted by the PM of Antigua.

THIS one goes out to anyone who’s ever been embarrassed by a family member, boss, or well-meaning host who should never have got hold of that microphone.

Because no matter how badly you’ve been ribbed, there’s no way it could have been as excruciating as what Prince Harry has had to go through at an official reception in Antigua with a bank of cameras looking on.

The 32-year-old prince landed in the island nation on Tuesday, kicking off a 14-day Caribbean tour.

News of the young royal’s tour has been overshadowed in recent weeks by revelations Harry is dating American actor Meghan Markle.

Prince Harry was no doubt hoping his royal duties would provide some reprieve from the unwelcome attention his new romance has attracted, but with the Antiguan Prime Minister in the room, there was no such luck.

Harry was left literally red-faced and cringing as Prime Minister Gaston Browne gave him an excruciatingly awkward ribbing over the relationship, and suggested the Caribbean as a honeymoon destination.

Prince Harry has received an excruciating offer on his tour of the Caribbean. #9Today https://t.co/eG4oHRsqdF

— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) November 22, 2016

“I understand that there may be a new addition to the Royal Family very soon,” the well-meaning leader said to a crowd of dignitaries and eager media.

“I am told that there may be a princess and I just want to say that should you make the decision to honeymoon then Antigua and Barbuda want to welcome you.”

Watching the footage and Prince Harry’s reaction, chewing his lip in agony, you can’t help but silently pray with the young royal for the torture to end. But, of course, no such luck.

Mate, what you doing to me … Prince Harry grimaced through the awkward speech.

“We have been voted consistently as the best honeymoon destination in the Caribbean and one of the best in the world so there will be nowhere in the world as special to spend your honeymoon when that day arrives,” Mr Browne went on.

Prince Harry, unsurprisingly, provided no further comment on the matter but kept his cool as proceedings moved on.

The awkward encounter follows reluctant confirmation from Kensington Palace that the Prince and actor were dating.

Meghan Markle has recently started dating Prince Harry, and has copped a lot of unwanted media attention for it. Picture: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

The Palace released an unprecedented damning statement at Harry’s request, after unwanted media attention and alleged harassment of Ms Markle by reporters and photographers.

The statement warned “a line had been crossed” in the media’s treatment of the actor, and asked for her and the Prince’s privacy to be respected.

Speculation the striking actor could join Prince Harry on his royal tour was always extremely unlikely, but after the royal’s Antiguan encounter, it’s looking even more doubtful.

The Prince’s two-week tour will take him to six countries where his grandmother, the Queen, is head of state.

After Antigua and Barbuda he’ll visit Barbados, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Commonwealth nation of Guyana.

This might have been the face he wanted to pull when faced with the ribbing. He’s pictured here on November 22, 2016 in St John's, Antigua and Barbuda. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Harry gets all the tough jobs on tour. Chatting to Miss Antigua and Island Beauty Queens at the reception hosted by Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda. Picture: Paul Edwards/WPA Pool/Getty Images