Queen Elizabeth has asked Prince Harry to tour the Caribbean on her behalf.
The 90-year-old monarch had been invited to mark the 35th anniversary of
the independence of Antigua and Barbuda the 50th anniversary of independence in Barbados and Guyana later this month, but as she no longer undertakes gruelling long-haul trips, her 32-year-old grandson will instead visit seven countries between November 20 and December 4.
The queen’s Assistant Private Secretary Samantha Cohen said: "The queen asked Prince Harry to visit the Caribbean on her behalf…
"As you know The queen does not undertake long-haul visits any more age 90."
And it was confirmed there are currently "no plans" for the queen to mark the 150th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation next year, despite speculation she would make the trip to Canada.
Ms. Cohen added: "We have said on the record that in her 90th year it is more difficult for her to travel.
"And there are no plans at the moment for The Queen to go to Canada.
"That’s not to say that Canada’s 150th anniversary won’t be marked in some way by her here.
"But she’s 90. It’s a long trip. It’s difficult. So there aren’t any plans for her to go at the moment."
Harry had been chosen to go to the Caribbean because he "did very well" during the 2012 diamond jubilee tour, because of his availability and because he is young and able to cope with a gruelling multi-destination schedule.
Ms. Cohen added: "The Queen has always visited all her realms regularly…
"There is always an objective to visit all the realms wherever possible and Prince Harry will be representing the queen.
"The queen is passing on the visits she would ordinarily do.
"We have only a limited number of members of the royal family who can execute those visits."
During his Caribbean tour, Harry will spend six nights on board Navy ship Royal Fleet Auxiliary Wave Knight – which is usually used in drugs raids or disaster relief – as he visits the Realms of Antigua & Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and Barbados, as well as Guyana on behalf of the Foreign Office.
A likely highlight of his visit will be watching Rihanna perform at the Golden Anniversary Spectacular Mega Concert in Barbados on November 30.
The queen has only taken undertaken a handful of foreign visits since November 2013, when it was announced Buckingham Palace would be "reviewing" the amount of long-haul travel she undertook.
Her most recent overseas visit was to Malta last November.
Prince Harry to visit the Caribbean on Queen Elizabeth’s behalf
