GABORONE – Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke of Gloucester and The Duchess of Gloucester, will undertake an official visit to Botswana from 5 to 8 October 2026, joining the country’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations marking 60 years of independence.

The visit will be undertaken on behalf of His Majesty King Charles III and is expected to highlight the longstanding ties between Botswana and the United Kingdom, according to the Ministry of International Relations.

During their stay in Gaborone, the royal couple will pay a courtesy call on President Duma Gideon Boko, participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial and visit sites of national significance, including the Botswana National Museum.

The ministry described the visit as a reflection of the strong bilateral relations between Botswana and the United Kingdom, which date back to before Botswana attained independence in 1966.

The visit comes as Botswana celebrates six decades as a sovereign nation and is expected to provide an opportunity to reaffirm diplomatic, historical and people-to-people ties between the two countries.

Botswana and the United Kingdom continue to cooperate across a range of areas, including trade, education, conservation, governance and development partnerships.

Who Are the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester?

The Duke of Gloucester, Prince Richard, is a cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II and a full-time working member of the British Royal Family. He is the grandson of King George V and has represented the British monarch at numerous official engagements and international events over several decades. Before assuming full-time royal duties, he trained and worked as an architect, a profession that continues to influence many of his charitable and public interests. [royal.uk], [en.wikipedia.org]

The Duke succeeded to the title in 1974 and is patron of more than 150 charities and organisations, with particular interests in architecture, heritage conservation, humanitarian causes and support for military veterans. He regularly undertakes official engagements in the United Kingdom and overseas on behalf of the monarch. [royal.uk]

The Duchess of Gloucester, Birgitte, was born in Denmark and married Prince Richard in 1972. She has accompanied the Duke on official visits worldwide and is actively involved in charitable and public service work as a senior member of the Royal Family. The couple has three children. [en.wikipedia.org], [en.wikipedia.org]

The October visit will be one of the highest-profile royal engagements in Botswana in recent years. It will coincide with a milestone year in the country’s history as it commemorates six decades of independence.