Thursday, June 17, 2010

Herdsman Harry, on a mercy mission to the mountains

By Fay Schlesinger

Make way! Prince Harry rides into Semonkong in Lesotho yesterday


It was a royal procession complete with horses and princes - but like no parade you'd ever see on the Mall.

Harry and William were yesterday swaddled in blankets and woolly hats for a ride to a mountain village in Africa.

Escorted by villagers on ponies, the brothers and Harry's friend Prince Seeiso travelled three miles into the snowcapped mountains of Lesotho to visit schools and orphanages at Semongkong at 8,000ft.

Their grey knitted blankets, like those worn by local Basotho herdsmen, bore messages of thanks to the brothers.

Just like their mother Diana before them, the pair weren't afraid to get up close and personal with their new friends. Harry took two-year-old orphan Bokang Rapostane on his knee as they watched a play about Aids and HIV, which affects around 23 per cent of adults in Lesotho.

Harry, who was demonstrating the work of his charity Sentebale, said: 'This was a fantastic chance to show William what Sentebale is all about - the vulnerable children. I'm just happy to have him here with me.'

The princes later played a football match with orphaned teenage girls from Semongkong Children's Centre.

Their competitive streak came through, as Harry said he was 'really looking forward to slide tackling William', before the kick-around. The match ended 1-0 to Harry's team.

Later, they revealed their dreams for the future while playing a game with HIV-positive children in the Lesotho capital of Maseru.

Writing around outlines of their own bodies, Harry said he wanted to live in Africa and be a professional surfer, wildlife photographer and helicopter pilot - which he is already well on the way to achieving after passing exams to fly an Apache.



New friends: Harry cuddles Bokang, an orphan, left, and Diana cradles a cancer victim in 1997


William said he wanted to be 'happy, lucky, strong, caring and a successful pilot', while saying that his key attribute was being 'less ginger' than Harry.

Harry retorted by writing 'loser' on his brother's paper.

The princes are travelling to Cape Town today to support England's World Cup efforts.


Princes on horseback: The Royal brothers ride away from a child education centre in Lesotho draped in their new blankets after their visit yesterday


The prince was enthusiastic as he met with young students of the Herd Boys school in the Lesotho village



Prince Harry dressed in a traditional tribal blanket during a visit to the Semongkong Children's Centre in Lesotho - and (right) making friends with a local dog


The two princes visit a classroom and watch a lesson lit by oil lamps, for Herd Boys in Semongkong in Lesotho


The young royals look on intently during the lesson by the herdsman


Royal helping hand: Prince Harry and Prince William put gloves on a young boy during a visit to a child education centre in Semonkong, Lesotho yesterday


Prince Harry appears baffled as he attempts to keep the young boy's gloves on his hands


Prince William is presented with traditional attire on stage at St Leonard's Herd Boy School


'Stay in school': Prince Harry looked serious as he spoke with one young student while opening the classroom


Pay attention, kids: The prince looked happy to be part of the proceedings


The royals visit the Mamohato Network Club for children with HIV at The Royal Palace in Maseru. William and Harry met children with HIV and took part in a number of exercises, including a confidence-building one where they lay on the ground and had their outlines drawn


William is shown equipment by Peter Apps in a lab at the Predator Conservation Trust in Maun, Botswana


William plays in a football match during a visit to the child education centre


Prince Harry poses with his team as he and Prince William played football with orphaned children

source: dailymail

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