Prince William's Last Working Trip to South Africa Was with Prince Harry

Mar. 15, 2025

Prince Harry and Prince William at Mokolodi Education Centre in Gaborone, Botswana on June 15, 2010.Photo:Samir Hussein/WireImage

Samir Hussein/WireImage

Prince William will step out in South Africa next week for the 2024 Earthshot Prize Awards ceremonyWilliam’s last work trip to South Africa was with his brother Prince Harry in 2010A royal source said the rift between the brothers is “very bad” but not “irreparable"Prince Williamis preparing for a major trip to South Africa for the 2024Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony— and his most recent official trip there was with his brother,Prince Harry.Though the relationship between the Prince of Wales, 42, and the Duke of Sussex, 40, remains strained amid an ongoing rift,King Charles' sons traveled to Africa in June 2010 in a trip that was significant, as it marked their first joint overseas tour. At the time, Prince William was 27 and Prince Harry was 25, and the brothers spent six days on the go in Botswana, Lesotho and South Africa.While William and Harry have both returned to Africa in official capacities since, the June 2010 tour was special because they used the opportunity to highlight charities they backed there, “and to show one another the work each organization has achieved,“Hello!reported at the time.Prince Harry and Prince William at Semongkong Childre’s Centre in Semongkong, Lesotho on June 17, 2010.Samir Hussein/WireImageThe princes traveled to South Africa at the invitation of the Football Association (FA), soccer’s governing body in England, to support its bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Prince William was then president (and is now patron) of the FA, and the royal brothers got to watch a match between Algeria and England during their time in Cape Town.Prince Harry and Prince William before the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group C match between England and Algeria at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa on June 18, 2010.Jamie McDonald/GettyThe overarching theme of the brothers' larger visit was to support disadvantaged young people and sustainable development, a statement said at the time, and the trip spotlighted some of their individual patronages — Tusk Trust for Prince William and Sentebale for Prince Harry — in Botswana and Lesotho.Prince Harry and Prince William play soccer at the Semongkong Children’s Centre on June 17, 2010.Samir Hussein/WireImageThe princes seemed to be at ease in one another’s company in pictures captured during the trip, from horseback riding in the countryside to playing soccer with children, meeting a friendly python, having a laugh withDavid Beckhamat a FIFA reception and more.Prince William, David Beckham and Prince Harry at an FA reception on June 19, 2010 in Johannesberg, South Africa.Luca Ghidoni - Pool/GettyCatching up to the present, it’s widely reported that the tension between the brothers began in 2016 after Williamexpressed concernsabout how quickly Harry was moving in his romance withMeghan Markle, whom he married in 2018. In 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussexstepped backfrom their royal roles and relocated to her home state of California.The couple remains based there today with their children,Prince Archie, 5, andPrincess Lilibet, 3, while Prince William andKate Middletonare raising their kids,Prince George, 11,Princess Charlotte, 9, andPrince Louis, 6, in Windsor.Prince Harry and Prince William horseback ride to a children’s education center in Lesotho on June 17, 2010.Chris Jackson/GettyPrince William and Prince Harry last crossed paths in August at the memorial service in Norfolk for their late uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes. However, they reportedlydid not interact with one anotherat the intimate church service.Sources previously told PEOPLE that Harry’s attempts to connect with William  through texts, calls and messages have been ignored.A royal insider said the rift with Prince William is “very bad,” but it’s not “irreparable.“Prince William and Prince Harry at the Long Walk at Windsor Castle on Sept. 10, 2022 in Windsor, England.Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty ImagesCan’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!Next week, Prince William will step out in Cape Town, South Africa for the fourth cycle of the Earthshot Prize Awards. The heir to the thronelaunched the contestin 2020 to inspire impactful approaches to the world’s most urgent environmental challenges, with plans to award $1 million Earthshot Prizes in five flagship categories annually until 2030.Prince William (right) visits 2023 Earthshot Prize Finalist ENSO on Oct. 1, 2024 in Brentford, England.Chris Ratcliffe - WPA Pool/GettyPrince William will travel solo to Cape Town, as Princess Kate has not fully returned to work after announcing on Sept. 9 that she completedchemotherapy treatment.While Kate won’t be with him, traveling to Africa may bring back sentimental memories, as William proposed to her in Kenya in October 2010.

Prince Williamis preparing for a major trip to South Africa for the 2024Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony— and his most recent official trip there was with his brother,Prince Harry.

Though the relationship between the Prince of Wales, 42, and the Duke of Sussex, 40, remains strained amid an ongoing rift,King Charles' sons traveled to Africa in June 2010 in a trip that was significant, as it marked their first joint overseas tour. At the time, Prince William was 27 and Prince Harry was 25, and the brothers spent six days on the go in Botswana, Lesotho and South Africa.

While William and Harry have both returned to Africa in official capacities since, the June 2010 tour was special because they used the opportunity to highlight charities they backed there, “and to show one another the work each organization has achieved,“Hello!reported at the time.

Prince Harry and Prince William at Semongkong Childre’s Centre in Semongkong, Lesotho on June 17, 2010.Samir Hussein/WireImage

The princes traveled to South Africa at the invitation of the Football Association (FA), soccer’s governing body in England, to support its bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Prince William was then president (and is now patron) of the FA, and the royal brothers got to watch a match between Algeria and England during their time in Cape Town.

Prince Harry and Prince William before the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group C match between England and Algeria at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa on June 18, 2010.Jamie McDonald/Getty

Jamie McDonald/Getty

The overarching theme of the brothers' larger visit was to support disadvantaged young people and sustainable development, a statement said at the time, and the trip spotlighted some of their individual patronages — Tusk Trust for Prince William and Sentebale for Prince Harry — in Botswana and Lesotho.

Prince Harry and Prince William play soccer at the Semongkong Children’s Centre on June 17, 2010.Samir Hussein/WireImage

The princes seemed to be at ease in one another’s company in pictures captured during the trip, from horseback riding in the countryside to playing soccer with children, meeting a friendly python, having a laugh withDavid Beckhamat a FIFA reception and more.

Prince William, David Beckham and Prince Harry at an FA reception on June 19, 2010 in Johannesberg, South Africa.Luca Ghidoni - Pool/Getty

Luca Ghidoni - Pool/Getty

Catching up to the present, it’s widely reported that the tension between the brothers began in 2016 after Williamexpressed concernsabout how quickly Harry was moving in his romance withMeghan Markle, whom he married in 2018. In 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussexstepped backfrom their royal roles and relocated to her home state of California.

The couple remains based there today with their children,Prince Archie, 5, andPrincess Lilibet, 3, while Prince William andKate Middletonare raising their kids,Prince George, 11,Princess Charlotte, 9, andPrince Louis, 6, in Windsor.

Prince Harry and Prince William horseback ride to a children’s education center in Lesotho on June 17, 2010.Chris Jackson/Getty

Chris Jackson/Getty

Prince William and Prince Harry last crossed paths in August at the memorial service in Norfolk for their late uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes. However, they reportedlydid not interact with one anotherat the intimate church service.

Sources previously told PEOPLE that Harry’s attempts to connect with William  through texts, calls and messages have been ignored.

A royal insider said the rift with Prince William is “very bad,” but it’s not “irreparable.”

Prince William and Prince Harry at the Long Walk at Windsor Castle on Sept. 10, 2022 in Windsor, England.Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Next week, Prince William will step out in Cape Town, South Africa for the fourth cycle of the Earthshot Prize Awards. The heir to the thronelaunched the contestin 2020 to inspire impactful approaches to the world’s most urgent environmental challenges, with plans to award $1 million Earthshot Prizes in five flagship categories annually until 2030.

Prince William (right) visits 2023 Earthshot Prize Finalist ENSO on Oct. 1, 2024 in Brentford, England.Chris Ratcliffe - WPA Pool/Getty

Chris Ratcliffe - WPA Pool/Getty

Prince William will travel solo to Cape Town, as Princess Kate has not fully returned to work after announcing on Sept. 9 that she completedchemotherapy treatment.

While Kate won’t be with him, traveling to Africa may bring back sentimental memories, as William proposed to her in Kenya in October 2010.

source: people.com