Prince Harry Touches Down in Africa After Brief Stop in U.K. for Charity Event

Princess Senate of Lesotho posted a photo with the Duke of Sussex on Oct. 1 on Instagram, writing she “had the pleasure” of hosting him for lunch

Princess Senate of Lesotho and Prince Harry in Lesotho on Oct. 1, 2024. Photo: Princess Senate Seeiso/Instagram

Prince Harry has landed in Lesotho, a country he first fell in love with 20 years ago.

On Oct. 1, Princess Senate Seeiso of Lesotho posted a photo of herself and Harry on her Instagram Story, writing that she “Had the pleasure of hosting the Duke of Sussex today for lunch.”

Princess Senate of Lesotho and Prince Harry in Lesotho on Oct. 1, 2024.Princess Senate Seeiso/Instagram

Harry, 40, was just in the U.K. the day before on Sept. 30, attending the WellChild Awards in London — one of the few patronages he kept since stepping back from royal duty alongside his wife, Meghan Markle. While in the U.K., he did not see his father, King Charles, or his brother, Prince William.

His brief visit to the U.K. followed a whirlwind trip to New York City last week, where he supported many causes close to his heart, including a visit to the United Nations on behalf of Lesotho, a country he’s had close ties to for two decades.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex smiles as he attends the WellChild Awards 2024 at the Royal Lancaster Hotel on Sept. 30, 2024 in London, England.Chris Jackson/Getty

Prince Harry is in the African country alongside longtime friend and Sentebale co-founder Prince Seeiso, where a release stated that they’ll meet with local Sentebale leaders to showcase programs to philanthropists and corporate foundations.

After first visiting Lesotho in 2004 during his gap year, Prince Harry co-founded the charity Sentebale with Prince Seeiso in 2006 to help children and young people affected by poverty, inequality and HIV/AIDS in both Lesotho and Botswana. Prince Harry’s visit on Oct. 1 marks his first return to Southern Africa since 2019, when Harry, Meghan, 43, and their son Prince Archie, now 5, visited when Harry and Meghan were still working royals. (Harry and Meghan are also parents to Princess Lilibet, 3.)

During his current visit, Harry will witness Sentebale’s programs at work in Lesotho, followed by working sessions in Johannesburg, South Africa with leading Southern Africa-based business leaders, foundations and organizations active in the youth sector, according to a release.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in Johannesurg, South Africa on Oct. 2, 2019 at a reception at the British High Commissioner’s residence. Samir Hussein/WireImage

“Through its work in Lesotho and Botswana, Sentebale has developed a profound understanding of local youth — their passions, their concerns and their extraordinary creativity,” Prince Harry said in a statement. “These young adults are eager and capable of driving meaningful change, yet significant barriers still stand in their way. As we head towards our 20th anniversary, our ambition has grown, giving us the confidence to bring our skills and experience in designing solutions with young people, and to leveraging our convening power to engage with leading regional players and global funders so we can add Sentebale’s voice to addressing the challenges faced by the next generation in Southern Africa.”

According to Dr. Sophie Chandauka MBE, Sentebale board chair, Africa has the largest and fastest-growing youth population, and by 2050 nearly 40% of the world’s youth will reside on the continent, with Southern Africa home to a significant portion.

“Over 50% of these young people are at risk of remaining economically vulnerable without urgent investment in digital skills, education and job creation,” she said in a statement. “The Duke’s return to Southern Africa, alongside our new American friends, marks a milestone as we collaborate with world-class organizations and local leadership to engage this critical youth cohort. Together, we aim to accelerate digital and economic inclusion, addressing the low levels of access and literacy, which are crucial for young people’s participation in the global economy and for achieving Sentebale’s goals in health, wealth creation and climate resilience.”

In Johannesburg, Harry will sit on a panel called “Potential is Waiting: The Johannesburg Edition,” following the Miami version of the same gathering this past April.

Alix Lebec, Founder and CEO of Lebec, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Co-Founding Patron of Sentebale and Dr. Sophie Chandauka MBE, Chair of Sentebale, Founder and Chair of Nandi Life Sciences speak during the Sentebale “Potential is Waiting” panel discussion at the Ritz Carlton Hotel on April 11, 2024 in Miami Beach, Florida.Jason Koerner/Getty

“It fills me, the team and our wider community with joy to welcome Prince Harry, or Mohale, as we affectionately refer to him by his Sesotho royal name which means ‘warrior,’ ” Prince Seeiso said in a statement. “Now more than ever, as we look to the challenges of our young generation here in Lesotho, the collective energy of both local and international individuals and organizations who see the potential in these youth, is embraced. We know that there are bright futures at stake, and we continue to approach our work with the vision that all children can be empowered, healthy and resilient through sustainable solutions that can ultimately be locally driven.”

Prince Harry dances with children at the opening of Sentebale’s Mamohato Children’s Centre during an official visit to Africa on Nov. 26, 2015 in Maseru, Lesotho.Samir Hussein/WireImage

The Duke of Sussex joined Queen Masenate Mohato Seeiso of Lesotho at the United Nations in New York City on Sept. 24, where he spoke about the work he’s done in the country and his deep appreciation for it. Queen Masenate Mohato Seeiso is the sister-in-law of Prince Seeiso.

“The beautiful mountain kingdom feels like a home away from home,” Prince Harry said of Lesotho while at the UN.

“I was struck by the strength and courage of your people amidst the immense challenges they faced, and particularly the children,” he continued. “Because of that experience, the people I met and what I was exposed to, two years later we created Sentebale.”

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex plays with children holding balloons during the official opening of The Dining Hall at Phelisanong Children’s Home on June 23, 2018 in Leribe, Lesotho. Chris Jackson/Getty

Sentebale translates to “forget-me-not” in Lesotho’s national language, which has a sentimental tie to Harry’s mother Princess Diana — forget-me-nots were her favorite flower.

Continuing his wide-ranging remarks, which touched on HIV awareness and gender-based violence, Prince Harry said, “Good mental health, mental fitness, is not a luxury. It is a necessity. For every single one of us.”

“A safer world is possible, and together we can and will make it happen,” his remarks concluded.

While at the “Potential is Waiting” discussion at the South Beach restaurant Zaytinya in the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Harry also shared that both Prince Seeiso’s mother, Mamohato, and his mother Diana had a strong focus on both HIV/AIDS and improving life for young people.

“It’s really focused on ensuring that the younger generation are quite literally not forgotten,” Harry said of Sentebale.

“At the heart of Sentebale, what we’ve always believed is that every single young person should have a chance at a better future,” the Duke of Sussex said.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Co-Founding Patron of Sentebale and Nacho Figueras, Sentebale Ambassador play polo during the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup on Aug. 12, 2023 in Singapore.Matt Jelonek/Getty

Annually, Harry hosts the Sentebale Polo Cup to raise money for the organization, in which he usually participates — tying his charity work to his love of the sport. Harry’s friend and fellow polo player Nacho Figueras previously told PEOPLE that Harry’s passion for the work of Sentebale has made an impression on him since the two met in 2007.

“From day one, I saw how committed he was to his charity,” Figueras said at the Sentebale Polo Cup in Aspen, Colorado in August 2022. “Fast forward 15 years — I’ve been to Lesotho with him a few times, and I’ve seen what great work the charity does and how important it is for a lot of kids, how committed he is, how much he really cares about it.”

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Since turning the milestone age of 40 on Sept. 15, Harry has been at work on three continents — and, as he returns to Africa, he is returning to a place he has referred to as his “second home.” At the April panel discussion in Miami, he said, “Africa’s in my heart, and Africa’s in my soul. I first went there when I was 12, 13 years old, and after so many years, I wanted to give back to it because it had given me so much. The vast open space, the cultures, the community, the people, the wildlife, just the freedom was a huge piece of why I loved Africa so much.”