Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to take their new son Archie Harrison Mountbatten Windsor on a royal tour to South Africa later this year, followed by Harry undertaking solo work in Botswana, Angola and Malawi. Meanwhile, Kate Middleton and Prince William will visit Pakistan in the autumn, in a “hugely historic” royal tour. Podcast “Pod Save the Queen” is hosted by Ann Gripper and feature the Daily Mirror’s Royal Editor Russell Myers. 

Mr Myers said that the two royal tours exemplified how the two princes are carving out their own royal roles. 

Mr Myers said: “It’s very telling, because obviously Harry and Meghan are going to go into this Commonwealth, conservation, girl’s education role, that they will be doing for decades, presumably. 

“And then you’ve got William being prepped to be this world leader, essentially. 

“[He is] meeting with people in these sorts of regions and being incredibly statesmanlike. 

“Hugely important for both of them, I think.” 

He also made reference to Prince William’s politically sensitive visit to Israel and Palestine in 2018, which was the first official royal visit to the region. 

Mr Myers said: “It was a fantastic occasion, he absolutely smashed it. 

“He was absolutely exemplary, it was a political hot potato at every twist and turn. 

“He’s well read, you could tell that he had been very diligent over many months to make sure that he was aware of the nuances of political situation over there, I thought it was very impressive.” 

The royal editor added that Kate has not been on a royal tour since 2016, when the Cambridges visited Canada. 

He added: “ It’s probably the biggest trip in terms of the pressure that comes with it, the security aspect and the region.” 

Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will not accompany their parents on the Pakistan tour. 

The podcast hosts also discussed some of the security issues the royal tour will face. 

Ms Gripper said: “From a security point of view it will be challenging, for example, the cricket team doesn’t tour Pakistan at the moment.” 

England’s cricket team have played against Pakistan in neutral venues in the United Arab Emirates since 2005 due to safety concerns. 

Pakistan itself has not hosted any international cricket on home soil since a terrorist attack in 2009 injured six Sri Lankan players and killed two civilians. 

Mr Myers explained that hostile environment training would be given to all reporters covering the royal tour to Pakistan, especially as this is not something that royal reporters would regularly train for.  

He added: “It can’t be understated how risky it is to go to.”  

Mr Myers also added that Charles and Camilla’s trip to Pakistan’s capital Lahore in 2006 “was fraught with security issues”. 

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall had to cancel their planned trip to Peshawar at the last minute, amid fears of anti-western riots after an air-strike on suspected Islamic militants on the Pakistan Afghanistan border. 

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