The Duchess of Sussex gave birth to Archie Mountbatten-Windsor on May 6th. She attended Trooping the Colour, and she’s expected to make one or two public appearances in the coming month, maybe at Wimbledon and maybe something for one of her patronages. But she’ll largely have the summer off, on maternity leave, which is what the Duchess of Cambridge did in previous years. I can already sense that Meghan is a bit eager to start scheduling her big return to royal duties though – there’s been a lot of talk about how we can expect her back in action in the fall. And here’s more evidence: five months after giving birth, Meghan and Harry will go on tour. They’re bringing Archie! From the Sussexes’ announcement:
TRH The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are excited to announce that they have been asked to carry out a tour to Southern Africa this autumn.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have requested a visit to South Africa 🇿🇦 as well as The Duke carrying out visits to Malawi 🇲🇼 and Angola 🇦🇴. His Royal Highness will also do a short working visit to Botswana 🇧🇼 en route to the other countries.
The Duke and Duchess are really looking forward to meeting so many of you on the ground and continuing to raise awareness of the high impact work local communities are doing across the Commonwealth and beyond.
This will be their first official tour as a family!
I like the specificity of “they have been asked to carry out a tour to Southern Africa.” This is not some vacation masquerading as a tour. They were requested by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. As for the rest of the tour – it sounds like Meg and Archie will stay in South Africa while Harry travels to Malawi, Angola and Botswana. There was talk of their “African tour” being an extensive working trip, but given Archie’s age and the fact that Meghan is not scheduled to join Harry past South Africa, I would assume that Harry’s solo part of the tour will probably be about 10 days. Just a guess.
Photo courtesy of Avalon Red and Backgrid.
I can’t wait to see some pics of Archie. He’s so cute and adorable!
I don’t doubt he’s cute.
But so far all we’ve seen of him so far (which is fine, their kid their choice) is a foot, hand, and most obscure face (with a heavy sepia filter).
I find the announcement confusing. Sounds like Harry is going early for a working visit to Botswana. So Meghan and Archie will follow to South Africa. But when Harry visits the other countries will Meghan split the press pack with events in South Africa, will she go home early, or just hang out in South Africa till Harry returns? As host country pays for all in-country costs (housing, food, local security, etc) I doubt it’s #3.
Hopefully not #3, we’re a bit broke at the moment…
Seriously.
We’re broke. And for a “new” government that *seems* to be cutting costs, they’re going to spend probably over a million for a royals? Camaan.
Please keep this same energy for the upcoming Asia Tour, especially if there are 3 kids going and not just their parents.
Exactly@Bonobochick. But I doubt you’ll hear anything, considering no outcry when Duke and Duchess of Cornwall visited Cuba, nothing when the Cambridges went to India or even when they went to and got carried around in Tuvalu, nothing when TQ went to Uganda, no outcry when William went to New Zealand. Crickets when Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall toured Southern Africa. All the outrage is reserved for the Sussexes.
I hope Meghan gets to reconnect with some of the organizations and people she met pre-royal. That would be very sweet.
I saw a video a few weeks ago about a school of girls in Britain that Meghan met on one her first outings. She went back to visit them quietly and things like like really strike a cord with me.
Of course we found out later, but there was no pomp and circumstance and I’m sure the kids she met felt special, which is too sweet
She mentored one of the girls and invited her to the wedding, i think her Mother attended with her, nice picture of her in her wedding dress.
The girls in the class volunteer to babysit Archie.
The Botswana leg of the trip is not at the request of the foreign office. That is a private trip for Harry to hang with his pals playing African ranger but no doubt will be disguised as ‘work’.
Also what exactly will Meghan be doing during the times when she’s not travelling with Harry. Will she be coming back to the UK or staying in S.A. for the duration.
Technically no government can request the Sussexs. They request the Queen and she selects her representatives as she no longer travels far. Even if it’s insinuated who they want to come, the official invite always requests the Queen because she’s head of state and it’s a state visit, and the Queen gets to select who.
Thanks for clarifying! When I read the announcements of upcoming visits it always seems like the host country requests specific royals. Are the royals ever the ones to initiate visits with other countries?
As host countries have to foot the cost of the stay, they are the ones to “offer”. But there’s history of the royals reaching out to their local ambassadors to see if there’s interest to get a formal visit offer, otherwise multi-country visits would be a lot harder to plan.
@Eliza Right. The whole “have been asked by..” Is more a formality. A lot of times,local governments are approached to organize these tours,above all when they tour various countries.
@V, both tours that the Sussexes have done were at the request of the foreign office, the Sussexes themselves never reached out to anyone to request the tours. In Oceania, all govts in conjunction with the foreign office in those countries,requested them to visit. Morocco was at the request of the British embassy. So your claim is inaccurate.
You will find out when we all do
I think Harry will do Botswana Malawi and Angola first and then Meghan will join him for the South African leg.
clearly you are biased against harry and meghan
She is so incredibly gorgeous. Sometimes I see pics of her and I’m just blown away. Can’t wait to see this trip. I’m sure she will have some very important things to say, especially for the young girls in Africa
That is an incredibly patronising last sentence and I would advise you to to rethink your worldview if you truly believe this.
This!
South African here. Thank God she’s coming to talk to us. What would we do without her coming to talk to us. Where could my tax money be better utilised?
Thank you.
LMAO, spoken like she somehow escaped South Africa to become a Duchess!
Maybe your money can go towards books on misognynoir?
…but but don’t be so ungrateful! 🙂
And what Meghan will be doing when she is not traveling with Harry?
Breathing
Eating
Pooping
Sleeping
Giving Archie away
Trying on new clothes
Getting her hair done
Working on her tan
Reworking her engagement ring
Don’t forget eating avocado toast.
Yes! White (and biracial) saviours are coming 🙄
Hasn’t Harry been going to Aftican vohnt5ies for over a decade? He starred his charities there. He and Meggsn also went there for elephant conservation whilst dating. Do why is this trip different from those before? At least they have a track record of what they do there. And its constructive.
Bitching at everything is just tedious and boring.
She’s going to “work” on a garden and take credit for what others made. She’s going to start a program called “Broken Africa” then 5 minutes later completely forget about it. The rest of the trip she’s going to use Archie as an excuse as to why she can’t “work”.
I hope this is sarcasm.lol
You may mock her “garden” but she was actually involved in the planning. She didn’t just pose for pics. And so far there’s evidence that she’s trying to expand the initiative in other ways. Also,since the announcement for the foundation split referenced this “broken Britain” project (I don’t think that’s the name in any case),it sounds like they have not forgotten about it.
You, oh I’m sure if Meghan is stay there she will do sth constructive with her time. Shes not the one in that family that does fuck all or as little as possible and then says I’m restricted.
Meghan has never been accused of lazing about or shying away from work. The opposite has been the case.
Buying diamonds for Archie’s first diamond onesie.
LOL!
Jeebuz you people are horrible. Do you all write for the Daily Fail?
I’m pretty sure these comments are all sarcasm.
They have social power!
I mean…. fine, but my parents are from Ethiopia. I just have a super sour taste in my mouth about all colonizers coming in and out. A commentor above said Megan will have good things to say especially to the African girls….. nothing against Megan, shes great, but Africa doesn’t need a savoir and these “tours” cost a ton of money, inconvenience the people and cause a lot of social and local issues to “control” the environment to make it safe.
Charity work is great and needed, but please Europe….. you have done enough “helping” Africa. I also don’t understand how Megan is some special treat for the little girls of the African countries they are visiting. We aren’t all adrift needing the guidance of a very wealthy white passing biracial woman and her white husband. Believe it or not African children have a lot of heros, dreams and potential without colonizers coming on and pot stirring.
I might be more sensitive to it because colonialism isn’t an ancestral plight to me, its a right now please go home we aren’t Animal in a shelter for you to rescue feeling. I’m open to the idea of being over sensitive because of colonialisms direct affect on me, but it doesn’t change how I feel.
Here is a hint.
Take it up with your Government, oh wait it’s not yours.
This is really rude and invalidating to Wow’s life and experience.
yikes, that was unnecessary.
This comment is so disgusting and gross I can smell it through my phone.
How was this racist and patronizing comment allowed here!? WOW thank you for sharing your view, I found it very sensitive and I agree with your points.
I don’t think @yoyo is invalidating @wow it’s valid to advise someone to address all issues concerning these matters with their govt. or their MP or whomever is their representative. What’s the point of griping here, a website that Harry nor Meghan visits? Just saying.
I’m not sure how to interpret @wow statement “my parents are from Ethiopia” . Does this mean parents emigrated to some other African country or to some overseas country? Either way, my belief is that as many people have an issue with people in the western world referring to Africa as if it’s one little country, there are equally as many of us on the African continent who have an issue with people, be it Africans living in Africa or overseas, putting out blanket statement and pretending to know how every African feels about certain issues. I keep saying this, a large %age of Africans have moved on, we don’t dwell on the past re:colonialism. Yes, we were colonized by the British or whomever, but we already picked up the pieces and keep it going. Colonialism is just part of our history but it doesn’t define us, we have moved on and past that. Also, my understanding is that if the royals are requested to visit whichever country, it’s first discussed by those in power before an invite is extended. So, in that case then, any issues or concerns should be addressed with the PTB who make the decisions to invite these people. It’s really that simple.
So true @Wow
This, completely, 100% this. I was a “young girl in Africa” growing up and that comment about “she will have some very important things to say, especially for the young girls in Africa” really rubbed me the wrong way, too.
Apparently this comment second is going to be head patting the African people and shushing us and dismissing our concerns. We aren’t grateful enough I guess.
Which country are you from?
I’m really sorry about this Wow, and Ali. This tone policing is gross and uncalled for.
You do know that Harry and Meghan are president and vice-president of the commonwealth trust which helps local charities with funding and other support. Miss me with this Savior pearl clutching. Let them announce the itinerary first before the b****ng. It also states clearly that they will be supporting local charities, ask CAMFED what their support has done for them.
Western Charities are a form of neo-colonialism. There’s proof and tons of studies that show that aid (foreign intervention and private) is actually destabilizing Africa than doing good. Some are impactful like the gates foundation but a majority of the rest just exits to maintain the status quo that white folks are the saviors and have the answers. It may surprise people to learn that there are actually local, Home grown non profits on the ground doing the impactful work. If the west really wants to help out, support these Orgs with technical assistance, capacity building and providing equipment. The rest? Touring, posing with black impoverished kids to show your “charity work” is perpetuating white supremacy. These kids do not need to see white folks coming in to “save them”. Especially when the royal family continues to benefit off of these ideas. Meg however is a woman of color so this is not directed at her.
@wow family from Nigeria
@wow, you are completely right. Although i am not African, The UK gave away my country and 70 years later, we are still in conflict due to british colonialism. So I also understand how frustrating it is to be told by people (like Harry and Meghan, altogeth tbh I actually like them) about whatever ‘important things to say’. Rubs me the wrong day because for once I would love to hear the royal family and the UK take accountability for the horrors through colonialism. Moreover, two people, both raised in privilege, don’t necessarily have the insight to share ‘important things’ for people who likely had to endure different kind of struggles, and which colonialism at the very least is partly responsible for.
Its important to remember that colonial influence can still harm a country post colonialism.
Thank you for support. What country are you from? I feel like we colonized people have to stand together and support eachother regardless of country. Dismissing it or the problems just prolongs all of these issues.
You’d think “stop colonialism and flexing colonial influence” would be a more popular view now, especially in America which doesn’t have the European downplay of it. Its not and that’s sad to me, but I suppose not unexpected in the end.
i’m with you @wow – 1000%!
+100
The well-meaning patronising tone of some of the comments here makes my hair stand on end.
I feel like all the western wokeness so apparent when it comes to defending Meghan against any real or perceived slight, magically disappears when confronted with the concerns of actual africans, i.e. those who are supposed to be the beneficiary of all this royal/celebrity largesse.
Having lived in europe for several years now, this, to me feels symptomatic of how the west interacts with african countries basically : “shut up and be grateful”.
POC living in the west have their own unique challenges especially when dealing with racism but that does not automatically make them experts or spokespersons on behalf of other POC especially those born/living in developing countries.
so well said! I’m actually shocked at these comments. Colonialism is bad people, the BRF playing “savior” in African countries has never been a good look, and still isn’t a good look now. But what do I know, I’m just living in a country that was colonised by the British and who still has to pay millions a year to help upkeep the BRF
@MrsBump, I completely agree with the last part of yr post. Just because one is a POC doesn’t give them the right to speak for other POCs who live in 3rd world countries. I’ll just add that, just because one is of African origin or any other developing country for that matter, doesn’t give them the right to speak for other people living on the African continent. One man gut know how they feel having African parents etc, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they know what’s good for someone else in Africa nor how the rest of us feel.
@salvation
You’ve mentioned in the past how much you were appreciative of foreign charities in your country. That’s totally fine, your voice is as valid as mine, especially as you are generally the only African on this board that supports that view.
Personally i feel foreign charities are a band aid that mask the very real exploitation still going on by private western companies aided and abetted by their government. The hypocrisy is what i object to. People who proudly boast of sending money to poor african kids to help them “have a future” look down upon the african university i graduated from during a job interview. I object to the constant charity porn, to the infantilisation of poor African countries as if we were too dumb to know what is good for us. Just look at the comment about how poor little African girls have so much to learn from Meghan. It’s embarrassing.
@mrsBump, I agree that we all are entitled to our opinions. And if any of my posts came across as me trying to invalidate anyone else’s, I apologized. The post you referenced tho is just one post, why is it being generalized as if every post that supported this tour were of the same view as that poster? And isn’t that poster entitled to their opinion regardless of where you agree with them or not? Just saying.
I’m curious to learn about all these western charities that are being mentioned here that had a negative impact on developing countries. I mentioned just a few that have done tremendous work in my country but I haven’t seen anyone give any examples of those that do more harm than good. I’m gonna wait.
In regards to yr experience, because your university was not recognized on yr job interview, does that necessarily translate to “all western charities are neo colonialism”?. I know universities in Canada, US, UK, Australia, Saudi Arabia etc, all would require people that studied in other countries to have their grades and degrees evaluated regardless of where one graduated from. Whether one graduated from a UK university, they wouldn’t automatically get a job in Canada based on their British degree. One can’t practice in any healthcare field in the UK unless they take British eligibility exams, regardless of whether they graduated from US, Australia or wherever. And if they fail said exams, either go back to college or uni, or just do menial jobs etc. So from my experience, yr situation is not unique to Africans or those that graduated from third World countries.
To Wow: all valid points. If the royal family, though, stopped going to any country in Africa, then what would people say?
“Let’s leave the Commonwealth”, that’s what they’d say. They get to vote every year and as of late, the Queen and Charles have been oiling up the leaders so that they continue to vote to remain.
The thing is, the Commonwealth will continue to be a colonialist-type deal for as long as it exists. If they were going for a EU-type deal, which would be the only mutually beneficial deal, then all countries would be deemed equal. However in the Commonwealth, they’re agreeing to be “under” the UK. They’re “subjects” to the Queen, but think of the origin of that word and you’ll get a sense of its true meaning.
I guess H&M are trying to “embiggen” the Commonwealth and make it their thing, but at its core it really needs to be questioned and reassessed. As a diplomat, I don’t see it as compatible to XXIst Century values the way it is now.
I don’t have adequate knowledge about the Commonwealth and how each country under the UK negotiates the terms. What benefits, if any, do these countries reap by being subjects of the Queen? It seems very repressive for anyone to be “under” a single individual or entity (BRF).
@Salvation: Which country are you from?
It’s pretty rare to come across anyone who easily brushes off effects of colonialsm that are still widely felt, especially as it seems you grew up pretty disadvantaged.
I live in SA and we’re pretty well off compared to most African countries, but even with measures put in place to redress and bridge the gap between previously disadvantaged groups and white people you can still see the effects of segregation everywhere. Everywhere.
Although it’s grand that you and your fellow countrymen seem to have moved on from something that colossal. It’s an amazing feat.
Ethiopia wasn’t colonized. That’s one thing that every Ethiopian I’ve ever known makes a point of stressing. People tried but the Ethiopians always threw them out, including the Italians led by Mussolini in the last century.
We weren’t colonized because we spent hundreds of years fighting colonialism. Its also why we are acutely aware of the damage it causes and why it is bad. My parents had to leave because they started exterminating Ethiopian Jews, primarily because of outside influence.
If hundreds of years against 3 different foreign invaders from colonial countries isn’t enough damage for you, I don’t know what to say.
Why do you think we are so proud if it? Because colonialism and colonial influence ransacked the rest of the continent.
As bi-racial Canadian woman whose african parent hails from a colonised african country and I was born in a commonwealth country. I also have a very very sour taste in my mouth when it comes to the monarchy AND @ Wow I completely understand and support your comment.
@Wow – Would you prefer that they not go then? Also, in your perspective would it be better for there to be no foreign charities or aid involved in Africa? I am just curious and not chastising you at all, just interested in what you believe would be the best course of action. I find this comment section interesting – especially those who are in agreement, about their sudden concern for the negative effect colonialism has had on the countries they conquered and the distaste of the Sussexes going there. I am Indian and the amount of distaste I had for when the Cambridges when to visit India is insurmountable, yet there is little to no discussion about that in these threads. What was the purpose of going to India? All I remember from that tour was the outfits they wore and them taking a picture in front of the Taj Mahal like the princess Diana did. What charities did they go to highlight again? They posed for some pics with kids living in the slums and that’s about it. That trip was all PR and it absolutely annoyed me that they went there in the first place. The royal family stole many jewels and precious items from our country that they continue to display in their museums even when we have continuously requested for their return – especially the Kohinoor diamond which they refuse to give back. All these tabloid stories about the Queen denying Meghan or any other family member tiaras or any other royal family jewels are especially irritating, – who are they to deny someone else access to jewels that they stole from someone else in the first place?
All these comments are just showing you people’s view of Africa. Literally any other place and this is not the conversation. You people are projecting your ridiculous dumb biases on Meghan and Harry. Who said anything about “The motherland” classic American talk. British royals and world leaders go on tours. You don’t my like it, tell the UN to stop it worldwide. Oh, commenter up there, Ethiopia was never colonised, so stop your “my parents were Ethiopian and I am triggered by colonialist” talk.
Last but not least, I hope you people kept this same energy with Australia, new Zealand, Fiji, Tonga, Ireland, Morocco and all the other countries the Windsors have visited in recent time.
Anyway, you can go back to your haterade, just keep idiotic points about Africa away.
Note: if your patronising comments about Africa are about throwing shade at Meghan masked at faux concern? You can keep it.
“We weren’t colonized because we spent hundreds of years fighting colonialism. Its also why we are acutely aware of the damage it causes and why it is bad.”
You must have missed this comment from the same poster?
By colonizers, do You just mean white people? Just because nobody in Central Europe colonized anything.. if they wanted to offer charity would it also be seen as patronizing and unneeded? Mind you there would be no grand tours just maybe money or volunteering time and effort.
Archie is too young to be vaccinated for the trip to Angola. My guess is Archie & Meghan will fly solo to SA and meet up with Harry after he visits Angola, Malawi and Botswana. Looking forward to the tour.
@wow. I am sorry you feel that way but rest assured the recipients of the charitable funds are most appreciative of the efforts. No one is turning it down and saying no thanks.
@royalblue. That is so rude. As a citizen of their ‘targeted beneficiary’ she certainly can voice out her opinion. I hope you learn how to be decent person from Meghan
Royalblue comment was not rude. Why it whenever there is a Meghan post, we see the colonizers comments. I did not see these comments when Charles and Camilla visited a few months ago.
You might not have seen the comments on here, but people were probably making those comments elsewhere. It’s a fairly common sentiment, and it’s not one that’s out of place, given all of the people here who are cropping up out of the woodwork to tell us lowly third worlders just how grateful we should be for the largesse of the British Royal Family. It’s not our fault you didn’t care to find out or listen to the people who WERE saying it at the time.
Look, I love Meghan and Harry, but this tour puts a bad taste in my mouth. It would do the same regardless of who was going. So maybe pause for a moment and take the time to listen to what others are saying before calling them rude for voicing a valid opinion.
She is most certainly entitled to express her feelings as can I. Please note that people of color or Africans do not think alike so do not take her opinion to represent all persons from the beneficiary country. You don’t know anything about me either. We can see her point and still express another.
I’m appalled by the tone policing happening in here. Aren’t this site and we commenters supposed to be better than that?
This site has won awards and mentions because of the amazing, informative community that was on here. That was, of course, before the royal trolls ran many of them out. Some are still on here but the conversations are different.
Idk what tone policing is but I think Wow’s first comment is very powerful and insightful. I’m 1/2 Native American, not “white
passing” and live with the damage colonization has done every day of my life. Will someone clue me in on tone policing?
Telling people, such as the posters from Africa, how they should feel/write/speak about a topic (here, H&M’s visit) while undermining their opinions and experiences.
Aang, it would be like you expressing your opinion on the treatment of Native Americans by white people and someone telling you that you’re wrong because *celebrity* has done so much for Native American causes and you should be grateful for their efforts.
Thank you. I get it now.
I absolutely detest the way in which their communications presents them as white saviors. They know nothing about Africa, they just have a colonial vision of what they think is Africa, and then sorry the only countries in which Harry does work is in the old countries of the british colonial empire. They many associations and organizations created by african citizens have been established for a very long time in different African countries and are doing good work.
This is a very dumb, very stupid comment (and no, I’m not white).
I loved that purple dress Meghan has on. I hope she wears more colors.
I think a lot of you just enjoy being outraged about every little thing. What a horrible mindset to have when you can only see negativity. Some of you behave as if Harry and Meghan (mostly Meghan) did personal harm to you.
Melissa, downplaying the very valid opinions of citizens of African nations who are still dealing with the fallout of colonialist policies is not cool.
No, but I hope you have this same kind of energy when it’s Will and Kate. Don’t use this issue because you’re playing fan teams. That is also wrong.
Yes, I validate the opinions and experiences of citizens of African countries no matter which royal is involved.
@Hope, the fact that this is where people’s mind goes, when African (and other Commonwealth) commentators are talking about the clear, negative impact that this type of voluntourism on the part of the royal family has on the local population, and what it means in the context of the larger history of British colonialism and its continuing legacy in the world, says a heck of a lot more about some of ya’lls priorities than it does about anyone else’s opinions on Meghan. People really think that this type of criticism only surfaces because of who we’re a fan of. Unbelievable.
Nope, the same thing happened when it came to the New Zealand terror attack but that was more open
I respect @ Wow’s post. There is a completely valid and important conversation to be had and I hope Meghan follows through about people listening to those who already have voices rather than telling them to find their voice. But also, yes, I side-eye regular Kate supporters jumping behind @Wow’s post.
I am able to mult-itask.
I can do both.
Nope, the same thing happened when it came to the New Zealand terror attack but that was more open
I respect @ Wow’s post. There is a completely valid and important conversation to be had and I hope Meghan follows through about people listening to those who already have voices rather than telling them to find their voice. But also, yes, I side-eye regular Kate supporters jumping behind @Wow’s post.
I am able to multi-task.
I can do both.
Nope, the same thing happened when it came to the New Zealand terror attack but that was more open
I respect @ Wow’s post. There is a completely valid and important conversation to be had and I hope Meghan follows through about people listening to those who already have voices rather than telling them to find their voice. But also, yes, I side-eye regular Kate supporters jumping behind @Wow’s post.
I am able to multi-task.
And I meant it when I said keep the same energy for all the countries affected by British colonialism. For every tour and for all the royals. These tours are about diplomacy. And if this one is wrong, all tours to countries that were once part of the British Empire have been wrong.
Hope, showing support for a country that has been rocked by a terrorist attack is not the same at all (although it was a Commonwealth country). If nothing else, Kate should have visited the embassy with Harry and Meghan.
Yeesh, my comment is repeated everytime the page is refreshed.
But I hope people understand that this isn’t solely about countries in Africa. My heritage is from India and I hate when the royals visit. I completely understand the discomfort with white saviordom but I extend this to all the royals while acknowledging that these visits are also about diplomacy.
@Enn. I was talking about the conversation at the time being rerouted to supporters complaining that Kate was criticized for her clothing choices so Meghan should be as well while pretending that they cared about Meghan supposedly being disrespectful.
In this example, it’s not just countries in Africa. Do you see the same issues when it comes to other countries that were former colonies and will the same criticism be there when it’s other royals? Because do you get how insulting it is to people affected by this if the outrage goes away when it’s other royals and not H&M?
@Hope
“Yeesh, my comment is repeated everytime the page is refreshed.”
Yes. Because for it to post, it has to go through a function on the back end to make that happen. So when you refresh after commenting it re-triggers that action. Instead of hitting refresh, click the celebitchy logo and click on the article again, or remove everything from the URL after the / that follows the post title and hit enter.
@Erinn. I am actually doing that. I post and then open a new page from the list of posts.
@A. But you have to admit this level of backlash hasn’t been present here with the other tours and I doubt we’ll see it in the future. I haven’t posted in support of the tour because I share the same concerns as @Wow but for all the royals and all the tours to countries that were once colonies.
I think a lot of you just enjoy being outraged about every little thing. What a horrible mindset to have when you can only see negativity. Some of you behave as if Harry and Meghan (mostly Meghan) did personal harm to you.
Well said Melissa
please read up on the history of colonialism in African countries and the role of the BRF in that before you tell people from those countries how they should feel about the BRF visiting.
No one said anything negative about Megan. I went as far as to single her out on a complimentary manner. I don’t understand why it is so hard for people to listen to Africans about conversations about Africans.
Why is it still socially acceptable to dismiss the black population of Africa when they speak? They/we probably know a lot more about the actual affects than people sitting in the countries that colonized and enslaved Africa trying to downplay the problems they continue to cause.
White feminism, Wow, but I’m sure you already know that. I agree with and support everything you’ve said in these comments.
True allies hold space for those directly affected, CBers.
@Wow, don’t listen to these insane comments de-valuing your experiences. like Enn, I support and agree with everything you have shared and hope you keep sharing them.
I’m sorry, @Wow. This is beyond ridiculous, and it ticks me off. People should stop being so defensive and just listen. Listen to people, instead of westernsplaining. It’s like a big mess of #NotAllColonialists in here. Dear non-Africans, it’s not about you, and it’s not about your charities. Let people have space. Jeez.
Didn’t Charles and Camilla tour too. Lol, you would swear this is the first tour ever. We don’t even know what they will be doing there
I mean, I’ve loathed the optics of this since we received word of the stupid sh-t about how William wanted to exile Harry and Meghan to parts unknown in Africa to keep them out of sight of the public. I still think this is a poor idea, but the RF is hardly paying me for dispensing advice at this point, so whatever.
In response to the poster who stated that it has been proven that western charities do more harm than good in Africa (here we go again…Africa) no studies or research can prove anything. They can suggest or support an idea but they can’t definitively prove anything. Therefore, if there were any studies that suggested that charities did more harm than good in yr country, I can tell you that there are a lot of people in my country who have benefitted from these charities. I cannot stress enough the effects of Sentebale’s (and similar organizations) work in Central and Southern Africa. Just google Mildmay.org and learn about what this organization has done for people living with HIV/AIDS in sub-saharan Africa. My country has benefitted a lot from clean water initiatives, projects that make clean water accessible and available to everyone in every pocket of the country. Doctors without borders, Retinopathy of Prematurity screening, international agency for prevention of blindness, UNHCR (on of the reasons I respect Angelina Jolie) and these are just to name a few. All these are international organizations that work in Africa to make a difference. I just disagree with this notion that these charitable organizations are more harmful that good. So, maybe they are in yr country but they certainly aren’t in mine. Therefore when one speaks, please refrain from making blanket statements of how no African wants “white saviors” etc etc. Speak for yourself as you have no idea what the rest of the people on the African continent want of how we feel.
Good post. People tend to see this issue in a very polarized fashion. My cousin and her husband, both school teachers and she’s a nurse as well, spent most of their holidays in a number of countries in Latin America, Indonesia and, yes, Africa working with organizations on the ground to provide school supplies, inoculations, clothing, etc. They made good, lifelong friends and were treated respectfully and welcomed everywhere they went. Nobody was protesting the fact that they were white “colonialists” (we’re Canadian and were colonized ourselves). They didn’t stay in hoity-toity hotels and swan around pretending to be white do-gooders, they worked f*cking hard. They got sick. They lived in pretty squalid environments. But they kept at it year after year. They only recently retired and my cousin has written a book about her experiences. I hope it’s best-seller because they did this work to help people less advantaged, simple as that. They worked from their hearts.
The problem is that a lot of those organizations are just voluntourism. I understand that people who go out and do it are almost always going in with good intentions. BUT – a lot of these organizations DO cause harm. That has nothing to do with whether they’re working on the ground or not, or whether people are happy to receive them. They’ll be welcomed because most people aren’t assholes who would push people who have good intentions out. But it doesn’t mean that what they’re doing is actually what needs to be done.
Of course it’s an alluring concept. You’re getting an adventure and going to a new country, and you feel like you’re helping people while fulfilling your travel interests.
This is a scenario from Honduras – but I think it’s incredibly important when considering ANY kind of missionary/humanitarian trips and how it impacts the area:
“To help the Hondurans rebuild, a North American charity had sent about $1 million directly to local home builders. The same charity spent an additional $1 million on 31 mission teams. Comparing the two humanitarian approaches, he found that the local workers used their $1 million to build about 1,000 homes. Meantime, the 31 mission teams each built one home. Put another way, the local builders spent about $3,000 to build a house, while missionary teams spent roughly $30,000 – 15 times as much.”
“When you look at short-term missions, they’re really a travel service for Good Samaritans,” added Brian Mullaney, founder of WonderWork, a group that teaches local doctors how to treat blindness, burns and other medical problems. “They’re well-intentioned, but it’s an outdated model that’s not about solving the real problem.”
Then you have people making sure the trip is featured in the paper (which come on – it’s partially for attention) and saying how much their lives were changed, and how it was the best experience in their life, and they were going to donate more to X charity because of it … except they don’t. They’ve looked into the donation frequency/amounts of people saying this, and there’s no real difference.
While I’m sure there are some people out there that are doing it as an act of altruism, I’m going to say that A LOT of people have convinced themselves that they’re being altruistic when they’re really there for the travel, the attention and the good feelings they get from it.
@Jaded, I am Indonesian. We are indeed easily satisfied, simple people. However, even if some Indonesian you helped has any concern, do you think that they dare to protest? No! Because when you are desolate your main priority is survival. How could they care for everything we are discussing here when their biggest concern is money for tomorrow breakfast. I said these not to belittle your cousin, but more to explain the overall situation that your cousin may not see because they only interacted with small local communities, and not everyone is as sincere as your cousin.
I am fortunate that I do not require charity. But it is precisely because of this that people like me owe it to our less fortunate countrymen to voice out our concerns, as they do not have the luxury of time and resources to see the bigger puzzle piece.
@Erinn and @jj, sorry I disagree with yr posts. And herein lies the problem, generalizing one’s experiences and pretending they apply to the broader African continent. I’m not saying there aren’t anyone that pretends to go work in our countries but are actually on vacation. There are those, but they are the minority. And stating that these charities do harm in our African countries when you have never stepped in our shoes or lived our lives is just outrageous. As a person from Africa, I speak from experience when I tell you that growing up, the only well from which we got water from was 3 miles from my house. So after school, we would walk that distance to get water that the entire family would use. We wouldn’t get back home till well after 10pm. But still that wasn’t time to go to bed because there’d be other chores to do; plus we had home work etc. But nowadays, many children can access water boreholes in their home areas etc. That is just one example. I personally know 4 people that got cleft lip surgery from an organization called Operation Smile which has done wonderful work in developing countries. Just because there are a handful of people or a tiny %age of charities that exploit some African countries doesn’t mean all charities should be painted with one broad brush.
@Erinn: I respectfully disagree. If they wanted to go on a trip, which they also do, they wouldn’t stay in dangerous refugee camps, which is what they did in a number of their trips, their last one to Greece to work in a Syrian refugee camp. They always paid their own way, BTW, they didn’t do it on anyone else’s dime. Yes there are some who are not as altruistic but I think they are in the minority.
“Then you have people making sure the trip is featured in the paper (which come on – it’s partially for attention) and saying how much their lives were changed, and how it was the best experience in their life, and they were going to donate more to X charity because of it … except they don’t. They’ve looked into the donation frequency/amounts of people saying this, and there’s no real difference.
While I’m sure there are some people out there that are doing it as an act of altruism, I’m going to say that A LOT of people have convinced themselves that they’re being altruistic when they’re really there for the travel, the attention and the good feelings they get from it.”
You’ve perfectly explained how I feel about the celebrity-kind of “humanitarianism”. It’s why I find throwing around the word “humanitarian” with nonchalance is offensive. It’s offensive for those who dedicate their lives in anonymity to causes they believe in,without the constant need to be “recognized”.
Everyone has the right to express their opinion. It is fair to contradict others opinion by presenting your side of argument. However when someone choose to belittle others opinion, it is highly offensive to me and it reflect badly on h&m. At least for me, I reacted badly due to various unsavoury responses I read, not because I totally agree with the poster who stated that western charities do more harm than good in Africa.
She didn’t say don’t express your opinion.
She stated about not making blanket statements like *ALL AFRICAN COUNTRIES* when it’s actually your particular country or experience that you speak of.
@Salvation
While I appreciate your point of view, I agree with my fellow Africans here who are questioning the point of these royal visits to African countries. Prince Charles and Camilla visited my country Nigeria last year and quite frankly I can’t tell you how that visit benefited my country.
It is not the same Linda. When Charles and Camilla visited Nigeria and Will and kate visited India it was only to utter a few platitude and sip wine. When Harry and Meghan visit the focus is pure charity. See their tour of the pacific for example. They are true philanthropists at heart.
What if Harry and Meghan are going to listen and learn? Meghan especially has shown that she’s very open to meeting people of different cultures and hearing about their experiences.
There also might be an element of homecoming for Meghan. Many of us in the diaspora have a kind of longing for Africa. Most of us have no idea WHERE our ancestors were stolen from but the idea of ‘returning home’ is something that a lot of us dream of. Meghan gets reminded of her African heritage every single day. Maybe she wants to visit and bring her son to a place his ancestors came from, to remind him that he’s not just a prince of England. It would be beautiful if her mother joined them although I can imagine the howls of how much one little middle-aged woman was costing the British taxpayers.
Perhaps she could look after Archie. Someone will surely need to do it at least part of the time, while Meghan makes her public appearances.
I may be wrong, but i suppose that if Meghan had some sort of longing for her african motherland , she could have visited at any time and not just as part of charity trips. I understand she visited once for a canadian charity but maybe she came privately before?
Please do consider visiting us, not every African country is politically unstable, we have great weather, good food, and our people are very welcoming. If you do yearn for your motherland, please come, you don’t need to experience it through some celebrity.
Meghan has never had any kind of longing except marrying up. She never visited Africa before. She visited the UK but never Africa which makes sense as she considers herself to be white except when it is more beneficial to “be” mixed.
Gia you’re wrong again, Meghan visited Africa independently before she met Harry, please go back to the daily fail….
“she considers herself to be white” And it’s the fact that she looks white that really pisses you off, isn’t it?
Then there’s this bit about how you know what she longs for? How so? You’re just flat out making up garbage hoping it will sell your twisted viewpoint.
@Gia: She visited Rwanda in 2016 for World Vision’s Clean Water Campaign. Get your information straight before making accusations of her not having any longing other than “marrying up”. She’s never portrayed herself as anything but what she is – biracial. Now go away.
As an African, I feel as though our colonialists are coming back to check on their former colonies. The British and other former colonialists come and exploit us for our minerals then come with the pretense of charity work yet they get more from us compared to what we receive from them. I don’t see other African leaders touring Europe and America to tell them how to run their countries, It’s very sad indeed.
The comments on this post have been interesting and, at times, enlightening. Thanks to all who shared.
Some of these comments are something else. I am looking forward to the tour.
These foreign tours are usually about highlighting the great things happening in a particular country. Even the Australian drought was presented as an example of a community coming together to support each other. I’m not sure why this tour would be any different. I’m expecting to learn all about the positive initiatives underway in South Africa, Malawi etc. not poverty porn. And I wouldn’t be surprised if Camfed makes an appearance.
While I support Harry and Meghan’s humanitarian work and global outreach, I recognize the historical sensitivities involved with non-African charities working on the continent. I also appreciate how clearly many posters here are explaining the objections and describing the damage done in the colonist past.
I have long felt, in the case of the Commonwealth, that continuation in its current form is not a given once the Queen passes away. Time will tell if the members choose to modernize the group to operate in a way they feel is more equitable to all. I don’t know if the UK and RF would want to continue on new terms, but as I said, time and the members will tell.
For now I believe separately and together H&M have shown their preference for partnering with local orgs on their self-driven initiatives. I hope those groups on the continent articulate how best the couple can contribute to their success by raising awareness or providing resources on the organizations’ wish list.
Exactly. support self-driven initiatives by local orgs becaus gov is always bad espec in Afri
The most successful African states are those with a dedicated government which manages to limit and control all NGO’s operating on their grounds.
“African” here, (Kenyan to be exact), and I am extremely excited for this trip.
Honestly, there are a LOT of trolls out on this thread. Damn.
No kidding. They’re everywhere.
Well, that escalated quickly. I’m just looking forward your tour coverage, Kaiser. I hope this one will be as successful as the Australian tour. I love that Meghan and Harry are passionate about using their platform for good.
Agreed!
Meghan… roots …
Gia, I hope your trolling of Meghan is in some way a benefit to your mental health. So, get it all off your chest here these CB threads. It may spare some random victim you encounter IRL from you unbalanced criticism and bitterness.
GIA… RACIST…
Charles and Camilla in Nigeria, Wills and Kate in India and now Megan and Harry in Southern Africa – they are looking for future business opportunities and trading partners because Brexit means losing out on our biggest trade partner. Sure they may do charitable things while they are there but there will definitely be other things on the table. Used to see it with Andrew not long after his Middle Eastern trips BAE (British arms manufacturer) would be awarded another Saudi contract….
Of course, the men from the Ministry of Economy are always in tow. That’s why these visits are carried out, the royals smooth the way and are very welcome.