If Prince Harry had his way he would leave his royal life behind in England and move to Africa to help needy children there.
The 23-year-old prince made the statement to reporters as he continued his month-long humanitarian mission in the impoverished African kingdom of Lesotho. The British royal solider is in the region trying to balance his army life and his charity work. For the next couple of weeks the handsome royal will work with Sentebale – the charity he and Lesotho’s Prince Seeiso founded in the memory of Harry’s late mother, Princess Diana.
Four years ago Harry spent two months volunteering in Lesotho, one of the poorest areas in South Africa. Now he has returned to help open a new center for abused children.
“I wish I could be out here more often,” the prince told reporters. “I do the most I can to come out here and see the kids.”
Those kids are part of the growing number of orphans who have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS. According to Harry, once their parents die many of the children are left to fend for themselves and end up being abused or exploited.
The new center the prince helped open offers aid to children who have been abused or suffer with mental or physical disabilities. Harry’s charity, Sentebale, assisted in the construction of the facility and this week the prince put in more sweat equity by helping put finishing touches on a new thatched roof.
The rest of the time the red-haired royal says he has been entertaining the children living at the center. While media crews were there Harry pushed one tot around on a tricycle and joked with another on the steps of the courtyard.
Prince William’s younger brother says it warms his heart to see the children of Lesotho thriving at the care center and noted that his later mother would be proud that her son was carrying on her legacy of helping those less fortunate.