Prince Harry makes an unexpected solo visit to the country that his estranged brother William is set to visit in a few weeks.

Prince Harry has paid a surprise visit to a country that’s set to host his estranged brother Prince William in just a matter of weeks.

As Harry continues to ramp up his solo travels overseas without wife Meghan Markle, he went to Johannesburg in South Africa, where he called on global leaders to “create a platform for young voices”.

Harry made the journey to South Africa to represent Sentebale, a youth HIV charity he co-founded, following a trip to the tiny mountain kingdom of Lesotho. And it comes just weeks before William is due to be in Cape Town in November, where he will present his prestigious Earthshot Prize Awards.

In Johannesburg, Harry took part in a reception and panel discussion with stakeholders, business leaders and strategic partners focused on empowering young people and “closing the digital divide”. Speaking on the importance of including youth voices in conversations, he told the crowd: “I’ve made it one of my life’s missions to create a platform for young voices, and we have seen time and time again that young voices when they are listened to, have the solutions.” Harry also focused on the need for regional solutions to key issues.

“Universal access is important, but can we please make it safer for people, especially the Global South, so we don’t have the same problems as in the Global North,” he said.