Meghan Markle is celebrating her birthday for the first time as a new mother with Prince Harry and their royal baby Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have kept their plans for Meghan’s day private, but experts say that the celebrations are likely to be low-key and surrounded by loved ones. However, Meghan’s 36th birthday was extra special as Harry whisked her away for a romantic getaway.

Harry chose Botswana for the birthday girl – which helps explain why the African country holds such a special place in the hearts of the Duke and Duchess.

Biographer Andrew Morton, in his 2018 book “Meghan: A Hollywood Princess”, takes a look at how the Duchess of Sussex celebrated her birthday with Harry in Botswana.

Mr Morton writes: “The prince was so happy to be returning to his second home that he even gave a thumbs-up to waiting photographers when he was reunited with Meghan at the airport.

“His gesture sent the media rumour mill churning.

“As journalists did not know that Meghan and Harry had already visited Botswana, and as William had proposed to Kate in Kenya in 2010, the obvious conclusion was that, during this trip, Harry would get down on one knee. 

“The holiday was romantic enough, with the couple once again staying at the Meno a Kwema camp before driving their hire car to the eight-hour journey to Victoria Falls, one of the natural wonders of the world.

“During their visit they stayed at the privately owned Tongabezi Lodge by the Zambezi River, where they were enticed with sunset cruises, romantic Sampan (a flat-bottomed boat) dinners and early-morning game drives. 

“They even had their own valet to cater for their every whim.”

In April this year, the pair shared a previously unseen photo from their 2017 trip, of a moment when they got up close to an elephant. 

Prince Harry first took Meghan to Botswana in the early days of their romance and the country has become very special to the two of them.

During their 2017 BBC interview to mark their engagement announcement, Harry said: “Then it was I think about three, maybe four weeks later [after their first date] that I managed to persuade her to come and join me in Botswana, and we camped out with each other under the stars for five days.

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“Then we were really by ourselves, which was crucial to me, to make sure we got the chance to get to know each other.”

Their love of the country is commemorated by Meghan’s stunning engagement ring which features a central diamond from Botswana, flanked by diamonds from Princess Diana’s collection. 

Keen-eyed royal watchers spotted that the ring had been subtly changed in photos form this year’s Trooping the Colour.

The yellow gold band has been changed to a pavé design, which chimes in with the Duchess’ new eternity ring which is traditionally given to the bride a year after her wedding.

The new parents are set to visit the country when they take Archie with them on royal tour later this year.

Archie will join his parents as they travel to South Africa and Botswana in the autumn, before Prince Harry carries on to work in Malawi and Angola. 

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