ROYAL fans have been desperate for Meghan Markle to announce her pregnancy ever since she joined the royal family back in May.

But the Duchess of Sussex, 37, and husband Prince Harry, 33, could be waiting to start a family for this one reason, and it's makes a lot of sense when you think about it.

The royal couple are due to embark on their first joint royal tour in October - with a trip to Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand - including Sydney's Invictus Games from October 20-27.

And, despite Harry previously saying he wanted to have kids "in the near future", a packed royal itinerary could put plans to expand the family on ice.

Morning sickness is normally at its worst during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, while the risk of miscarriage in a first pregnancy is also higher.

And the 37-year-old won't want to risk missing royal engagements because she's ill - meaning chances of a honeymoon baby looks increasingly unlikely.

If they do delay the pregnancy, the couple will be following in the footsteps of their in-laws Kate Middleton and Prince William, both 36.

They were the first future monarchs in 200 years not to conceive in their first year of marriage - with Kate announcing her pregnancy 19 months in.

It's thought that the Queen's Diamond Jubilee - and their related trip to Asia - was the reason behind the wait.

Royal author Gill Knappett told The Express: “It is thought that William and Catherine, as newlyweds, may have delayed staring a family so that they could participate fully in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012.

“Part of William and Catherine’s commitment to the Queen in her Diamond Jubilee year involved the young couple touring Asia on behalf of Her Majesty in September 2012.”

The exact dates of trip Down Under are yet to be announced, but it's expected to span at least two weeks - and could be longer.

If the couple do wait until November to start trying for a baby, we're unlikely to hear the pitter patter of tiny feet before this time next year.