Harry eager to take Archie to ‘second home’ of Africa
Duke and Duchess of Sussex will visit South Africa with their son on his first official overseas trip
THE Duke of Sussex has said he cannot wait to introduce his son to his “second home” of Africa as he prepares for a royal tour of the continent.
The Duke and Duchess will visit South Africa this autumn with baby Archie Harrison Mountbatten-windsor before the Duke carries out a series of solo visits to Angola, Malawi and Botswana.
Archie will be around five months old when his parents take him on his first official overseas trip.
The Duke’s comments come months after it was reported that his aides were considering plans for him and the Duchess to live in Africa for a period to further their charity and Commonwealth work. In a post on the couple’s Instagram account yesterday, the Duke expressed his excitement about the much-anticipated trip as well as highlighting organisations “working towards positive change”.
He said: “In just a few weeks our family will be taking its first official tour to Africa, a region of the world that over the past two decades has been a second home to me.
“Our team has helped create a meaningful programme that we’re so excited to share with you. On a personal note, I can’t wait to introduce my wife and son to South Africa! Our monthly social awareness approach follows key accounts that inspire us and highlight those working towards positive change.
“As a lead-up to the tour, for the month of September, we wish to celebrate the beauty of this wonderful continent as a whole: from local organisations working hard to better the environment to the young leaders paving the way for a better future for the Commonwealth and beyond.
“These selected groups are a small representation of the incredible work being done in Africa today.”
The couple asked people to consider following or supporting more than 20 Instagram accounts, including Sentebale, which was founded by Harry and Prince Seeiso two years after he spent his gap year in Lesotho in 2004.
The Duke has previously spoken of Botswana as his “second home” and chose the country as the destination to take the Duchess for their first journey together just weeks after they met.
The Duke is president of African Parks and patron of Rhino Conservation Botswana.
During the forthcoming visit, Harry is likely to champion the work of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, who famously walked through a cleared landmine field in Angola to highlight the devastating injuries the military munitions can cause.
Sentebale has recently expanded its work into Malawi and the Duke may see the latest developments and its work in Botswana, helping young people living with HIV and Aids.