News
Prince Harry arrives in Botswana
13th June 2010
Prince Harry arrived in Botswana today and revealed his love of the country's wildlife, people and landscape.
Prince Harry has travelled to the African nation ahead of his brother Prince William for a six-day joint tour that will see both Their Royal Highnesses visit Botswana, Lesotho and South Africa.
In the first two destinations The Princes will visit their charitable interests together, while in their final stop they will support England in their World Cup match against Algeria and promote the Football Association's bid to host the global soccer tournament in 2018.
Prince Harry was guest of honour at a garden party at the official residence of High Commissioner Jennifer Anderson which marked The Queen's official birthday celebrated on Saturday with the traditional Trooping the Colour ceremony.
After being introduced by diplomats, The Prince told the guests: "As the High Commissioner said, Botswana is a country very close to my heart."
The Prince drew laughs from the guests when he added: "The fact that I spend more time here than at home worries my father a lot.
"For years now I've been coming back here, drawn by the country's beauty and the friendliness of all its people."
Prince Harry went on to poke fun at his older sibling, saying: "My brother William arrives here tomorrow - unfortunately - and this will be the first overseas tour that we have been on together.
"It's no accident that we so wanted it to be here in Botswana, in this beautiful country."
During the garden party, prominent members of Britain's ex-pat community, Botswanan government ministers, officials and leading business people sipped Pimms and drank gin and tonics under a marquee decorated with union flags and red, white and blue bunting.
Waiters wearing union flag-decorated aprons carried a selection of sweet and savoury treats including Yorkshire puddings filled with beef and gravy.
Trade minister Dorcas Makgatho-Malesu gave a short speech which praised UK-Botswana relations and she joked with Prince Harry as he stood behind her, saying: "I was wondering when he'll come into the town because we often hear that he's somewhere in the bush - so today certainly is a good day for us."
During the garden party guests were treated to a performance by five dancers from the Mophato Dance Theatre who will take their show to an event in London's Canary Wharf next week.
The artists have received financial support from a group of organisations including the British Council and the short performance featured an extract from their football-themed piece called Goal Mouth.