Prince Harry on Charity Work: 'I Hope My Mother Would Be Proud of Me'
Prince Harry has followed Princess Diana's footprints in visiting a South African charity, even citing his mother as the "inspiration" behind the trip this week.
The 28-year-old royal made his first public appearance since completing his military duty in Afghanistan on Wednesday, visiting schoolchildren in the poverty-stricken African country of Lesotho.
The third heir to the throne later traveled to Johannesburg, South Africa where he expressed the hope that his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, would be proud of his altruistic efforts with the charity he founded.
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In 2006, Prince Harry launched Sentebale, which means "forget me not" in Sesotho, Lesotho's language, with help from Prince Seeiso of Lesotho. Both princes have lost their mothers. Through Sentebale, Harry hopes to raise millions of dollars for a new clinic, the Mamohato Centre, where children living with HIV/AIDS can receive treatment.
During a fundraising gala for the charity on Wednesday evening, the prince delivered a heartfelt speech.
"It seems only right that is should be names after His Majesty and Prince Seeiso's mother, Queen Mamohato Bereng Seesio," said Harry.
"I hope that my mother will be proud, too," he continued. "Maybe, just maybe, they are together somewhere up there, with blueprints and sketches already mapped out. I can only hope we put the swings in the right place."
The Mamohato Centre will provide psychological care and mentoring children who are often stigmatized as a result of having HIV/AIDS.
"Our aim and hope is that we can influence a decline in the transmission of HIV and increase life expectancy, in a unique way for Lesotho: by addressing the psychological and social needs of the next generation," Harry added during his speech.
Now that the prince has completed his tour in Afghanistan, Harry can be expected to attend several upcoming events as a part of his royal duties.
Meanwhile, Harry has recently made headlines over his personal life. The British royal was spotted skiing with model and 24-year-old socialite Cressida Bonas last week, sparking rumors of romance.
The prince is set to become an uncle for the first time as his brother Prince William is expecting a child with his wife Catherine. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will welcome their first child in July.
