Harry hoping new baby with Meghan is a girl

Prince Harry has told well-wishers on his tour of Australia that he is hoping his new baby will be a girl.

The Duke of Sussex revealed his preference when he was responding to a shout from someone in the audience at the Invictus Games.

Harry is on a tour of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga, with his wife Meghan, who revealed she was pregnant on the eve of the trip.

Meghan stayed away from the games on Sunday, apparently needing to rest, after Harry told her to take it easy.

She is believed to be around four months pregnant and has had a hectic start to the 16-day tour.

At a cycling event, a member of the crowd called out to Harry: "Congratulations! I hope it's a girl."

Harry replied: "So do I."

The duke carried out a series of solo engagements on Fraser Island on Monday during the latest stop of the royal tour.

The couple had both flown to the picturesque setting in Queensland, the largest sand island in the world and a world heritage site.

Meghan joined her husband for a walkabout at the end of their visit. It is understood she is not feeling sick but has been feeling tired.

On Sunday, the palace said that after a busy first week to their tour the duke and duchess had decided to cut back the duchess's schedule slightly ahead of the final week and a half of the tour.

A source in the royal household said: "She wants to do everything, but Prince Harry is encouraging her to pace herself."

The palace said in a statement: "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."

Travelling around Fraser Island you can understand why Meghan's team may have advised her to sit out most of the engagements there.

The sandy winding tracks that weave their way across the island make for a very bumpy ride for any tourists who visit the island.

But Meghan was spotted walking around the Kingfisher Bay jetty where most visitors to Fraser Island arrive.

Harry ventured into the thick rainforest, which covers over 200,000 acres.

He was met by the Butchulla people, the traditional owners of the island which is also known as K'gari.

After a traditional smoking ceremony, he unveiled a plaque dedicating the forests to the Queen's commonwealth canopy.

The QCC was launched to protect woodland and forest across the commonwealth, as part of a lasting legacy for the Queen.

Speaking to the small gathered crowd of locals and large travelling media pack, Harry said, "As you all know too well, K'gari means 'paradise', and that is certainly what we've experienced today surrounded by the towering Kauri pines, 1,000 year-old satinay trees and ancient giant ferns.

"It is up to us now to protect this paradise together - not just because it looks beautiful - but because it is an essential part of our existence, and will continue to be for our children and their children's children."

The duke then travelled to one of the iconic lakes to learn about the environmental significance of the island and how they're encouraging eco-tourism, to limit the damage done by visitors.