Prince Harry will return to the United States this year on his first official visit to the country since embarrassing photographs of him at a hotel in Las Vegas were made public.
The trip is expected to include engagements in several states on America’s east coast including New York and Washington DC and will be his first visit to the country on behalf of the British Government.
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It comes despite the controversy last summer when naked pictures of the Prince partying in a hotel suite during a holiday to Las Vegas emerged.
The pictures have done little to harm his reputation as an international ambassador following his successful tour of the Caribbean and Brazil last year to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee during which he championed British trade.
While in the US, it is understood he will carry out a series of engagements on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to boost British trade along with several engagements that reflect his personal interests, including supporting war veterans and vulnerable young people.
Prince Harry will end the tour, scheduled to take place in May, playing in a polo match, in support of Sentebale, the children’s charity he founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho.
A royal aide said: “Prince Harry will do a tour this year. He is a brilliant asset however best he can be used for the UK overseas. We will not comment on the location or details of the tour until nearer the time.”
Prince Harry is currently on five weeks post-deployment leave following a 20-week tour of duty in Afghanistan. Later this month, he will visit Lesotho and South Africa for three days to raise awareness of Sentebale.
With the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge expecting their first child in July, it is thought the Prince will also fulfil more official duties this year.
A royal source said: “In addition to his own royal duties, Harry is expecting to step in for William and Catherine for some things they had planned that now won’t be possible because of the baby.” u00a0