Prince Harry's new romance with actress Meghan Markle is to be put to the test when he meets one of the world's great beauties during a trip to Barbados later this month (Nov16).

The British royal will join Rihanna at a celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of the nation's independence on 30 November (16), after the Umbrella star sings the national anthem.

Harry will spend two weeks touring the Caribbean, also visiting Antigua, Barbuda and Guyana.

His new girlfriend will not be joining him for the trip, which has been announced just days after the Prince issued a rare statement asking the media to stop harassing the star of TV legal drama Suits, who he reportedly met in Toronto, Canada in May (16), while visiting the city to promote the 2017 Invictus Games.

Markle has allegedly been given a police guard outside her home to keep her safe.

On Tuesday (08Nov16), Harry's communications secretary uncharacteristically spoke out on his behalf to implore the press to leave her alone, stating, "Meghan Markle has been subject to a wave of abuse and harassment. Some of this has been very public - the smear on the front page of a national newspaper, the racial undertones of comment pieces; and the outright sexism and racism of social media trolls and web article comments.

"Some of it has been hidden from the public - the nightly legal battle to keep defamatory stories out of papers; her mother having to struggle past photographers in order to get her to the front door; the attempts of reporters and photographers to gain illegal entry to her home and the calls to police that followed; the substantial bribes to her ex-boyfriend; the bombardment of nearly every friend, co-worker, and loved one in her life."

The representative also revealed Harry is "deeply disappointed" he has not been able to protect his girlfriend.

"It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms. Markle should be subjected to such a storm," the statement continued. "He knows commentators will say this is 'the price she has to pay' and that 'this is all part of the game'. He strongly disagrees. This is not a game - it is her life and his."