The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will visit Morocco’s iconic Atlas Mountains to celebrate the work of a British entrepreneur supporting the education of local girls.

Harry and Meghan will visit the town of Asni as their tour of the north African country begins in earnest with the couple learning about the Moroccan NGO Education For All founded by Michael McHugo.

The organisation builds boarding houses for girls aged 12 to 18 to ensure that youngsters from rural communities in the mountain region are able to access secondary education.

During the visit the duchess will take park in a henna ceremony – an ancient custom that is thought to have its roots in North Africa – and have a design painted on her hand.

Later, at another Education For All boarding house, the couple will meet its founder and Harry will invest Mr McHugo with an MBE, awarded in the New Year Honours list for his work improving gender equality in education in Morocco.

Mr McHugo first visited Morocco in 1973 and later started running educational adventure holidays in the country. He set up his NGO after meeting John Wood, the founder of a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting education called Room To Read.

The first Education For All (EFA) project was opened in 2007 and it now has 50 EFA girls enrolled at university.

While in Asni the duke and duchess will also visit a secondary school to meet students, teachers and watch the pupils playing football.