Meghan's schedule in Australia cut back after hectic start

The Duchess of Sussex, who is about 12 weeks pregnant, skipped an event in Sydney on Sunday morning, leaving Harry to attend a cycling competition at the Invictus Games alone

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, carry a floral wreath at the opening of the enhanced ANZAC memorial in Hyde Park, Sydney, Australia October 20, 2018 Reuters

Prince Harry unveils the memorial plaque at the opening of the refurbished ANZAC Memorial AFP

Prince Harry, centre right, and his wife Meghan, centre left, the Duchess of Sussex attend the opening of Anzac Memorial AP

Prince Harry and Meghan view the Hall of Memory AP

Prince Harry and Meghan attend the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge on Cockatoo Island, Sydney Reuters

Prince Harry and Meghan during the JLR Drive Day Getty

The tour is an extremely busy one, with the royal couple scheduled to attend more than 70 engagements during a 16-day trip across four countries Getty Images

Hundreds of people joined Prince Harry and Meghan at the opening ceremony for the Invictus Games on the stair of Sydney's Opera House AFP

Prince Harry and Meghan attend a lunchtime Reception hosted by the Prime Minister with Invictus Games competitors and their family and friends Reuters

Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex chat with schoolchildren at the Invictus Games' lunch Reuters

Britain's Prince Harry, right, helps a competitor push a wheelchair up walkway at the Invictus Games Sydney AP

Prince Harry and Meghan give medals to winners of the Young Drivers Challange Getty

The pregnant Duchess of Sussex has had her schedule cut back during her first royal tour, after a hectic start to her visit to Australia and the South Pacific with husband Prince Harry.

The tour is an extremely busy one, with the royal couple scheduled to attend more than 70 engagements during a 16-day trip across four countries.

Meghan, who is about 12 weeks pregnant, skipped an event in Sydney on Sunday morning, leaving Harry to attend a cycling competition at the Invictus Games alone.

She later joined the prince to watch sailing events, and at a lunchtime reception hosted by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Kensington Palace said the royal couple had moved to reduce Meghan's schedule ahead of their visit to Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand in the second phase of their tour.

"After a busy programme, the duke and duchess have decided to cut back the duchess's schedule slightly for the next couple of days, ahead of the final week-and-a-half of the tour," the palace said.

Meghan's envisaged role on a scheduled Monday trip to Fraser Island, off Queensland state in Australia's north, was unclear, with the palace saying only that "the duke will continue with the engagements on Fraser Island".

The couple are due to leave Australia for Fiji and Tonga on Tuesday. They will return to Sydney on Friday night for the final days of the Invictus Games, Harry's brainchild and the focus of their tour, before finishing off with a visit to New Zealand.

Harry spent considerable time at the lunchtime reception chatting with competitors assembled for the Invictus Games, which gives sick and injured military personnel and veterans the opportunity to compete in sports such as wheelchair basketball, and to find inspiration to recover.

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