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Prince Harry meets Mandela widow


Britain's Prince Harry has "treasured every memory" since meeting the late Nelson Mandela.
The 31-year-old royal ended his tour of South Africa yesterday (03.12.15) by meeting the late anti-apartheid leader's widow Graca Machel, 70, who gave the flame-haired prince a tour around the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory in Johannesburg.
In a speech, Harry praised Mandela and insisted he will "never be forgotten".
He said: "I can think of no better way of ending my visit to South Africa than by joining you this evening to remember Madiba as we approach the anniversary of his passing.
"I know he is missed by a generation, a nation and most keenly by his family. However, he will never be forgotten.
"I was fortunate enough to meet Madiba a number of years ago and I have treasured that memory ever since."
Earlier in the day, Harry - who was once left red faced after a nude picture of him playing strip billiards leaked online - met kids at Siyabonga Secondary School in Braamfischer, Soweto, and urged them not to follow in his footsteps when it comes to the "bad things".
He said: "I would never want anyone to follow me in the bad things I do, only the good things."
The prince concluded his visit, which has seen him meet President Zuma and Desmond Tutu among others as well as paly barefoot rugby with disadvantaged youngsters, by thanking everyone he has met in the country.
He said: "I would like to end by thanking all South Africans I've met for their warm welcome & hospitality."

Queen Elizabeth song in running for Christmas number 1


A song featuring the voice of Britain's Queen Elizabeth from 1957 will challenge for the Christmas number one spot.
The Four Sopranos perform the track, which is called Her Majesty The Queen (A Tribute), in honour of the 89-year-old royal after she became Britain's longest reigning monarch earlier this year.
The queen's voice from her Christmas message in 1957 features on the song, which was recorded at the famous Abbey Road studios.
Bookmaker William Hill have slashed the odds of the tune topping the charts this Christmas from 100/1 to 20/1.
William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams said: "When the first call came in we thought it was a prank.
"But we have since heard the song and it has to be a contender."
The quartet will donate 50 per cent of revenues from the sale to the Haig Housing Trust charity - of which the queen is a patron - and in particularly, the organisation's Coming Home fundraising campaign.
The charity provides specially adapted housing for severely wounded and traumatically disabled Service men and women.
Jeff Chegwin and Adrian Munsey penned the track, which was performed by over sixty of Britain's finest instrumental players and was arranged and conducted by Paul Bateman.
Adrian said: "This is a simple musical tribute to HM The Queen, emphasising the affection the nation has for the queen and her importance in providing dignity and continuity to the nation through the many changes experienced during her long reign."
The single will be launched at the Tower of London on December 11.

Queen congratulates GB’s Davis Cup team


Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip have congratulated Britain's Davis Cup-winning tennis team.
The couple sent a letter on Buckingham Palace-headed note paper to the side, Jamie Murray, Andy Murray, Dominic Inglot, James Ward, Daniel Evans and Kyle Edmund, as well as captain Leon Smith, praising them for winning the competition for the first time in 79 years last weekend.
The message read: "Prince Philip and I send our warmest congratulations to Britain's Davis Cup team for wining this event on Sunday for the first time in 79 years.
"It is a remarkable achievement to have attained this level of success in international tennis.
"I send my best wishes to your captain, Leon Smith, and the players who worked so hard to win this prestigious competition.
"Elizabeth R."
The official British Monarchy Twitter page shared a picture of the note and added the caption: "The Queen's message to @BritishTennis's victorious @DavisCup team #BackTheBrits"
Inspired by world number two Andy Murray, Britain's Davis Cup team became national heroes on the weekend as they defeated Belgium in the final to lift the trophy.
They overcame Australia, France and the US in the semi-final, quarter-final and first round respectively.

Prince Harry meets William’s rhino pal


Britain's Prince Harry has met the same rhino in South Africa as his brother did three years ago in the UK.
The 31-year-old royal was delighted to be acquainted with female black rhino Zawadi, who Prince William previously met in Kent, southern England, and praised conservationist Tony Fitzjohn and his rangers for giving the animal the chance to "live it up in the bush" in South Africa.
In a post on The Kensington Palace Instagram page, which featured a picture of the mammal, Harry is quoted as saying: "This was the second time Zawadi, a female black rhino, met someone from my family.
"My brother William fed her three years ago in Kent just before she left under a translocation project to Tanzania where she now lives in a sanctuary.
"Thanks to the passion and stubbornness of Tony Fitzjohn OBE and his amazing rangers, she and many others are living it up in the bush and their numbers are growing."
Harry also revealed the rhino has a particular penchant for carrots.
He added in the picture caption: "She goes nuts for carrots and I loved being able to send William this photo.
"Hats off to Tusk Trust"

Prince William attends memorial service with in-laws


Britain's Prince William attended a memorial Christmas carol service with his mother-in-law and sister-in-law last night (02.12.15).
The 33-year-old royal was joined by his wife Duchess Catherine's mother Carole and sister Pippa Middleton at a concert in Chelsea, west London, to remember his friend and brother Prince Harry's old Ludgrove School classmate, Henry van Straubenzee, who died in a car crash in 2002.
William - who is good pals with Henry's older brother Thomas - are both patrons of the Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund, which was set up after his death.
Writing in the programme for the event, the princes said: "We are both delighted to be patrons of Henry's memorial fund.
"Each year brings with it more news about the progress that this charity continues to make. This is largely down to the generosity and support of donors, many of whom are here tonight at this, the seventh Christmas carol service."
Harry was unable to attend the service as he is on a tour of South Africa, and Catherine is thought to have stayed at home to look after the couple's two children, Prince George, two, and seven-month-old Princess Charlotte.

Prince Harry ‘proud’ of William’s rhino efforts


Britain's Prince Harry is "incredibly proud" of his brother for his efforts in trying to stop rhino traffickers.
The flame-haired royal praised his sibling during a speech at Kruger National Park in South Africa yesterday (02.12.15), where he also thanked rangers for their hard work in the battle against poachers - but admitted it won't be easy to put an end to.
He said: "My brother, William, is working at a global level to encourage countries like America and China to lead the way in ending demand for ivory and rhino horn and to help African nations with the resources they need to beat the traffickers.
"Next week in London, he will host a global taskforce of transportation firms, government agencies, and wildlife experts to agree an ambitious plan to shutdown global trafficking routes. William has put the fate of endangered species back on the agenda of governments, companies, and NGOs around the world. I am incredibly proud of what he is achieving and will do whatever I can to support him."
The 31-year-old prince congratulated rangers on their hard work so far, but delivered some worrying statistics that the number of rhinos poached in South Africa has grown by nearly 500 per cent in the last five years, and said on average four of the animals a day are being killed in the country.
He warned: "If current poaching rates continue there will be no wild African elephants or rhinos left by the time children born this year, like my niece, Charlotte, turn 25.
"If we let this happen, the impact on the long-term prosperity of this country and on the natural heritage of the planet will be enormous and irreversible."
Despite the concerning figures, Harry reassured South Africa that they will go some way to winning the war on poaching eventually.
He added: "There is no pretending that any of this will be easy. It won't be. But when we win this battle and reverse the rise in poaching, the victory will belong first and foremost to those of you here on the frontlines. So let me thank you for all you have done and all you will do."

Mike Tindall befriended Jeremy Piven


Britain's Mike Tindall "got on like a house on fire" with Jeremy Piven.
The 37-year-old rugby player - who is married to Princess Anne's daughter Zara Phillips - went to visit his friend Katherine Kelly on the set of ITV drama 'Mr. Selfridge' and got on particularly well with the programme's lead star.
Katherine said: "Mike got on like a house on fire with Jeremy [Piven], who plays Harry Selfridge."
Katherine - who has 20-month-old daughter Orla with husband Ryan Clark - has been friends with Mike since they were teenagers and they are pleased to have both become parents to daughters at around the same time.
And the former 'Coronation Street' star admitted she, her spouse and their pals are constantly sharing pictures of Orla and Mike and Zara's 22-month-old little girl Mia via photo messaging on their phones.
She added in an interview with Britain's HELLO! magazine: Mike and I have been friends since we were 13 and it's lovely our daughters Mia and Orla are a really similar age.
Mia was born in January and Orla in March. We are always WhatsApping and exchanging pictures of the girls with them.

Prince Charles makes climate change speech


Britain's Prince Charles has warned there is "no plan B" to tackle climate change.
The 67-year-old prince made a passionate appeal to world leaders at the Paris Climate Change conference yesterday (01.12.15), in which he urged them to save the forests.
He said: "It is very simple, we must save our forests for there is no Plan B to tackle climate change or many of the other ­critical challenges that face humanity without them."
Though Charles admitted some progress has been made in tackling the issue, he stressed there is an urgent need to start replacing the 500 million hectares of tropical rainforest lost since 1950.
He added: "Encouraging though the progress made to date has been, it remains the case that many of the world's largest companies pay scant, by which I really mean no, attention to the deforestation footprint of their supply chains.
"As all the horrors of even a two-degree warmer world bite, we are going to need a lot more forest, not a slight reduction in the existing rate of attrition."
More than 150 world leaders, including David Cameron , Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin, are attending the summit - which runs until December 11 - to reach a deal to stop global temperatures rising over 2C above pre-industrial levels.

Prince Albert undecided on twins’ birthday gifts


Monaco's Prince Albert doesn't know what to get his twins for their first birthday.
Little Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella turn one on December 10 but their father doesn't know whether to buy them a "significant" gift to mark the occasion, more toys - or both.
He said: "I've a few things in mind, but I really haven't decided yet whether to give them something significant, which they'll keep for years to come, or just give them better toys than they already have in the nursery.
"I suppose I could do both. Probably should."
Albert and his wife Princess Charlene want their twins - who they nickname the bah-bahs - to enjoy their birthday celebrations in private.
He told People magazine: "I think from now on and in the immediate coming years, their birthdays ought to be more private events."
Albert is committed to being in Paris for COP 21 until December 11, but will be returning to Monaco for his children's birthday.
He said: "We may be visiting a school with the children, but that will be in the morning. The rest of the day will be for family only. I've set the day aside, I've no other appointments, we just want the family time.
"I want to take some pictures, some movies of them, so it's just going to be a family day."
The 57-year-old prince feels fortunate he is able to juggle his royal commitments with family time.
He said: "I've had a great many events, trips and functions lately. Today, for example, I'd few events I had to attend but I was able to be with them earlier this afternoon.
"We had some beautiful sunshine and they're beginning to experience some of the swings we still have from the old days in the garden.
"It was great. Just a beautiful day."

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