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On day four of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s tour of southern Africa, Harry was in Kasane, Botswana to help plant trees with school children visited Kasane Health post to show his support for young people affect by HIV.
During one of his engagements on Thursday Prince Harry touched on the deep connection he had with the country and the continent, revealing it had been a place of healing following the tragic death of his mother, Princess Diana in 1997.
“Fifteen years I’ve been coming here,” Harry said.
“It’s a sense of escapism, a real sense of purpose… I have some of my closest friends here over the years.
“I feel deeply connected to this place and to Africa.”
Harry takes part in a tree planting event at Chobe National Park in Kasane, Botswana. (Image: Getty)
Indeed Harry has shared his love for Botswana with his wife Duchess Meghan, with the pair travelling to the south African country just weeks into their relationship.
Since then the couple the returned twice more, and Harry even sourced two diamonds from Botswana for the engagement ring he designed for Meghan.
Prince Harry was welcomed to Botswana by his close friend Dr Mike Chase, founder of Elephants Without Borders, where he joined local primary school children in Chobe National Park in a tree planting project.
In photographs shared to @sussexroyal, it’s revealed each child grew their own sapling from a seed, in a mission to restore the Chobe Forest Reserve.
The park is home to a significant elephant population – more than 17,000 – along with some of the world’s most diverse and vibrant eco-systems that relies on the Chobe River, however many of its indigenous trees are now facing extinction.
Harry was tasked with planting a baobao, a tree which is severely under threat across the continent, which will live for 1000 years.
During his visit to Kasane, Prince Harry also shared some passionate words about the environment with the press, and threw his support behind Swedish teen climate-change activist Greta Thunburg, who has faced a week of both praise and criticise for her passionate speech at the UN.
“I genuinely don’t understand how anyone in this world, whoever we are – you, us, children, leaders, whoever it is – no one can deny science, otherwise we live in a very troubling world,” Harry said.
“This last week, led by Greta, the world’s children are striking.
“It’s a race against time and one which we are losing – everyone knows it, there’s no excuse for not knowing it.”
Adding, “I think the most troubling part of it is that I don’t believe there is anybody in this world that can deny science, undeniable science and facts.
“Science and facts that have been around for the last 30, maybe 40 years, and it’s only getting stronger and stronger.”
It’s not the first time the Sussexes have shown their support for Greta – the couple featured her on their Instagram account as part of their climate change awareness month and Meghan chose to feature her as one of the 15 change-makers on the cover of her guest-edited issue of British Vogue.
Later that day Harry made his way to Kasane Health Post to show his support for young people affected by HIV/AIDS and the important work being done to eradicate the stigma and support the whole community.
Harry chatted to Let Youth Lead advocates, reports royal correspondent Omid Scobie, and joined a ‘Super Camper’ activity, where children are affirmed and praised to boost their self-confidence.
Prince Harry is co-founding patron of Sentebale, which in 2016 expanded to establish more than 47 clubs across Botswana to help young people come to terms with living with HIV, reaching more than 1250 adolescent monthly.
Earlier this month both Harry and Prince William shared their support for Welsh rugby legend Gareth Thomas, who revealed to the world in a deeply emotional video message that he was living with HIV, after it was implied he had been forced to do so, when a tabloid newspaper discovered his HIV status.
“Courageous as ever – legend on the pitch and a legend off it,” Prince William wrote on the Kensington Palace social media accounts.
“You have our support Gareth,” which he signed simply, “W”.
Harry also wrote a personal message to the athlete writing on Instagram, “Gareth you are an absolute legend!
“In sharing your story of being HIV+, you are saving lives and shattering stigma, by showing you can be strong and resilient while living with HIV.
“We should all be appalled by the way you were forced to speak your truth, it is yours and yours alone to share on your own terms and I and millions stand with you. – H”
Harry travelled to Angola in the evening and tomorrow will visit a working de-mining field outside Dirico, Angola before unveiling the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy project.
Later in the day he’ll head to Huambo where he will visit Huambo Orthopaedic Centre and unveil its new name in honour of Princess Diana. He’ll also be given a tour of its facilities. In the evening he will attend a reception at the British Ambassador’s Residence in Luanda.
See the full 10-day royal tour itinerary here.
