ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — Prime Minister Gaston Browne Tuesday brushed aside British media reports that he had sought to embarrass visiting Prince Harry who he had suggested should consider Antigua and Barbuda for his honeymoon.

Browne told reporters that remarks he made about the prince, who is on a three-day visit here as part of a 15-day swing through the Caribbean, should consider honeymooning here had been blown out of proportion by the British press accompanying the British Royal family member.

“It is a situation where you have a form of the media, tabloid hype probably to sell papers. In fact even the Prince himself felt constrained because he knew that if he had taken a picture with any woman there…they would have plastered it all over the British media and create problems for him personally.

“In fact he was very appreciative of the fact that we went the extra mile to make him feel comfortable, to make him feel at home and regretted that because of the media he could not quite participate in the way which he would love to.

“So again we have to understand the context in which this thing happened …It was not a formal ceremony this was a party, there were some light exchanges even my comment were not intended to be a formal speech,” Browne said, reiterating that the exchange was light hearted.

Prince Harry is linked romantically to US actress Meghan Markle and Prince Harry has called for privacy on the matter.

In their report, the British media, particularly the Daily Mail, reported that Harry felt embarrassed and was not amused at the statement by Browne.

The papers reported Browne as telling Prince Harry “I believe we are expecting a new princess soon” and that he was “very welcome to come on your honeymoon here”.

Browne noted that the British media also took the reigning Miss Antigua and Barbuda Leanda Ann Norville’s comments out of context.

“Clearly, the young lady is excited about him…as many young females globally and I think they have blown it out of proportion to try and paint  a negative image…again it is UK tabloid to sell newspapers,” he added.

The beauty queen also took to the social media to apologise for her statements saying that she had been asked by a British reporter if she would have loved to be Prince Harry’s girlfriend.

She said she answered the question jokingly, saying which girl would not like to be a princess.