Prince Harry has announced his next official trip – this time setting up a potential clash with his brother, Prince William.

Harry, who is fresh back from a controversial visit to Colombia with wife Meghan Markle, will be in New York City in September.

The trip was confirmed to People magazine on Tuesday (US time). A spokesman for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex told the magazine Harry’s visit would “advance a number of his patronages and philanthropic initiatives”.

He will be in NYC during the United Nation’s General Assembly Climate and High-level weeks. Climate Week kicks off on September 22, while High-level Week starts on September 23.

“He will participate in engagements with African Parks, The HALO Trust, The Diana Award, and Travalyst,” the spokesperson said, while also “furthering the work of The Archewell Foundation, the non-profit organisation he co-founded with his wife Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex”.

Harry will celebrate his 40th birthday just a few days earlier, on September 15.

Meghan reportedly will not join him on his UN trip.

But it does coincide with another royal event in New York City. On September 24, the Prince of Wales’ global environmental contest and Bloomberg Philanthropies will co-host the third annual Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit at The Plaza hotel.

William launched the multimillion-pound contest aimed at tackling the world’s climate problems in 2020. It awards five £1 million ($1.8 million) prizes each year under the categories of protecting and restoring nature, cleaner air, reviving oceans, waste reduction and climate change.

It is not yet clear if the prince will attend this year’s summit, where the 2024 Earthshot finalists will be revealed.

Nor has it been confirmed if there are any plans for the estranged royal brothers to meet while they are both in New York.

There have been only a handful of confirmed meetings – and none in recent years – between the princes since Harry and Meghan quit royal life in 2020.

The princes with their wives at Windsor Castle, in the days after the death of Queen Elizabeth. Photo: Getty

William travelled solo to the US for last year’s Earthshot announcement. This year’s event comes as the Princess of Wales continues her cancer treatment and just days after his children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, head back to school after their summer holidays.

Harry was last in New York City in October 2023 for the Archewell Foundation’s first in-person event. This year’s trip follows his four-day visit with Meghan to Colombia earlier in August.

The Sussexes have been criticised since for visiting one of South America’s most dangerous countries. The couple were surrounded by a convoy of security as they travelled throughout Colombia, with the bill picked up by local taxpayers.

There were also raised eyebrows at coverage of the visit. The BBC’s South American political correspondent, Ione Wells, said only the Sussexes’ videographers and photographers were allowed into most events.

Wells said video footage was released daily, with no sound. A Harpers Bazaar fashion reporter was the only one to release regular updates, which copied in the Sussexes’ spokespeople and publicity team.

“The BBC chose not to rely on this material alone, as we could not be present to verify what was said and described, but we were able to attend the summit and watch some events from the sidelines,” Wells wrote.