Duke and Duchess of Sussex Arrive in Dublin for First Foreign Tour as a Married Couple

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, have arrived in Dublin on their first foreign tour as a married couple.

The government is looking to use the royal's soft power to bolster a post-Brexit relationship.

The couple flew in from London by private jet after attending events to mark the centenary of the RAF at Buckingham Palace.

Aides said the couple had been officially approved to charter a plane rather than take a regular scheduled flight.

The couple have an entourage of 11 with them including a hairdresser and a personal assistant, which are being paid for privately according to Kensington Palace.

A smiling Harry was the first to step off the jet followed by Meghan in an appropriately forest green outfit by Givenchy, the same designer behind her wedding dress.

Harry and Meghan's first visit abroad on behalf of the UK government will see them take in a Gaelic sports festival at Croke Park, attend a summer garden party at the British ambassador's residence, and visit Trinity College during 10 engagements over 24 hours in the Irish capital.

The trip has been designed to promote good diplomatic relations with Ireland, with Brexit sure to be high on their agenda.

It is the latest in a series of foreign trips the royal family have made to European Union member states in the wake of Britain's impending exit from the bloc.

The soft diplomacy the monarchy employs is used to renew and strengthen relationships with countries even as Britain breaks away from the EU.

Ireland's Teghich Leal Varadkar are formally welcoming the couple who will enjoy a summer garden party at Glen Saron.

The official residence of Britain's ambassador to Ireland Robin Barnett, Prince Harry will speak at the event, where guests will include people from across Ireland's arts, sports, military, and social enterprise sectors.

The couple's entourage includes Harry and Meghan's private secretary, Edlaine Fox, their assistant private secretary, Amy Pickrell, and the prince's special adviser on foreign issues, Sir David Manning.

It also includes their communications secretary Jason Knopf, a further three press officers including their own social media PR, a programme coordinator, a PA, an orderly, and a hairdresser, who is being paid for privately.

The trip to Dublin is not the first time the couple have been away since their May 19 wedding.

They slipped away unnoticed for their honeymoon, and the destination for the traditional break has remained under wraps for now.

Over the coming days, the couple will meet the people of Dublin and will visit organizations which are central to Irish life.

They will attend the Gaelic Sports Festival at Croke Park, the home of the Gaelic Athletic Association, to watch youngsters taking part in sporting activities.

Meghan and Harry will also learn about Ireland's culture and heritage, including a visit to Trinity College where they will see the Book of Kells, one of Ireland's greatest cultural treasures.

The Duke and Duchess will also have a moment for reflection at the Famine Memorial before visiting EPIC, the Irish Emigration Museum, telling the story of the 10 million Irish who have emigrated across the world.