Harry first came to Lesotho, where 23 per cent of the two million population are HIV-positive and one in three children are orphans, on his gap year in 2004.
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Britain’s Prince Harry is winning hearts (and of course, having a whale of a time) on his current charity tour of Africa.
‘I, like them, knew there would always be a gaping hole that could never be filled’.
Harry was reunited with an orphan he first befriended 11 years ago at the Mants’ase Children’s Home near Mohale’s Hoek, and with whom he has continued to remain in touch ever since.
Ahead of their last meeting, he sent Prince Harry an emotional letter, showing how grateful he was for the help he has been getting from the charity.
The Prince explained that his experiences in Lesotho had inspired him to launch Sentebale along with his friend Prince Seeiso, in memory of their late mothers.
Afterwards the prince travelled on to meet Dr Pakalitha Bethuel Mosisillil, the Prime Minister of Lesotho, along with the minister of health, Dr Molotsi, and the Hon Tlohang Sekhamane, minister of foreign affairs and global relations.
The Lesotho prince said: “Prince Harry told me he was just blown away when he first saw it”.
Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso will be joined by other prestigious company at the event, including the South African Olympic gold medalist Ryk Neething, actress Laura Main from Call the Midwife, as well as a British spoken word artist, George the Poet, who will be in the audience enjoying the event, which is by invitation only.
The centre’s dining hall takes Diana, Princess of Wales’ name and one wall is painted with a tree with the leaves featuring the names of donors including Sir Elton John and husband David Furnish and their two young sons Elijah and Zachary.
He made the audience laugh when he said: “I long for the day when I can say Prince Harry and…”
“He said to me, I’ve grown up”. Prince Harry shared a moving speech as he made a heartfelt tribute to his mother Princess Diana by naming a charity building after her in Africa.
Unlike most of the children who shyly watched the prince from the shadows, Mutsu, then aged four, grabbed his hand and stayed by his side for hours.
Harry looked happy and relaxed for the outing, which included a meeting with Lesotho Deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing and a visit to the new Mamohato Children’s Centre at Thaba Bosiu, a center built by Sentebale to provide support to children now affected by HIV/AIDS.
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Speaking about the new centre the 15-year-old said: “This is a wonderful place for children living with HIV and other physical disabilities – it’s a wonderful place because it’s meant to help all the children in need”.
