HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Harry and Meghan spent the British summer month of August busy doing nothing official – but plenty privately.
After going to the wedding of Harry’s childhood friend Charlie van Straubenzee, the couple drove to Prince Charles’ Scottish home, the Castle of Mey, and also went to see the Queen at Balmoral. Her Majesty is particularly fond of Meghan, says former royal press secretary Dickie Arbiter. “[There’s] a lot of laughter and that would give a clear indication that the Queen is very relaxed in her company.”
Next, Harry visited one of his favourite countries, Botswana, as Meghan, it appears, discretely flew to Toronto to see old friends and then on to California to visit her mother Doria Ragland. A royal watcher says, “It’s surprisingly easy for royals to travel incognito – all international airports have VIP entrances.”
Doria then reportedly stayed with Harry and Meghan at their country cottage on the Great Tew Estate in Oxfordshire.
“The visit was totally under the radar,” says a source. They apparently discussed what to do about her father Thomas – and babies. Doria, an expert in antenatal yoga, has been training to look after newborn babies and could move in for a while after Meghan gives birth.”
The couple’s summer break finished with a brief holiday at George and Amal Clooney’s place on Lake Como in Italy. Italian magazine Chi reported that Meghan even helped to look after their 14-month-old twins Alexander and Ella.
Now, though, it’s back to work, with this year’s schedule centrepiece the Pacific tour in October. In New Zealand, they will visit Wellington, the Abel Tasman National Park, Auckland and Rotorua. Both have been here before – Harry in 2015 and Meghan in 2014.