Prince Harry and Meghan Markle offered Antigua 'honeymoon'

Prince Harry and his new girlfriend Meghan Markle have been invited to "honeymoon" in Antigua - by the country's prime minister.

The offer was made during a speech by Gaston Browne, leader of Antigua and Barbuda, before hundreds of guests.

The reception at Barnacle Point, staged in Prince Harry's honour, was part of an official 15-day trip to the West Indies on behalf of the Queen.

The prince confirmed his relationship with Ms Markle earlier this month.

Ms Markle is a US actress, most famous for her role in the TV drama Suits.

At the event on Monday night, Mr Browne was keen to stress the honeymoon credentials of his country.

He said: "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."

Off limits

Earlier this month, Prince Harry's communications secretary Jason Knauf issued a statement complaining about intrusion into Ms Markle's private life and the "wave of abuse and harassment" she had been subjected to by the media.

On Monday, organisers of an Antiguan charity event attended by the prince briefed the young people involved, warning them that his romance with Ms Markle was off limits for conversation.

Miss Antigua and Barbuda, Leanda Ann Norville (wearing crown), said 'everyone' wanted to be the prince's princess

Local dancers formed part of the entertainment at the reception

However, Mr Browne went on to say "whatever is done here, stays here. So do not worry", before introducing Prince Harry to a group of beauty queens.

The reigning Miss Antigua and Barbuda, Leanda Ann Norville, later said that "everyone at this party" wanted to be his princess, adding, "his girlfriend seems a nice lady, but I would be a good girlfriend for him".

Speaking to the press, Mr Browne said he thought the pair made a "very good looking couple", and hoped they would come to his country "for some quiet time very soon".

One of the largest colonies of frigate birds in the world is on the island of Barbuda

On Tuesday - day three of the tour - Prince Harry visited Antigua's sister island of Barbuda where he holidayed with his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, just a few months before her death in 1997.

There he visited local schools and a frigate bird colony - one of the largest in the world - and was given a boat tour of their breeding grounds.

Tour leader, Pat Richardson, 57, has been taking people to see frigate birds for more than 20 years.

"He talked about coming here when he was younger - and that he remembered the really good beaches and friendly people," he said.

"Everyone here remembers Diana from when she came here on holidays - she was a beautiful person."

'Not exactly bake off'

Later the prince showed off his fishmongering skills, as he gutted a fish during his visit to Sir McChesney George High School.

Under the direction of the school's head of home economics, he held the snapper fish steady with one hand and slit open its belly.

He then reached inside and began to pull out its guts, before telling the watching students "not exactly Bake Off".

Prince Harry began his tour amid a social media campaign which saw the hashtag #NotMyPrince trending on Twitter. The campaign describes itself as an "anti-colonial welcoming committee" for the prince.

Prince Harry guts a fish during his visit to Sir McChesney George High School.

Prince Harry met children from Holy Trinity Primary school in Codrington, Barbuda