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Prince Harry whisked Meghan Markle away to Botswana for a trip that would come to define their relationship, but she wasn’t the first woman he took to the African country

Prince Harry took Meghan Markle on a trip to Botswana for their third date, but it appears the Suits actress wasn’t the first lady he wined and dined there.

In August 2017, when their budding romance was still a well-kept secret, Meghan joined Harry at the end of an official trip to Malawi and Botswana which was focused on conservation efforts. They enjoyed some much-needed alone time away from the pressures back home, spending five nights under the stars in a luxury safari tent that reportedly cost almost $2,000.

Meghan’s then-active Twitter and Instagram accounts went silent for seven days while she was on holiday with Harry. However, according to one royal author, Harry’s now-estranged brother Prince William once cheekily noted that Meghan was actually the fourth woman Harry had taken to Botswana, debunking the idea that it was his first time.
Tina Brown, a former confidant of Princess Diana, alleged in her 2022 book The Palace Papers that William was quick to remind his younger brother, “You do realize this is the fourth girl you’ve taken to Botswana?” The Duke of Sussex had previously taken TV sports presenter Natalie Pinkham, Zimbabwean-born Chelsy Davy and actress Cressida Bonas, leading Brown to label these romantic trips as “passing the Africa test.”

Although his other relationships failed, Botswana holds a special place in Meghan and Harry’s hearts as it was where they truly got to know each other during their off-grid getaway. The Duke of Sussex was reportedly “delightfully surprised” by Meghan’s down-to-earth nature when it came to “roughing-it” for a week on their first overseas holiday.

According to the book Finding Freedom, Meghan surprised Harry by taking bathroom breaks in the woods and washing with baby wipes while camping without any home comforts. The couple has since returned to the country, including on a royal tour with their son Prince Archie in 2019.

During this trip, Meghan shocked the world in an emotional interview with ITV’s Tom Bradby, hinting at her struggles within the royal family. When asked how she was doing, the Duchess of Sussex responded that “not many people have asked if I’m okay.”

In stark contrast to their first trip, Harry traveled alone to Botswana in October for his first South Africa visit in five years. While there, he reunited with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, with whom he co-founded the charity Sentebale.