British royalty Prince Harry has earned praises for his moving gesture when he paid tribute to the late South African president and philanthropist Nelson Mandela during his visit to South Africa.
On Thursday, Prince Harry ended his 7-day tour of the country by paying a visit to the Nelson Mandela Foundation Centre of Memory in Johannesburg. Mandela's widow, Graca Machel reportedly toured the prince around Mandela's office and in return, his royal highness gave her a picture of him planting a South African flag in the South Pole, to honor the leader. Harry shared that it was during his Walking with the Wounded trek when he had learned about the leader's death.
In a touching speech, Harry shared how much he looks up to the anti-apartheid revolutionary president. He says in his tribute, "I know he is missed by a generation, a nation and most keenly by his family. However, he will never be forgotten."
Mandela, often referred to as 'Madiba' or 'Father' by his countrymen, passed away on December 5, 2013. Harry recalls his time with the leader. "I was fortunate enough to meet Madiba a number of years ago and I have treasured that memory ever since. I have been keen to see how Mr. Mandela's values and his legacy are inspiring the next generation and shaping the future for South Africa," he shares.
At the end of his homage, the 31-year-old prince addressed the people of South Africa. He tells them, "I would like to end by thanking all the South Africans I have met over the last few days for their warm welcome and hospitality. I look forward to seeing you again soon."
After his speech, the prince was shown pictures of the well loved leader over the years. A touching moment was when he was shown a picture of Mandela along with his late mother, Princess Diana. He reportedly took a moment of silence, and said, "Happy smiles, big smiles."
