Royal Visit to Southern Africa Part I
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have an incredibly full schedule for their 10 day tour of South Africa, Botswana, Angola and Malawi with 35 scheduled engagements. Truthfully, with so many engagements planned I have been trying to figure out the best way to cover all of it and have decided to split it right down the middle. Keep reading to find out about their first five days on tour and come back next week to learn about the second half of Royal Visit to Southern Africa.
Day 1 - Cape Town, South Africa
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived in Cape Town on Monday morning to begin their ten day tour of the region. They were seen departing a British Airways flight with their four month old son, Archie. The couple wasted no time at all, arriving to their first engagement three hours after disembarking. They visited the Justice Desk, an organization in Nyango which teaches communities how to understand and defend their basic rights as humans.
The Duke and Duchess danced with locals, heard more about the work being done with the Justice Desk and met the towns aunties, who presented their son with the traditional South African name, Ntsika meaning pillar of strength.
They then visited District 6 which is located in an area of Cape Town that saw people of color forcibly removed in the 1960's because of Apartheid. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex met former residents of the area and listened to their stories at the Homecoming Centre. The Centre was created as a meeting place for former residents to come back and share their stories, participate in cultural events and share a meal.
Day 2 - Cape Town, South Africa
To begin their second day in South Africa, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined Waves for Change, an organization that provides vulnerable young people with "Surf Mentors" that help to promote mental wellness and positive thinking. The Duke and Duchess participated in a group activity that included a welcoming chant and a call and response game.
The couple then visited the UK's Commonwealth Litter Programme to learn about the work being done in South Africa and the impact that microplastics have on the environment. They also saw a demonstration in the micro laboratory before the Duke left for another engagement while the Duchess took a short break.
Following the Dukes solo engagement, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex reunited in Bo Kaap to visit the Auwal Mosque, the oldest Mosque in South Africa. They met with community members who have taken part in the programmes run by Cape Towns Interfaith Initiative and viewed the first known copy of the Qu'ran in the country.
Afterwards, they undertook a walk about in the multicultural neighborhood of Bo Kapp to celebrate Heritage Day, which is celebrated annually to recognize the cultural wealth of South Africa. The Couple also had tea with locals before an engagement at the British High Commissioner's Official Residence.
The couple ended their day at the High Commissioner's official residence where they met community leaders and young activists to celebrate the UK's modern partnership with South Africa. An African Choir greeted them with music and the Duke gave a brief speech thanking the country for the warm welcome.
The couple met with guests whose work covered ocean protection and conservation, youth and female empowerment leaders, young entrepreneurs and commonwealth scholars. The Duke and Duchess have spoken previously about how they want much of their work to focus on community building and everyday activism, the guests in attendance seemed to reflect this mission.
Day 3
To begin their final day in Cape Town together, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter, Thandeka. They arrived as a family, marking Archie's first official royal engagement. During their visit they discussed the work of the Desmond and Leah Tutu legacy foundation which was founded in 2013.
The foundation works with youth and leadership to discuss and advance human rights as well as discuss social justice and human purpose. Archbishop Tutu also presented Archie with a few gifts including a children's bible and an everyday Ubuntu book.
The Duke of Sussex left South Africa following the meeting to travel to Botswana while the Duchess of Sussex visited two more South African based charities, Ladies who Launch & Mother2Mother.
The Duchess spoke with female entrepreneurs who shared their careers in business with the Duchess. The women also shared their ambitions and goals for the future with the Duchess. South Africa has been struggling with gender based violence and femicide, making it even more important for women to be occupying higher spaces, like business.
Finishing Day three, the Duchess visited Mothers2Mothers, an organization that employs women living with HIV and trains them as health workers. The organization also aims to eliminate pediatric AIDS by stopping the transfer between mother and child. While speaking to some of the mothers, the Duchess shared the joys and difficulties of motherhood. The Duchess of Sussex also brought some of the clothes her son, Archie, has outgrown to share with the organization.
Day 4
The Duke of Sussex traveled to Botswana while the Duchess of Sussex remained in South Africa with Archie. The Duke undertook several engagements including visits to the Chobe Tree Reserve, Sentebale and The Botswana Defense Force.
Meanwhile the Duchess of Sussex hosted a breakfast for a group of women who ranged from anti-apartheid activists to professors, educators and policy makers. The Duchess shared her personal thoughts on the meeting, writing on instagram "It is not enough to simply hope for a better future; the only way forward is “hope in action.”
Day 5
The Duke has travelled on to Angola where he quite literally followed in his mothers footsteps. The Duke has walked through a partially active minefield with Halo Trust, much like his mother did twenty-two years ago. Diana, Princess of Wales decision to walk through an active minefield was a pivotal moment in the fight against land mines. The field where she once walked is now part of a developed neighborhood.
The Duke went on to visit the newly renovated, Princess Diana Orthopedic Center and met some of the patients being helped there. He then finished the day by welcoming the Luengue-Luiana National Park as the newest addition to the Queens Canopy.
The Duke of Sussex will travel to Botswana before rejoining the Duchess of Sussex and their son in Johannesburg South Africa. Look out for more information on the second half of the tour coming soon. xx
To see more on the Duchess of Sussex's wardrobe, click here.