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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Zoe Forsey

Archie breaks impressive royal record as he arrives in South Africa with Meghan Markle

The Sussexes have ready for their Royal Tour of Africa, and it's a very special day for the family.

Prince Harry has spoken openly about how excited he is to introduce Meghan Markle and his son Archie to the country he loves to much, having referred to it as his "second home" in the past.

But it's also a very important day for little Archie - as he broke an impressive royal record the moment their delayed British Airways flight landed in Cape Town this morning.

The tot, who is seventh in line to the throne, has become the youngest ever member of the Royal Family to go on Tour.

Born on May 6, he is just four months and 17 days old.

He takes the title from his cousin Prince George, who was eight months when his parents the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took him to Australia.

The couple included a number of child-friendly engagements in their visit, including a trip to Tarongo zoo in Sydney where he met a bilby - an endangered rabbit-like marsupial named after him.

He also joined other children for a play date in Wellington, but he proved he hadn't quite learnt about sharing yet as he kept stealing the other kids' toys.

However Meghan and Harry haven't officially said when we will get to see Archie during their Africa trip.

A palace source said: "The Duke and Duchess are very much looking forward to experiencing South Africa as a family but have no concrete plans as to when those opportunities will arise.

George meets a bilby during his first Royal Tour to Australia (PA)

"Archie is only five months old so it’s very much a case of seeing how they are all feeling when they arrive and of course there are the security issues to fully consider when travelling with a small child."

Archie's uncle Prince William went on his first tour when he was nine months old, travelling to Australia and New Zealand with Princess Diana and Prince Charles in March 1983.

He became the first ever royal to go on tour with his parents, and spent six weeks travelling around the countries at his mother's request.

He was photographed getting off the plane as they touched down for the start of the plane, being carried down the steps by his nanny Barbara Barnes. 

Princess Diana insisted William joined them on Royal Tour (Popperfoto/Getty Images)
Resulting in some adorable photos (PA)

The couple released adorable photos of little William crawling around on a rug in the grounds of Auckland’s Government House.

Historically, royal kids were left at home with the nannies when their parents travelled the world on Royal Tour.

Duke and Duchess of Sussex prepare to embark on tour of South Africa with Archie

The Queen would often leave her children at home for months at a time.

However Diana changed this when Prince William was born, insisting that he joined them for their long overseas trip.

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