Prince Harry and Meghan will fly to Africa as a result of a private jet review

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will travel together to South Africa, while Harry will also visit Angola, Malawi and Botswana between September 23 and October 2, Buckingham Palace revealed on Friday.

It will be their first official trip abroad as a family, while Meghan will return from maternity leave, and will focus on "community, local leaders, women's and girls' rights, mental health, HIV / AIDS and the environment ".

Environmental activists have accused the couple of hypocrisy, claiming that Harry and Meghan 's actions contradict their public position on climate change, with aviation being one of the biggest polluters in the world and being responsible more than 2% of global emissions.

Harry commented on the critics during a Q & A session, telling reporters that he was spending "99% of my life traveling the world for commercial purposes," according to the news agency. British Press Association (PA).

He added that "on the occasion, a unique opportunity to ensure the safety of my family is needed – this is usually as simple as that," PA said.

"Inspiring women"

A royal source told CNN that the Sussex were hoping to have Archie join the program at some point during their trip and that this would be Meghan's first visit to South Africa.

"This visit will not only be an opportunity for the Duke and Duchess to highlight many causes for which they have been involved for many years, but also to demonstrate a modern partnership between the United Kingdom and Africa" said the palace in a statement.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, pose with their newborn son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor on May 8.

WPA Pool / Getty Images Europe / Getty Images

According to the release, Meghan was "particularly looking forward to having the opportunity to learn from the inspiring women of the region".

She is expected to meet women entrepreneurs, academics and community leaders in South Africa, as well as to participate in discussions with young women "about the future of their country".

The palace added that Harry's trip to Angola would be "a particularly meaningful and moving journey", where he will be able "to see directly the legacy of his mother, the late Diana, Princess of Wales, whose visit to Huambo in 1997 helped raise public awareness of the threat posed by anti-personnel mines to communities and their livelihoods. "