Harry and Meghan Ring in the New Year on the French Riviera!

Despite numerous reports claiming Prince Harry and Meghan Markle planned to jet to Los Angeles to visit Meghan's mother Doria after Christmas with the Royals at Sandringham - the couple rang in the New Year with a romantic break on the French Riviera. 

Early rumours about the trip surfaced yesterday when tweeter Caroline Farrow revealed her friend was on the same flight as the couple:

Daily Mail correspondent Rebecca English got the scoop on details surrounding their trip:

'Sources say the prince and Meghan Markle flew out of Heathrow on New Year's Eve on a scheduled British Airways flight to Nice. In an attempt to remain incognito, the pair boarded their 9.55am flight before any other passengers and headed straight to the back of the plane, next to the rear toilets. They also took up three rows of economy seats, either side of the aisle, even though there were only themselves and three 'edgy and nervous' bodyguards in their party.

Bride-to-be Miss Markle, 36, was sitting next to him in a black beanie hat and minimal make-up. According to one fellow traveller, the aircraft actually took off several minutes early, much to the surprise of other passengers, and shaved 20 minutes off its two-hour flight time.'

The Telegraph adds the couple are said to have been met by French border police:

'The pair are said to have been met by armed officers from the French border police and are being protected during their stay by members of France's elite Service de la Protection, the police unit responsible for the protection of foreign dignitaries.

 One told the newspaper: “It would have been offered and would have been non-negotiable. “After what happened to his mother in this country and the issue of terrorism, it would be insisted on even for a private trip such as this.”

The reports add the couple are thought to be staying with friends at a private residence for several days. The weather has been sunny this week - ideal conditions to enjoy all the Riviera has to offer.

The French Riviera (or Côte d'Azur) is the Mediterranean coast of southeastern France. It includes famously glamorous beach resorts such as Saint-Tropez and Cannes and Monaco. A health retreat in the 18th century, the area later attracted aristocrats, artists and the 1960s "jet set." Today it’s an established holiday destination, with paths connecting many coastal villages and towns. The Riviera is a major yachting and cruising area with several marinas along its coast.

I think you'll agree, it looks like the perfect location for a romantic New Year?

At the end of August, 1997, Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed spent their last days together on his father's yacht off Pampelonne Beach near Saint-Tropez, shortly before their tragic death.

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Meghan adores travelling and has explored Europe with close friends in recent years. She loves sampling local cuisine, red wines, spending time on the beaches, exploring and soaking up the culture the location she's visiting has to offer.

And of course yoga.

In 2016, a photo of Meghan marking the New Year in Iceland.

Royal Wedding Caterers... The Daily Mail also reports Harry and Meghan are making decisions ahead of the Royal wedding. They have decided to use society catering firm Table Talk for their May nuptials. They have been hired by the Royal family multiple times and for the Royal Wedding in 2011. More recently, they were hired by Pippa Middleton for her wedding last year.