Prince Harry makes surprise three-day solo visit to Mozambique

The Duke of Sussex made a surprise solo three-day visit to  Mozambique this week – as he prepares to return to the UK for a whirlwind trip next month. 

Prince Harry, 37, who is currently living in his $14 million mansion in California having stepped back from royal duty,  stayed at luxury resort of Vilanculos Beach Lodge for three days.

A source told MailOnline Harry flew to Heathrow on Sunday, where he changed to a connecting flight to Johannesburg. 

According to Instagram page @moz_paparazzi, the royal father-of-two took walks looking at tourist attractions in the region with friends, and spoke with the  President of the Tourism Association in the area, Yassin Amuji.

The royal appeared not to have been joined by his wife Meghan Markle, 41, or his children Archie, three, or Lilibet, one, on the trip. 

Prince Harry was pictured in the country in southern Africa in his capacity as president of African Parks.

The royal’s spokesperson said the Duke was welcoming and co-hosting a group of US officials, conservationists, and philanthropists earlier this week as they toured protected wildlife and nature areas.

His surprise visit comes days after it emerged the Sussexes will come to Britain next month for the first time since the Platinum Jubilee to attend several charity events, including the One Young World Summit in Manchester on September 5.

In photographs shared online of the Duke’s visit to the country, he looked relaxed in grey polo shirt, baseball cap and navy shorts.

In one snap posted by author Eric Morier-Genoud on Twitter, the royal could be seen posing with another man.  

The Duke has visited Mozambique before – in 2010, he made a secret visit to the country where he joined British charity The Halo Trust.

The charity cleared an astonishing 105,000 landmines from the northern part of the country and took then-25-year-old Harry to see their work at a village close to the Cahora Bassa dam in Tete, central Mozambique.

The Duke has visited Mozambique before – in 2010, he made a secret visit to the country where he joined British charity The Halo Trust  (pictured in 2010) 

His latest visit comes as royal experts said Harry and Meghan may use their visit to the UK next month as a chance to see the Queen, – although their arrival coincides with a busy week in which the monarch will also meet the new Prime Minister.

They will then head to Germany for the Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023 One Year to Go event, before returning to the UK for the WellChild Awards on September 8.

It is not known if their three-year-old son, Archie, or Lilibet, one, will join them.

The couple are likely to want to spend time with the Queen after enjoying ‘barely 15 minutes’ with her during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations this summer, according to royal watchers.

The monarch is currently in Balmoral but will be in London on September 6 to meet either Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak when they are made PM.

Earlier this month, she invited Harry and Meghan to join her at her Highland retreat, The Sun reported.

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams earlier this week suggested a meeting with the monarch would be more likely to take place in London or Windsor.

His surprise visit comes days after it emerged the Sussexes will come to Britain next month for the first time since the Platinum Jubilee to attend several charity events, including the One Young World Summit in Manchester on September 5

He told MailOnline: ‘The reports that the Queen had invited Harry and Meghan to Balmoral were never confirmed. However it would only make sense for them to see her when she is at Windsor and when they are based at Frogmore, as they could only spend a very little time with her during the Platinum Jubilee.

‘If she does come down as anticipated, she may receive the new Prime Minister at Windsor or at Buckingham Palace. There would also be time for her and the Sussexes to discuss the future, which hopefully will be more constructive than the recent past.

‘They also must be aware that some form of reconciliation in the Platinum Jubilee year would surely be beneficial for the image they want as philanthropists.’

However, Phil Dampier suggested Balmoral could be the more likely venue.

‘Whether he meets the Queen will probably depend on her. If she tells them she wants to see them I’m sure they will pop in for a chat,’ he told MailOnline.

‘I’m sure she would hope the relaxed atmosphere there would be more conducive to talking things through and trying to solve the problems they all face.

‘Meghan won’t like the hunting shooting and fishing environment of the Highlands but the Queen would feel much more comfortable meting them there rather than a rushed meeting in London.’

A spokesman for the Sussexes said: ‘Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are delighted to visit with several charities close to their hearts in early September.’

The announcement comes just weeks after it emerged Harry had filed a second lawsuit against the government and Scotland Yard over the decision not to allow him to pay for police protection when he visits from California.

The Duke of Sussex is already suing the Home Office over its decision in 2020 to remove his taxpayer-funded protection, which he says makes it unsafe for him to come to Britain with his wife, Meghan Markle, and two children, Archie and Lilibet.