Prince Harry has called for ‘people from the top’ to ‘start listening’ while sitting around a bonfire in South Africa on his solo trip without Meghan.
The Duke of Sussex kicked off his visit to South Africa yesterday for his charity Sentebale – just hours after leaving Britain following a whistle-top trip to the UK, also without his wife.
Last night Harry reunited with his old friend, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, and gave a passionate speech around a bonfire about the work his charity has been doing.
Sentebale supports children and young people living with, or who are at risk from, HIV.
Harry said: ‘We’re hitting the targets, not just Sentebale but all of the departments are, and it’s making a massive difference, and it is this surge of energy and optimism and the voice of young people ranging from six to 25 – and the biggest difference of which really needs more work, is when people from the top start listening.’
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Prince Harry speaks around a bonfire for his charity Sentebale in Maseru, Lesotho
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Harry arrives at a welcome event at Sentebale’s Mamohato Children’s Centre
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Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and Prince Harry at the event in Lesotho
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Prince Harry smiles next to Prince Seeiso of Lesotho for the welcome event for his charity
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Prince Harry sits around a bonfire on his solo trip without his wife Meghan Markle
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Harry speaks passionately about his charity while sitting around a bonfire
Prince Seeiso added: ‘This whole journey of Sentebale started from that element of [Harry] having come to the motherland – he’s now my younger brother Mohali, the warrior – but experiencing breathing the same air, eating the same food as the children… that inspired this dream to come to where we are now.
‘But it is that deep felt need that we want, collectively, to make a difference in our lifetime, and not only in our lifetimes, but to leave a legacy and pass on the baton to the next generation so that’s why we are going out in all different angles.’
The Duke first visited the country in 2004 during his gap year, before launching Sentebale in 2006 – when one in three children in the country had lost a parent to HIV AIDS-related illness.
The charity now works across Lesotho and Botswana, helping vulnerable children and young people.
Yesterday afternoon Harry was pictured with the Princess of Lesotho as he kicked off his visit, just hours after leaving Britain following a quick trip to the UK.
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Prince Harry is greeted at a welcome event at Sentebale’s Mamohato Children’s Centre
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Prince Harry walks next to Prince Seeiso of Lesotho for the welcome event
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The Duke first visited the country in 2004 during his gap year, before launching Sentebale in 2006
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Prince Harry poses for a photo with his friend Prince Seeiso of Lesotho
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Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, Carmel Gaillard, Acting Country Director, Lesotho, Prince Harry, Moraoetsi Rakuone, Ntoli Moletsane, Country Director, Lesotho, Matseliso Mosoeu, K.T Montshiwa, Country Director, Botswana and Dr. Sophie Chandauka
Dressed in a white shirt, jeans and a dark jacket, the 40-year-old was seen posing with his arm around the Princess of Lesotho Senate Seeiso in an image shared on Instagram.
‘Had a pleasure of hosting a lunch today,’ she wrote next to the picture, which was shared as a reel.
Harry’s trip to Lesotho and South Africa appears to mark another week away from his wife and their two children Archie and Lilibet, who did not join the Duke in the UK either.
Harry did not appear to visit King Charles or Prince William while in the UK on Monday, despite staying at a London hotel just two miles from Buckingham Palace and less than an hour’s drive from his brother’s home.
He had come to London for the WellChild Awards to recognise some of Britain’s bravest children and support a charity close to his heart.
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Prince Harry was seen posing with his arm around Princess Senate Seeiso in an image shared by the African royal on Instagram – hours after he flew to the UK
Harry arrives in London for WellChild awards in latest solo UK visit
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Harry’s trip to Lesotho and South Africa appears to mark another week away from his wife Meghan. Pictured: The couple in Colombia in August
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Harry, who is not likely to have stayed in a royal property, was set to fly from London to South Africa for events in support of his charity Sentebale.
The royal has travelled to Lesotho for a gathering of business leaders, philanthropists and local stakeholders, aimed at driving forward the work of his youth-focused charity, supporting the digital and economic inclusion of the next generation in Africa.
It is unlikely that Meghan will join him on the trip, despite not having seen him for ten days after he spent a week in New York with a series of engagements, including an event in honour of his mother Princess Diana.
On Monday the Duke of Sussex was at a central London hotel just two miles from Buckingham Palace and less than an hour’s drive from his older brother’s home.
A spokesman for Harry declined to comment on whether any family meetings were planned. But MailOnline understands that no such rapprochement has happened on this trip, his third to Britain since May.
The seed of Sentebale was planted in 2004 when Harry spent two months in the African kingdom of Lesotho during his gap year. The experience made a lasting impression on the young royal, who was then aged 19.
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The Duke of Sussex, Patron of WellChild, arriving for the annual WellChild Awards in London on Monday
Prince Harry receives gift to use in case he ever ‘feels down’
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Harry chatting with Noah Nicholson, six, and his mother at the WellChild awards on Monday
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On Monday the Duke of Sussex, who turned 40 earlier this month, was at a central London hotel just two miles from Buckingham Palace
Prince Harry makes a speech at WellChild Awards in London
He came face-to-face with Aids orphans, met other traumatised young people and visited herd boys living a harsh existence looking after cattle in remote mountain areas.
Harry was invited to the country, land-locked inside South Africa, by Seeiso, a friend of the his mentor, ex-Army officer Mark Dyer.
Founded in 2006, Sentebale began working in Leosotho before expanding into Botswana, and operates in four key areas: strengthening the social and emotional wellbeing of those living with or affected by HIV; helping to provide access to health and social services; driving youth advocacy; and building individuals’ skills and livelihoods.