Prince Harry and wife Meghan’s official Africa tour begins today in the Mother City. Joined by baby Archie, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to visit South Africa, Botswana, Angola and Malawi during their 10 day, four-country tour of Africa.
“This will be Their Royal Highnesses’ first official tour as a family. Not only will this visit serve as an opportunity for the duke and duchess to highlight many of the causes they have been involved with for many years, it will demonstrate a modern U.K.-Africa partnership in action,” said Nigel Casey, British High Commissioner to South Africa at a media briefing, cited by Hapaars Bazaar.
Their schedule focuses heavily on community engagement and grassroots leadership and will be on causes close to their hearts such as the HIV/AIDS epidemic, mental health, women’s/girl’s rights and the environment.
The family will tour South Africa together for three days before Prince Harry travels to Botswana, Angola and Malawi alone to continue engagements. Meghan will continue attending activities in South Africa. Prince Harry will then reunite with his family in Johannesburg on October 2 for the last day of the tour.
Their first day kicks off today, September 23. They are expected to attend a workshop focusing on teaching children about their rights, self awareness, self-defence, female empowerment and training. They will then tour District Six museum before meeting with former community members to participate in a cooking activity.
Day Two, September 24, will see the couple visit the Khayelitsha branch of Waves for Change, a child-friendly mental health service to vulnerable and differently-abled youth living in under-resourced communities. They will also see the work of The Lunchbox Fund, a non-profit organisation providing a daily meal for orphaned and vulnerable school children in township and rural areas of South Africa. This fund is one of the four charities the Duke and Duchess invited the public to donate to in honour of baby Archie’s birth.
Prince Harry will then join the City of Cape Town marine unit and travel by boat from Kalk Bay to Seal Island, before the couple visits Bo Kaap to meet with faith leaders at the Auwal mosque. They will enjoy tea at a residents home before ending the busy day with a reception at the British high commissioner’s Bishopscourt home.
Day Three, September 25, will have the couple meeting with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his wife Leah at their legacy foundation in Cape Town city centre. Prince Harry will then leave for Botswana while Meghan meets with female entrepreneurs and investors working in technology at the Woodstock Exchange.
On September 26, Meghan will attend a private “women in public service” breakfast at the high commission in Cape Town.
The Duke will continue his tour throughout Africa whilst Meghan travels to Johannesburg and continues engagements for the remainder of the tour.
Picture: Instagram