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The surprise destination tipped for Harry and Meghan’s delayed honeymoon

For a shade under $1000 a night, Harry and Meghan could stay at the Okonjima Bush Camp in Namibia.

For a shade under $1000 a night, Harry and Meghan could stay at the Okonjima Bush Camp in Namibia. Photo: Okonjima Bush Camp

After six months of planning and a long day of celebrating, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle aren’t planning any downtime just yet.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have delayed their honeymoon to get straight back to work.

Their first job? To meet thousands of guests at a Buckingham Palace garden party on Tuesday (UK time) celebrating Prince Charles’s 70th birthday later this year.

While some outlets suggest the newlyweds might grab a couple of days this week in Ireland, the Express claims they have postponed their honeymoon “until later in the summer”.

The Telegraph reported the pair will “sneak away” by themselves at the end of May.

One reason offered for the delay is that Harry, 33, and Meghan, 36, want to spend time with friends who travelled to the United Kingdom from overseas to be at the wedding.

And according to former royal butler Paul Burrell, they’re just “blissfully happy” nesting at Nottingham Cottage and settling into married life.

When they do pack their bags for some private holiday time, there’s a surprise hot tip for the destination.

While Kensington Palace hasn’t confirmed where Meghan and Harry will head, People and other media outlets insist it will be Namibia.

One of the least populated African countries, Namibia fits the bill because it’s part of the Commonwealth, and the pair will be able to find some privacy.

It gained unexpected celebrity lustre when Angelina Jolie chose to give birth there in 2006 to Shiloh, her daughter with Brad Pitt.

Namibia

Romantic enough? Sand dunes in Naukluft Park, Namibia. Photo: Getty

“From the red sand dunes of Sossusvlei to the teeming wildlife of Etosha, Namibia is a spectacular destination,” according to high-end holiday website Rhino Africa, which called it, “A great destination for those seeking to get off the beaten track”.

For those accustomed, like the duke and duchess, to life’s finer things, Namibia offers plenty of luxury safari camps and lodges with swimming pools, glamping and the promise of “desert adapted elephants”.

The Okonjima Bush Camp is populated with rescued cheetahs and leopards and, for $952 a night, offers “exciting dawn game drives and ice-cold sundowners”.

GocheGanas

GocheGanas resort offers game drives, walks and a wellness spa. Photo: GocheGanas

In a wrap of Namibia’s best hotels, The Telegraph gave nine out of 10 to the Onguma Tented Camp, an “oasis in the arid north” with a “relaxed vibe and big game”, for $617 a night.

Africa is a sentimental choice for the Sussexes: Weeks after they met in 2016, the prince whisked Meghan away to Botswana for a five-day trip.

“We camped out with each other under the stars. She came and joined me for five days out there, which was absolutely fantastic,” he said in the post-engagement interview he and Meghan did with the BBC.

“So then we were really by ourselves, which was crucial to me to make sure that we had a chance to get to know each other.”

Betting agency Ladbrokes has Namibia as 2/1 favourite for the honeymoon destination.

“It’s well known that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex love Africa, and it’s looking increasingly likely they’ll be heading to Namibia on their honeymoon,” spokesperson Jessica Bridge said.

If Namibia doesn’t get the nod, other parts of the African continent – which Harry has described as his “second home” – are tipped.

Botswana is at 4/1, followed by Tanzania at 5/1.

Bringing up the rear is a private island in either the Maldives, the Seychelles or the Caribbean.

The outside chance: when she ran her now-defunct lifestyle blog The Tig, Meghan often posted photos of her international trips, with Italy’s Amalfi Coast a favourite destination.

Meghan Markle Positano

In her single days, Meghan posted poolside bikini photos from Positano. Photo: Instagram

Meghan Markle Ibiza

The future duchess (left) also hit up Spanish party island Ibiza with pals.

Meghan Markle Barcelona

And strolled through Barcelona. Olé!

Meanwhile, even before the honeymoon kicks off, there are short odds at UK betting agencies for the duke and duchess to announce this year they are expecting a little Sussex.

The British press was awash with speculation the day after the wedding that Harry and Meghan are “desperate” for a baby.

Agency Coral is currently offering odds of 1/4 that Meghan and Harry will have a royal baby by the end of 2019.

“They’re hoping it won’t take long,” a friend was quoted by the Mirror as saying.

Harry admitted to the BBC they are keen to start a family.

When asked about parenthood plans, he said: “Hopefully we’ll start a family in the near future.”

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