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News

Prince Harry spends a second day in New York

29th May 2009

Prince Harry visited a children’s centre in Harlem and played in a charity fundraising polo match for his charity Sentebale during his second day in New York today.

At the Harlem Children’s Zone, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, founders and Joint Patrons of Sentebale, took part in an impromptu obstacle course - in the school's sports hall, cheered on by enthusiastic youngsters and equally joyful photographers.

Later in the day the Princes would be rubbing shoulders with celebrities including rapper Kanye West and actresses Kate Hudson and Chloe Sevigny at the Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic on Governors Island.

But the morning was dedicated to seeing how youngsters are learning in Harlem.  Watch the video below:

Arriving at the Harlem Children's Zone, Prince Harry was introduced to staff before being ushered into a maths class.

The teenagers chatted to The Prince about a series of maths equations.

Prince Harry asked the class: "Who is the best pupil, who is the cleverest at maths?"

After a teacher replied that all of them were, The Prince joked: "I was always the worst."

The Prince paid special attention to the work of one nearby pupil who talked him through a couple of the answers.

Brandon Black, 16, said that The Prince asked him about a test he was taking, adding: "He was nice."

The Prince was then taken to a cooking demonstration in the school cafeteria.

After being talked through the ingredients that made up the African dish he was being served, Prince Harry grabbed his neck and said: "Anchovies, urgh," to the laughter of the gathered youngsters.

But he gamely chomped away at the prepared meal and chatted to Khalil Davis, who turns 10 next week.

After filling up on his meal of mince and rice, The Prince was taken to the school sports hall where games of hockey and American football were taking place.

Walking towards a relay race which was going on, Prince Harry decided to test his speed against his fellow visiting prince.

Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso took their marks and set off at high speed to their goal - a balloon perched on a chair.

They arrived at roughly the same time, sitting firmly down, bursting the inflatables in the process.

It was a close run thing, but Prince Harry took it as a victory, holding his arms aloft and taking in the cheers of the pupils.

Prince Harry then played in a charity polo match in aid of his African charity Sentebale, which raises funds to support children in Lesotho who have been orphaned by AIDS.

During a brief speech inside the champagne tent, Prince Harry referred to the affection his mother Princess Diana held for New York and the influence she had in him setting up the charity.

He said: "Prince Seeiso and I both lost our mothers when we were young.

"We set up Sentebale in their memory and, because my mother loved this city, it makes this occasion all the more poignant for me."

He joked that the speech would have to be kept short because he had to "practice how to fall gracefully from a pony I've never ridden".

With seconds to go in the match the scores were tied at five-all.

It was at this point that Prince Harry made a break towards goal before setting up his teammate to hammer the ball home and take the game 6-5.

Today's fun events marked a contrast to Harry's first day engagements, during which he commemorated victims of the September 11th, 2001, attack at the World Trade Centre and visited a centre for limbless veterans.

In an interview, Prince Harry was asked if he thought the trip - his first formal overseas engagement - had changed his public image, he replied: "I do not know what the public image is of me, there's always the image that has been given to me, but you know, it is the media that stamp an image on me that really isn't me."

He added that the trip had been fantastic so far.

The Prince said: "It is my first trip to New York, so hopefully I will come back to visit again. It has been fantastic."

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