Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 'plan third foreign tour this year' with Lesotho or Botswana possible options

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are thought to be planning a third 'quasi-royal tour' before the end of this year with a return to Africa under consideration.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle received a mostly positive reception on their first two trips this year to Nigeria in May and then Colombia last month.

The couple have been buoyed by the success of the two tours and are now planning a further overseas trip for some point later this year, according to Hello! magazine.

Likely destinations are believed to include Lesotho and Botswana, where Harry's charity Sentebale operates. The Duke last visited the countries in 2019.

Speaking about Harry's foreign trips and charity work, an insider told Hello!: 'That's his world, that's what he's used to and that's what he knows. He can still add value.'

Harry is also to set to embark on a packed solo trip to New York City later this month to 'advance a number of his patronages and philanthropic initiatives', his team said. 

The visit is set to take place during the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week on September 23 to 27 and Climate Week between September 22 and 29.

It comes after the couple's tour of Colombia cost the country Col$244,245,305 (£44,725.14), which included spending on security and internal transport.

The figure was released by Colombia's vice-president Francia Marquez, who organised the four-day trip, following a request by Senator Maria Fernanda Cabal.

Ms Cabal, who is her political opponent, previously branded the quasi-royal tour between August 15 and 18 as 'showmanship' and 'wasteful spending'.

But the vice-president's office also revealed that Harry and Meghan paid for their own flights and accommodation in Bogota as well as general expenses.

During their trip, Harry and Meghan visited a local school and joined a summit in collaboration with their Archewell Foundation about creating a healthier digital landscape.

The Sussexes also took part in a forum paying tribute to the contributions of Afro-Colombian women, leaders and entrepreneurs.

And Harry joined in a game of volleyball on a visit to Colombian Invictus Games athletes in Bogota.

Harper's Bazaar magazine covered the trip as the only words pool.

The quasi-royal tour had many similarities to the programme of an official royal overseas visit.

And it came after the Sussexes' three-day visit to Nigeria in May at the invitation of the West African nation's chief of defence staff.

Harry and Meghan stepped down from the working monarchy in 2020 and no longer travel at the request of the UK Government on official overseas royal visits, when travel costs would have usually been met by the taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant.

Harry lost a High Court challenge against the Home Office in February over a decision to change the level of his personal security when he visits the UK, but he has been given the green light to appeal.