Harry should honeymoon with Meghan Markle in Antigua, the country's PM says

Prince Harry may have only been dating Meghan Markle for a few months but he was invited to spend his "honeymoon" with his girlfriend in Antigua - by the country's prime minister.

Harry appeared uncomfortable when Gaston Browne, Antigua's premier, made the offer to the Prince in front of hundreds of guests attending a reception staged in his honour.

In a speech at the event held on Monday night Mr Browne told him: "I understand that there may be a new addition to the royal family very soon.

"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.

"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."

After Harry's communications secretary Jason Knauf strongly complained about the intrusion into Ms Markel's private life, in a statement issued earlier this month, the Prince is likely to have wanted to keep his relationship with the US actress separate from his official 15-day trip to the West Indies.

Yesterday his blushes were spared when organisers of an Antiguan charity event he attended declared his romance with Ms Markle was off limits for any of the young people involved, who were told not to mention it.

The Prince appeared to grimace when the comments were made by Mr Browne and he looked at his feet.

But as Harry was set to meet six of Antigua's beauty queens, dressed in risque outfits, at the reception held at the picturesque Barnacle Point, Mr Browne added: "Whatever is done here, stays here. So do not worry."

It was confirmed earlier this month that the Prince was in a relationship with Ms Markle, one of the stars of the hit series Suits, with the pair believed to have begun dating early in September.

Mr Knauf highlighted in the statement how Harry's girlfriend had been subject to a "wave of abuse and harassment" and made a direct appeal to those in the press who had been driving the story to pause and reflect.

Later Antigua's prime minister added: "I believe Meghan is a very beautiful looking girl, they make a very good looking couple."

Asked if he approved of Harry's choice, he said: "Yes, I heard about her and I hear they are speculating that they will now get married. I hope that Harry and Meghan come here for some quiet time very soon."

Also at the event was Miss Antigua and Barbuda Leanda Ann Norville who said: "He was a gentleman. Of course I want to be his princess. Everyone at this party does. His girlfriend seems a nice lady, but I would be a good girlfriend for him."

Later today Harry will return to Antigua's sister island of Barbuda where he holidayed with his mother Diana, Princess of Wales just a few months before her death.

The Prince and his brother the Duke of Cambridge travelled with Diana to the paradise island in April 1997 for a vacation.

During his return visit he will tour by boat a Frigate bird colony, visit Holy Trinity Primary School where children are busy preparing celebrations for the 93rd anniversary of the school's Founders' Day, and back in Antigua will unveil a dedication towards the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy project at the Victoria Park Botanical Gardens in the capital St John's.

Mr Browne said about Barbuda: "Prince Harry said to me that he remembers going there with his mother as a little boy.

"It was one of her favourite spots. He said he was very much looking forward to going back there."