Prince Harry meets the Princess of Lesotho as he begins solo South Africa trip without Meghan – but did he manage to see the King and William on whistle-stop UK visit?

Prince Harry has been pictured with the Princess of Lesotho as he kicks off a visit to South Africa for his charity Sentebale just hours after leaving Britain following a whistle-stop visit to the UK without Meghan. 

Dressed in a white shirt, jeans and a dark jacket, the 40-year-old Duke of Sussex can be seen posing with his arm around the Princess of Lesotho Senate Seeiso in an image shared on Instagram.

‘Had a pleasure of hosting a lunch today,’ she wrote next to the picture, which was shared as a reel. 

Harry’s trip to Lesotho and South Africa appears to mark another week away from his wife Meghan and their two children Archie and Lilibet, who did not join the Duke in the UK either. 

Harry did not appear to visit King Charles or Prince William while in the UK yesterday, despite staying at a London hotel just two miles from Buckingham Palace and less than an hour’s drive from his brother’s home. 

He had come to London for the WellChild Awards to recognise some of Britain’s bravest children and support a charity close to his heart.

Prince Harry was seen posing with his arm around Princess Senate Seeiso in an image shared by the African royal on Instagram – hours after he flew to the UK 

Harry’s trip to Lesotho and South Africa appears to mark another week away from his wife Meghan. Pictured: The couple in Colombia in August 

Harry, who is not likely to have stayed in a royal property, was set to fly from London to South Africa for events in support of his charity Sentebale. 

The royal has travelled to Lesotho for a gathering of business leaders, philanthropists and local stakeholders, aimed at driving forward the work of his youth-focused charity, supporting the digital and economic inclusion of the next generation in Africa.

It is unlikely that Meghan will join him on the trip, despite not having seen him for ten days after he spent a week in New York with a series of engagements, including an event in honour of his mother Princess Diana.

Yesterday the Duke of Sussex was at a central London hotel just two miles from Buckingham Palace and less than an hour’s drive from his older brother’s home.

A spokesman for Harry declined to comment on whether any family meetings were planned. But MailOnline understands that no such rapprochement has happened on this trip, his third to Britain since May.

The seed of Sentebale was planted in 2004 when Harry spent two months in the African kingdom of Lesotho during his gap year. The experience made a lasting impression on the young royal, who was then aged 19.

The Duke of Sussex, Patron of WellChild, arriving for the annual WellChild Awards in London yesterday 

Harry chatting with Noah Nicholson, six, and his mother at the WellChild awards yesterday 

Yesterday the Duke of Sussex, who turned 40 earlier this month, was at a central London hotel just two miles from Buckingham Palace

He came face-to-face with Aids orphans, met other traumatised young people and visited herd boys living a harsh existence looking after cattle in remote mountain areas.

Harry was invited to the country, land-locked inside South Africa, by Seeiso, a friend of the his mentor, ex-Army officer Mark Dyer.

Founded in 2006, Sentebale began working in Leosotho before expanding into Botswana, and operates in four key areas: strengthening the social and emotional wellbeing of those living with or affected by HIV; helping to provide access to health and social services; driving youth advocacy; and building individuals’ skills and livelihoods. 

MailOnline has contacted Archewell for comment.