It looks like South Africa is getting a royal double feature this year!  

First up, Prince Harry has already wrapped up his solo Southern African tour, and soon Prince William will be hot on his heels. You’d be forgiven for thinking the brothers coordinated their schedules, but alas, this is not a joint royal road trip. Instead, the two have their own agendas and—unsurprisingly—the media has plenty to say about both.

Come November, Cape Town will roll out the red carpet for Prince William’s highly anticipated visit. He’s headed to the Mother City to host the 2024 Earthshot Prize Awards, a global environmental initiative he founded to discover solutions for the planet’s most pressing challenges. This marks the first time the event will be held in Africa, following stops in London, Boston, and Singapore in previous years.

Finalists from across the globe, including Ghana, Kazakhstan, and Nepal, are vying for one of five £1 million prizes that will be awarded at the glittering ceremony in Cape Town. The event is set to shine a spotlight on innovative environmental projects, and the city’s Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has expressed excitement about hosting such a high-profile event. “We are proud to be associated with such an event as a leading city for environmental protection and innovation on the African continent,” said Hill-Lewis. 

But let’s be real, this is the royals, and it’s never just about the event. The big question on everyone’s lips: will Kate Middleton be joining him? After a year of health struggles and bad photoshopping drama, many are wondering if this trip might be a chance for the couple to take a well-deserved breather. Or will William be flying solo, leaving us all speculating even more? 

Meanwhile, Prince Harry has just wrapped up a much more low-key visit to Southern Africa. He kicked things off with a trip to Lesotho, where he reconnected with his charity, Sentebale, which he co-founded in 2006 to support vulnerable children. Harry, ever the relatable royal, spent time around a campfire chatting with local youth, proving once again that he’s the people’s prince.

But Harry didn’t stop there. He then popped over to Johannesburg for more charitable work. While the details of his visit were light on drama, one thing was clear—no Meghan. With the Duchess of Sussex and their kids staying back in California, rumours swirled. Was it privacy concerns? Safety? Or just an overdue dad’s trip? Whatever the reason, Harry seemed unbothered, focused on making a difference without the royal fanfare.

The brothers’ trips to South Africa couldn’t be more different. Harry’s was a heartfelt return to his beloved causes, while William’s visit promises all the pomp and ceremony you’d expect from a future king. And let’s not forget the shadow of Harry and Meghan’s 2019 royal tour of South Africa still looms large. Back then, there were even whispers about them moving here for a quieter life. Spoiler alert: it didn’t happen.

As William gears up for his glittering event, and Harry heads home, South Africa can sit back and enjoy this double royal delight.