Prince Harry has said he has spent his time in Africa “trying to put my feelings and experiences into words”.
The Duke of Sussex was speaking on the final day of his family’s 10 – day tour of the continent – a day after he issued a statement in which he accused certain sections of the media of waging a “ruthless” campaign against his wifeMeghan.
The couple arrived in the South African township of Tembisa in Johannesburg on Wednesday where the duke addressed the crowds, telling them: “I’ve often talked about Africa as my second home and I’ve often been asked why I love it so much.
“Well, over the last nine days I have been trying to put my feelings and experiences into words.”
His father Prince Charles brought him to Africa in the months following his mother Princess Diana’s death in 1997.
Harry continued: “Ever since I came to this country as a young boy trying to cope with something I could never possibly describe, Africa has helped me in an embrace that I will never forget, and I feel incredibly fortunate for that .
“Every time I come here I know that I’m not alone.
“I always feel that wherever I am on this continent, that the community around me provides a life that is enriching and rooted in the simplest things – connections, connection with others and the natural environment.
“And as I raise my own son I want to make sure that what I have learned here – the value of the natural world, the value of community and friendship – is something I can pass on to him.”
Harry’s statement on Tuesday came with the announcement that the duchess was suing the Mail on Sunday over the publication of a letter to her father.
Law firm Schillings, representing the duchess, has filed a High Court claim against the newspaper and its parent company Associated Newspapers over the alleged misuse of private information, infringement of copyright and a breach of the Data Protection Act.
Harry claims readers were misled by the newspaper “strategically omitting select paragraphs, specific sentences, and even singular words to mask the lies they had perpetuated for over a year”.
He said: “Though we have continued to put on a brave face – as so many of you can relate to – I cannot begin to describe how painful it has been.
” To stand back and do nothing would be contrary to everything we believe in.
“There comes a point when the only thing to do is to stand up to this behavior, because it destroys people and destroys lives. Put simply, it is bullying, which scares and silences people. “
The duke also spoke of the” powerful forces “that led to his mother’s death.
“My deepest fear is history repeating itself,” he said. I’ve seen what happens when someone I love is commoditised to the point that they are no longer treated or seen as a real person.
“I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces. “
In the statement published on the duke and duchess’s official website, Harry said he and Meghan believed in” media freedom and objective, truthful reporting “as a” cornerstone of democracy “.
He added:” Unfortunately, my wife has become one of the latest victims of a British tabloid press that wages campaigns against individuals with no thought to the consequences – a ruthless campaign that has escalated over the past year, throughout her pregnancy and while raising our newborn son. “
The couple looked relaxed as they kicked off the final leg of their tour and learned about an ambitious project launched last year by South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, which aims to tackle youth unemployment and create one million new work opportunities f or young people in the next three years.
“It’s moments like today and meeting all of you, that inspires us,” Harry said.
“Whether supporting young entrepreneurs, empowering women and girls, or challenging the issue of gender-based violence; whether it’s been planting trees, clearing landmines, or protecting the most beautiful creatures and places on the planet, these experiences have affirmed our love of Africa, and the issues that are so important to us.
” We will firmly stand up for what we believe. We are fortunate enough to have a position that gives us amazing opportunities, and we want to do all we can to play our part in building a better world. “
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