Prince Harry visits Durban youth projects

The British royal was in Durban today on the second leg of his South African trip.

The prince, wearing blue trousers and a white shirt with a red ribbon to mark World Aids Day, arrived in a convoy of cars, accompanied by British High Commissioner, Judith Macgregor. 

He received a red-carpet welcome at Growthpoint Kings Park Stadium from eThekwini Deputy Mayor, Nomvuso Shabalala and former Springbok captain and Sharks CEO, John Smit, before disappearing to go and change into more comfortable clothes for a brief game of rugby.

Prince Harry spent the next hour with aspiring Springboks at one of the coaching clinics.

He and Smit later indulged a group of excited youngsters in a game of touch rugby, with each of the "captaining" a side and it seemed they didn't mind the scorching heat too much.

After the game, Smit said he and the prince were outshined on the field.

"He and I looked foolish out there with those kids - they were really good. So I basically stuck to the back and so did he and let the kids get on with it," he said. 

He's praised Prince Harry for being an advocate for social change through sport.

"Sport has been a huge part of South Africa's change over the years and it's been a massive part of us being a peaceful, successful nation as well. To have him come here and promote that and instill the values that sport has done for us as a society is incredible," he said.  

Prince Harry was later presented with a Cell C Sharks rugby jersey with his name emblazoned on the back. 

The Sharks had another little surprise for him. He was also given two tiny jerseys for his nephew and niece, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. 

Grade 7 learner Nandipha was among the girls at the coaching clinic today and decided two years ago that rugby was going to be her sport. 

She says she is happy to have seen Harry.

Her favourite player is Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira and she thinks the Springboks are the best team.

Their coach, Sicelo Dlamini has been coaching for about 12 years and goes around different schools in Inanda, giving the children rugby training from Monday to Friday. He hopes to see them one day playing for the Sharks or the Springboks.

As he wrapped up his day in Durban, Prince Harry visited the city's Surfers Not Street Children project.

The organisation helps former street children to work toward a better life as they approach adulthood.

There are currently 12 children on the project. One of them is Sihle Mbotho who lived on the street as a child. 

He says life at home became difficult when him mum died in 1994.

I chose to live on the streets. "When I arrived [at Surfers Not Street Children], I was doing art and not surfing. I began looking at things that could benefit me so I chose surfing. When I'm in the water, I feel different," he said. 

He says meeting the British royal today is a huge thing for him.

"Growing up on the streets, you never think that a prince would interact with you. In January, I might go to England because he came to our home. I want to ask him, "can we come and see your place too?" he joked. 

Below, is footage of Prince Harry arriving at the Shark tank and later joining Sharks CEO John Smit in a game of touch rugby with the youngsters.

(Photos, video by Dineo Mphahlele)