There have been moments where I’ve worried about Prince Harry’s patronage of African Parks. Would the Windsors find some way to “take away” Harry’s position with African Parks? I worried for no reason though. Harry has served as president of African Parks since December 2017, and one of his most recent visits on behalf of African Parks was leading an American congressional delegation through a multi-country tour of conservation efforts in 2022. Now Harry is getting a promotion with the NGO. From African Parks:
Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex is a humanitarian, military veteran, mental wellness advocate, and environmentalist.
The Duke has dedicated his life’s work to advancing causes that he is passionate about, and that bring about permanent change for people and places. For over two decades, he has taken a deep personal interest in frontline conservation projects across Africa that work to protect the region’s natural resources and wildlife, for the benefit of local communities.
In July 2016, Prince Harry first joined African Parks in Malawi, where he served as part of the expert team that helped implement the first phase of the 500 Elephants project, one of the largest and most significant elephant translocations in conservation history.
Over the years, Prince Harry has remained closely involved in supporting the organisation’s mission of protecting Africa’s national parks for its people, and advancing wildlife conservation in Africa and around the world. Most recently, in August 2022, Prince Harry co-hosted a group of US officials, conservationists, and philanthropists as they toured protected wildlife and nature preserves under African Parks’ Management in Zambia, Mozambique and Rwanda.
In 2023, after serving six years as President, he was elevated to an officially appointed member of the Board of Directors, the governing body of the organisation.
Wow, this is so cool. One of the tabloid stories I believed from a few months ago was that Harry plans to do some kind of Netflix docuseries about conservation efforts in Africa, perhaps tied to his existing work with African Parks and other charities. I would love that, and I wonder if this Board of Directors position will make it even easier. Anyway, it’s nice to remember that Harry’s brother rage-shrieked “Africa is MINE!” and Harry just ignored that bald dumbass.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
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- 145545, Prince Harry meets Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu at the office of The Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation on day three of his tour in Cape Town , South Africa. South Africa – Monday November 30, 2015. UK, FRANCE, AUS, NZ, CHINA, HONG KONG, TAIWAN, SPAIN & ITALY OUT Photograph: © i-Images, PacificCoastNews. Los Angeles Office: +1 310.822.0419 sales@pacificcoastnews.com FEE MUST BE AGREED PRIOR TO USAGE,Image: 532071606, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS, DIRECT SALES ONLY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE IN CAPTION – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: i-Images, PacificCoastNews / Avalon
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- 145602, Prince Harry seen at the South African Wildlife College in the Kruger National Park on day five of his tour of Lesotho and South Africa. South Africa – Wednesday December 2, 2015. South Africa. UK, FRANCE, AUS, NZ, CHINA, HONG KONG, TAIWAN, SPAIN & ITALY OUT Photograph: © i-Images, PacificCoastNews. Los Angeles Office: +1 310.822.0419 sales@pacificcoastnews.com FEE MUST BE AGREED PRIOR TO USAGE,Image: 532077372, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS, DIRECT SALES ONLY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE IN CAPTION – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: i-Images, PacificCoastNews / Avalon
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- 145602, Prince Harry seen at the South African Wildlife College in the Kruger National Park on day five of his tour of Lesotho and South Africa. South Africa – Wednesday December 2, 2015. South Africa. UK, FRANCE, AUS, NZ, CHINA, HONG KONG, TAIWAN, SPAIN & ITALY OUT Photograph: © i-Images, PacificCoastNews. Los Angeles Office: +1 310.822.0419 sales@pacificcoastnews.com FEE MUST BE AGREED PRIOR TO USAGE,Image: 532077383, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS, DIRECT SALES ONLY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE IN CAPTION – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: i-Images, PacificCoastNews / Avalon
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- 145602, Prince Harry seen at the South African Wildlife College in the Kruger National Park on day five of his tour of Lesotho and South Africa. South Africa – Wednesday December 2, 2015. South Africa. UK, FRANCE, AUS, NZ, CHINA, HONG KONG, TAIWAN, SPAIN & ITALY OUT Photograph: © i-Images, PacificCoastNews. Los Angeles Office: +1 310.822.0419 sales@pacificcoastnews.com FEE MUST BE AGREED PRIOR TO USAGE,Image: 532077428, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS, DIRECT SALES ONLY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE IN CAPTION – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: i-Images, PacificCoastNews / Avalon
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- 145602, Prince Harry seen at the South African Wildlife College in the Kruger National Park on day five of his tour of Lesotho and South Africa. South Africa – Wednesday December 2, 2015. South Africa. UK, FRANCE, AUS, NZ, CHINA, HONG KONG, TAIWAN, SPAIN & ITALY OUT Photograph: © i-Images, PacificCoastNews. Los Angeles Office: +1 310.822.0419 sales@pacificcoastnews.com FEE MUST BE AGREED PRIOR TO USAGE,Image: 532077431, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS, DIRECT SALES ONLY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE IN CAPTION – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: i-Images, PacificCoastNews / Avalon
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- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on day one of a tour of Africa the listed Nyanga township, to see the Justice Desk initiative,Image: 537900421, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR SEVEN DAYS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Avalon
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- The Duke of Sussex delivers a speech in front of the Diana Tree in Huambo, Angola, on day five of the royal tour of Africa. The Duke is visiting the minefield where his late mother, the Princess of Wales, was photographed in 1997, which is now a busy street with schools, shops and houses.,Image: 538259128, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR SEVEN DAYS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Avalon
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- 23-09-2019 Africa Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry on the 1st day of the visit to South Africa. Visiting a workshop that teaches children about their rights, self-awareness and safety and provides self-defence classes and female empowerment training to young girls in the community in Cape Town. .
Uh oh someone on salt isle’s head must be exploding. Mr. Africa is mine will have to find something to do there other than tell Africans how many children they should have. Glad Harry’s work is continuing and a documentary from him on this subject would be nice.
Cue an announcement from KP stating Willy has been added to the Board of Directors of whatever organization in 3…2…1..
EggplantPeg submitted his name to be the Turnip Toff’s Ceo with Rose Hanbury also on the board. Kate can’t make it, she’s to busy listening and learning how to insert pie charts on excel with jazz hands, but she’s getting more comfortable in her own skin, and would like to forge her own path, her own way.
@Eggplant
OMG, thank you for the laugh, that was great. However, Kate would like you to add that she has also never put a foot wrong!
I will forever remember Billy’s stompy foot shriek of “Africa is mine!” It made him look so childish and confirmed every joke made about him. Congratulations to Harry, his true dedication to Africa goes all the way back to his teens.
Clearly he’s loosing his sh*t as we speak (or write) and we should expect some sort of media campaign to make him look like a global stateman for the African continent.
Wait until the (potential) Netflix documentary comes out. Harry is going to get the same reception in Africa that he did in Germany. The people will be drawn to him in mass numbers and he will greet them with expressed great joy. The documentary will show what a truly compassionate and caring person he is, showing the world his idea of service.
I wonder when dull and duller will co-opt the word ‘service’ and start adding it to their useless speeches?
This young man has significant roles on three continents. I am very proud of how he continuously follows his passions which will ultimately lead to the world being just a little bit better. As he has mentioned on several occasions, Africa is to him like a second home. And he shows this by his work there.
He is REALLY living his best life!! LOVE IT!
Africa isn’t Willy Nilly’s and neither is the US so he’d better start accepting that and concentrate on the UK. Meanwhile I’m being blinded by the incandescence emanating from across the pond! Oh well! Congrats and well done Prince Harry!
The electrician is doing some work on my house today, so the utility company turned off the power for them. No worries, they’ll still be able to see, from that incandescent glow coming from across the pond!
I wonder if the African Parks org was under pressure by the BRF to stop working with Harry (and then they’d assign Pegs as patron?). But African Parks said, nope, we’re going to give him an official position with the organization that cannot be revoked by the bitter and jealous Leftover Royals.
In any case, it’s clear the organization values Harry’s work and the light he can shine on the conservation work they’re doing and want to keep him involved at a high level. I’m happy for Harry and am pretty sure I can hear incandescent raging all the across the Atlantic, “Africa is MINE!”
Why would they? African Parks is not a royal patronage.
Harry had an official position with the organization. By accepting a board position he is explicitly agreeing to fundraise. That’s how board positions work.
Exactly, and the first funds that will be raised will be out of his own pocket – that’s also how these board positions work.
@Eurydice that’s not at all how a position for Harry would work. He doesn’t have the kind of wealth to be an individual player, he will be expected to bring in 7 to 10 figure donations.
Of course, Harry has plenty of wealth. And nobody says that board members have to give millions – but there’s usually a buy-in or pledge of several thousand dollars, depending on the organization.
Congratulations to Prince Harry. He does the work, he isn’t for photo up, super intelligent guy. Well deserved promotion, Meghan husband, Diana son, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet papa.
African Parks was never a royal patronage so there was no way for the Royal Family to take it away from him. But his position as a working royal meant that he could only be involved as President which now seems like it was a made up role. It’s good to see him become a full fleged member of the board of directors as it shows that he is now free to do whatever he wants. As for the rumored documentary I will wait for Netflix to announce it before believing that story.
Wonderful recognition for Harry’s sincere efforts for seven years! I’m happy for him and the organization.
Cue the “Harry steals attention from KFC’s Kenya trip” in 3.2.1… 🙄
Prince Harry lives in California with his wife Meghan and their two children Prince Archie and Princes Lilibet.
I like the living in California part, I’m not saying they’re petty dropping the announcement just before Chucky lands on the African Continent.
Love the timing, planned or not it is perfect.
“ Anyway, it’s nice to remember that Harry’s brother rage-shrieked “Africa is MINE!” and Harry just ignored that bald dumbass.”
*chef’s kiss*
Also I love that this has happened right before Chuckles visits Kenya. Different countries but it’s the same continent and it’s right before a visit that you KNOW is not going to be the warm, fuzzy welcome Harry would get.
Chuck and Cams will be protested in Kenya. Meghan and Harry would get huge appreciative crowds. That’s what they hate. And William doesn’t see that Harry has done the work to deserve it.
Good for Harry. These are the kinds of moves that show the organizations he works with value him and his involvement. He’s not just a figurehead.
“ He’s not just a figurehead.”
And that is what the royals do. not. get. Harry does the work to help his projects and associations succeed. He literally works. He doesn’t just show up, shake hands, do a few photos, and bounce. He does the damn work.
And that is why he is *earning* the enormous amount of respect everywhere he goes.
I agree with you both, so much. Harry actually WORKS. He’s not in this to elevate his own status, he truly believes in the causes he supports, and wants to highlight their great works.
I respect that this is a pro-Sussex space-one that I’ve relied on to follow them since 2018 though and I know that a vibrant community of people has been here much longer before the Sussexes came to be). But we have to be willing to ask difficult questions, even of the nice, well-intentioned folks we like because intent and outcomes are separate. Harry is a monarchist. He made that clear in Spare. He’s still got a colonialism framework when it comes to the continent of Africa. These conservation orgs are neocolonial projects.
I looked at the website’s list of the boards. Former colonial powers. More African participants at the lower level of management.
Their website says the org exercises “complete responsibility” over conservation efforts “in cooperation” with local governments. That means AP is in charge and African governments play a supporting role. What gives them the right to do this? A lot of their partners have ties to colonial exploitation that has caused environmental damage in the first place. These conservation organizations are problematic. There are valid critiques of their agendas and impact.
I agree with you @OnThisDay. Sadly unless there’s a change in approach to how some of these organisations work, it is just colonialism all over again. Harry has shown great capacity to learn and adapt based on the experiences that he has gone through. I’m hoping something similar happens in the area of conservation. It can’t always be that African resources are protected by others. This can never be true.
Thank you, OnThisDay and Mrazi, for saying what I was thinking but wasn’t sure I should say. Africa belongs to no one but Africans. We should all agree.
Conservation is rooted in neocolonialism unfortunately
African Parks works with the local communities and it is an agreement with their consent. The locals get the jobs and the revenue from the parks. So, not quite, colonialism since profits and benefits stay local.
Also the agreement is for a specific period of time, its either 10 years or 20 years, I can’t remember. Then management is turned over to the local governments.
No, they don’t work with local communities. It’s the other way around.And that local communities cooperate is more an function of their economic neefs and that conservation exploit. (Plus, it shouldnt be taken for granted that these community leaders and partners represent a consensus).
These are land grabs. If this were merely about supporting
local agendas, AP and others would simply provide funds. But they do so much more than that!
These organizations- led by powerful foreign interests- determine how land can be used, and who can use it, leading to displacement, and sometimes violent conflict.
This site lays things out very well. Also, there’s been some news coverage of the conflicts, including violent conflict involving AP. there’s not much coverage, but that’s a function of who controls the narrative.
https://www.wrm.org.uy/bulletin-articles/conservation-concessions-as-neo-colonization-the-african-parks-network
Thank you for this very interesting article! I hope that Prince Harry takes this criticism to heart and uses his new position as board member and his humanitarian vision to strengthen the position and lives of the local communities (which is also one of Archewell’s core goals). The reality is that the African nations have insufficient funds to do this level of conservation themselves, but of course they should receive the majority of the benefits. Operating APN as a neocolonial model is unacceptable and a recipe for failure in the long run.
I am curious where you got the information that “African countries have insufficient funds to do this level of conservation”. This is an extremely colonial mindset.
I have supported African Parks because it does allow the respective countries to remain in control. Essentially, African Parks manages Parks for countries according to each countries wishes. These are generally parks that were in pretty bad shape due to a lack of resources. Either party can terminate a contract early. Locals are part of the decision making regarding the Parks. Profits go back into the park, including to provide medical services. It’s the kind of organization I look for to support.
https://www.africanparks.org/our-work/community-development
This is a masterclass in assigning guilt through oblique allusion, implication and innuendo. Was the cofounder Mavuso Msimang a colonialist? Even if there are descendants of former colonialists in the organization, does that mean they cannot be credited with trying to make the world better? The supposedly superior alternative that you’ve hinted at, but not specified seems to be missing here. Your insinuation that sovereign powers have totally abandoned all current and future land rights whenever they sign a time-limited management agreement for specific areas is just preposterous.
@ONTHISDAY
Exactly. And some of the remarks here are very disturbing in the framing of the African continent.
Congrats to Prince Harry!
Hello my celebchy friends, well after 2 bloomin long nasty weeks stuck in hospital again I’M BACK, so @brassyrebel @Jais @JADED @Blithe @rapunzel@ equality and everyone, oh how I have missed you ALL. At one stage I didn’t think I was coming back, but I’m still fighting, and as for this lovely little article about our Harry, just wanted to say, OY BALDY africa ain’t that into you, but they are into Harry!!
Welcome back, Mary! I’ve been worried 😟 about you. So relieved to hear from you. Love your fighting spirit!
Welcome back Mary!
Huzzah, @Mary Pester, you’re back in one piece. We were worried about you, and missed your witty comments. Hope that you are feeling good, and an internet hug that you continue the good fight. Take care of yourself, and your lovely husband.
Nice to read that your back Mary! I don’t always post but I read Celebitchy daily and have really missed you. 😊
it is wonderful to see you on the page!
Welcome back Mary. I do not post often, but I read Celebitchy everyday
You’ve been missed @mary pester❤️. So happy to see you here.
Very glad to hear from you Mary Pester!
Hurray, Mary Pester!
I’ve been thinking about you Mary Pester and your wonderfully witty and sharp-tongued comments on the BarF! Keep ’em coming!
I rarely comment, almost always lurk, just wanted to say ❤️❤️❤️ love you Mary Pester!
Mary Pester, I’m so happy that you’re back with your comments and wit! We;ve all missed you and have been thinking about you. Huge internet hugs!
Great to see you back and posting again, Mary! I also read CB daily and always look for your awesome comments.
It’s wonderful to see you, Mary Pester!
Good to see you back!
It’s WONDERFUL to see you back Mary Pester❣️
I’m sure I’m not the only one here who will continue to send caring thoughts your way!✨
You’ve been missed! Love your snarky take on matters. I’m sending you good vibes and sunlight!
Glad to hear from you Mary. I was getting worried.
“Africa is mine!”, was the first thing I thought when I read this headline! lol.
This is a continuation of colonialism, nothing cute or benevolent about it. Land back is decolonization. It isn’t a metaphor. Land back is true in every nation where borders were drawn by colonizers and a 20th of the wrath and resources extracted are given back in loans and “aid”. Nothing “progressive” or conservationist about this, it’s preserving a playground for white settlers and tourists.
Wow. I clearly need to do some research. It’s embarrassing to be nearing 50, and still so clueless about certain things.
“Decolonization isn’t a metaphor! Yes,
Eowyni. I’ve been meditating in this for the last couple of weeks.
And benevolence isn’t justice.
Love this ❤️ congratulations Prince Harry 🍾🍾
He isn’t being trolled, is he? Where I come from, president of the board outranks a director on the board. I just wonder if they really are caving to BRF pressure!
The Royal Family has no power here. If you go on the African Parks website, there’s no position as President just CEO. I suspect being the President was the only why Harry was allowed to be involved with the organisation as a working royal. He was a just figurehead. Now a board member he can fully contribute to the decisions and strategies of African Parks.
I believe that a president reports to, and is accountable to the Board of Directors.
I love that Harry is actually “kneeling” to the Africans (literally/symbolically) to show respect and solidarity. And weren’t Will and Kate carried in sedan chairs? In Africa? The humility, courage and compassion Harry shows which is TRULY kingly. Will is all, “Bitch, you kneel to me,” but Harry is the people’s king without the title (a title that means nothing to him”. So much like his mother. I am practically in tears thinking about this contrast of the brothers. You got the wrong dude, bros. Your dude is a dud. Good King Henry forever– a true servant of the people. Blessings and grace.
I’m really glad you brought this up, because I’ve always really loved this pic of Harry. He’s not only kneeling, he’s doing it in front of men carrying big guns. It’s striking, and Willnot would never.
Harry is so intentional, with everything he does, and I really admire him for it.
Formation 2000; 23 years ago
Founders: Michael Eustace Peter Fearnhead Paul Fentener van Vlissingen Anthony Hall-Martin Mavuso Msimang
Headquarters: Johannesburg, South Africa
Key people: Peter Fearnhead (CEO) Prince Harry (President) Robert-Jan van Ogtrop (Chairman)
Website http://www.africanparks.org
(Wikepedia)
I believe Harry worked with African Parks as a volunteer before he was made President, not patron. I assume that the position had specific responsibilities. Obviously one of the reasons for making Harry president was to make use of his influence. However, it seems to me that Harry has educated himself in the area and therefore can contribute in a real way and not just provide photo ops. This group doesn’t need that because they work with governments. The focus is conservation, and appears that they try to do what will benefit the environment, the animals, and the people living in it. It seems like the organization offers its expertise to governments and provides employment to locals.
Hi, CBers, I can’t get through all the comments right now so this may have been said already. I think the most important message in this is African Parks bringing back animal conservation to the people. @Kaiser bright up Pegs rage about Africa being his and “the rhinos (and I think elephants)”. It also reminds me of an interview when they were younger. Asked what they love about Africa, pegs could only talk about the animals. Harry said the people and tried his best w/o being obvious to tell William he needed to recognize the ppl as well but if course it went over his head. I’ve always been big on recognizing that conservation work is pointless without local help and you can’t get that of it doesn’t benefit the people.
Happy to see you are back Mary! I love ready your witty and insightful comments! Sending you love from Canada ❤️
Mary Pester, I am blowing you a 💋 kiss. So glad you are back. I worried about you!
Mary Pester, best wishes from New York. I’d say you have a New York wit–so ironic and funny. Keep on writing!
I’m going to make a guess: Harry’s joining the board of directors because he wants to do a documentary (similar to Obama’s National Parks one) and then the funds will be used to support African Parks like he did with invictus foundation being a producer on heart of invictus, and being in the board of directors gives him a bit more influence concerning how the funds are raised and used.
Mary Pester, I have been following this sight for a few months. I feel like you are my coffee buddies. I was worried about you. Keep making me smile. I never post but had to say this. Thanks
Harry really rolls up his sleeves to help and promote his charity projects-very happy for him.