[ad_1]
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan were visited an Nelson Mandela exhibition to mark 100 years since the birth of the former South African president.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex met friends and family of the anti-apartheid campaigner who died in 2013, including his grand-daughter Zamaswazi Dlamini-Mandela.
The royal couple who tied the knot in May, also spoke to 92-year-old Andrew Mlangeni, who spent nearly three decades on Robben Island with Mandela.
When asked about the importance of members of the monarchy visiting the exhibition: “Shows somewhere in their hearts they were behind the struggle for freedom.”
The exhibition has been shown in various forms around the world, including six weeks at the Paris Town Hall in 2013.
Hello Hatang, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, said: “London was both South Africa’s colonial metropole and the headquarters of the international anti-apartheid struggle.
“It was also the venue for some of Nelson Mandela’s most inspiring speeches.”
Harry and Meghan toured the exhibition which brings the former president’s life and activism with striking black and white photographs from the period, along with artefacts and documents helping to tell the story.
They were shown a Complete Works of Shakespeare which became a prized possession among the Robben Island prisoners, and many signed their names alongside their favourite verse.
Mr Mandela chose a quote from Julius Caesar which began: “Cowards die many times before their deaths, the valiant never taste of death but once.”
The royal couple were invited as the statesman was one of Meghan’s heroes and Harry had charitable interested in southern African through his organisation Sentebale, which helps disadvantaged young people and youngsters living with HIV.
Ms Dlamini-Mandela said: “Today’s event is hugely significant – not only because we are here to celebrate the life of a great man in history, but also because we are able to educate the next generation, that we must never repeat the mistakes of the past.
“The visit of their royal highnesses Harry and Meghan is a great honour. Their support for justice and fairness in the world makes them a shining example for the youth of today and tomorrow.”
Lord Hain said after the visit: “They were absolutely thrilled to be here and they said so, they used that term.
“They were so engaged, I think both know a lot about the history of Nelson Mandela, but when you come to something like this you understand what he went through.”
The exhibition at London’s Southbank Centre is free to the public and runs until August 19.
[ad_2]
