'You bought me blue gumboots! Adorable Lesotho child writes heartwarming letter to Prince Harry ahead of the royal's trip to a children's home he first visited nearly TEN years ago
- Harry met orphan Mutsu Potsane, four, on gap-year trip to Lesotho, Africa
- Bonded with youngster and they have written to each other for 10 years
- Prince will be reunited with Mutsu, now 15, at opening of Mamohato Centre
- See more of the latest news and updates on Prince Harry
As he opens the long-awaited Mamohato Children’s Centre in Lesotho today, Prince Harry will be accompanied by a teenage orphan with whom he has an ‘unshakable’ bond.
Mutsu Potsane was just four when he first met the prince, who was on his gap year trip to the poverty-stricken kingdom in 2004 - a trip that inspired him to set up his charity Sentebale to help the land-locked nation's vulnerable children.
They have stayed in touch over the years and will be reunited when the prince attends the opening of his organisation's new Mamohato Children's Centre in a town outside the capital Maseru.
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As he opens the long-awaited Mamohato Children’s Centre in Lesotho today, Prince Harry will be accompanied by an orphan with whom he has an ‘unshakable’ bond (pictured together in 2006)
Mutsu Potsane (pictured right in 2006) was just four when he first met the prince, who was on his gap year trip to the poverty-stricken kingdom in 2004
In the letter Mutsu - whose real name is Relebohile Potsane - writes that he has been doing well since the last time they met and he has ‘been thinking about’ the prince. He signs the letter ‘from your loving friend’
The pair were introduced at the Mants'ase Children's Home for orphans near Mohale's Hoek, outside of Maseru.
Like so many children Prince Harry met during that trip, vulnerable Mutsu's life had been shattered from an early age.
Desperately in need of care and attention, he stuck to the prince like glue – not because he was a royal, but for the first time in his young life someone was interested in him.
Harry was smitten and bought the little boy a pair of blue wellington boots which Mutsu would even wear to bed.
They got on so well that they have stayed in touch over the years and will be reunited when the prince attends the opening of his organisation's new Mamohato Children's Centre in a town outside the capital Maseru
Like so many children Prince Harry met during that trip, vulnerable Mutsu's life had been shattered from an early age - but fun Harry formed a particular bond with sweet Mutsu
The pair were introduced at the Mants'ase Children's Home for orphans near Mohale's Hoek, outside of Maseru
Desperately in need of care and attention, he stuck to the prince like glue – not because he was a royal, but for the first time in his young life someone was interested in him
Remarkably, given their very different lives, the pair have kept in close contact over the last decade, meeting up on most of Prince Harry's visits to Lesotho over the years
Harry and Mutsue have kept in touch via letter, and one has been released by his charity Sentebale. Pictured: Harry jokes around and shows Mutsu how to treat the media!
Remarkably, given their very different lives, the pair have kept in close contact over the last decade, meeting up on most of Prince Harry's visits to Lesotho over the years.
They also write to each other, and to mark the opening of the Mamohato centre, Sentebale has released Mutsu’s latest letter, written to Prince Harry shortly before the his visit to Lesotho in December 2014, to keep him posted on how he was getting on.
Two accompanying photographs were taken when the two met during that visit.
In the letter Mutsu - who is now thought to be 15, and whose real name is Relebohile Potsane - writes that he has been doing well since the last time they met and he has ‘been thinking about’ the prince.
In the letter Mutsu also writes that he has been doing well since the last time they met and he has ‘been thinking about’ the prince. Pictured in 2004 when they first met
Harry has visited Mutsu every time he has returned to Lesotho
Harry was smitten and bought the little boy a pair of blue wellington boots which Mutsu would even wear to bed
Mutsu helped Harry to plant trees at the children's centre where they met
'Every day when I am sleeping I always dream about you and the things we have made such as planting of the trees which is the peach trees,' Mutsu wrote in his letter to Harry
‘I think of the time were together, it was the good and nice day. Every day when I am sleeping I always dream about you and the things we have made such as planting of the trees which is the peach trees,’ he wrote.
Mutsu continued that he knows how happy Harry is when he writes to him and adds: ‘I feel very happy when I dream I remember about you because you have been with me from my childhood and you have bought me the blue gum boots.’
He signs the letter ‘from your loving friend’.
Mutsu has been part of Sentebale's Scholarship programme and has benefited from residential care and financial grants as a result of the charity’s help.
Harry's 2004 gap-year trip to Africa a trip that inspired him to set up his charity Sentebale to help the land-locked nation's vulnerable children
A royal aide said the prince was hugely looking forward to meeting the boy he counted as his friend once again
Mutsu has been part of Sentebale's Scholarship programme and has benefited from residential care and financial grants as a result of the charity’s help
A royal aide said the prince was hugely looking forward to meeting the boy he counted as his friend once again.
The Mamohato Children's Centre cost just over £2 million to build and its welcome block - with a distinctive frontage designed by Harry - has been named after Olga Powell, the Prince's nanny, who died in 2012.
The centre's dining hall takes Diana, Princess of Wales' name and one wall is painted with a tree with the leaves featuring the names of donors including Sir Elton John and husband David Furnish and their two young sons Elijah and Zachary.
It will allow Sentebale to scale up its Mamohato programme, which addresses the emotional and psychological needs of children living with HIV, and will also be used to support the charity's work with other vulnerable children.
The Mamohato Children's Centre cost just over £2 million to build. It will allow Sentebale to scale up its Mamohato programme, which addresses the emotional and psychological needs of children living with HIV, and will also be used to support the charity's work with other vulnerable children
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3334213/Prince-Harry-reunited-young-orphan-pen-pal-TEN-years-ago.html#ixzz3saOhRH8R
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