Photos show Prince Harry's long-standing relationship with Lesotho in southern Africa

In March 2004, Prince Harry visited Lesotho for an eight-week stay as part of his gap year. He formed a lasting bond with Lesotho's Prince Seeiso, who lost his mother shortly before Harry's arrival.

During his stay, Harry told media outlets that "little known Lesotho" needed resources to end the AIDS epidemic, poverty, and a drought, according to Getty Images. 

"Recognition from people back in England, charities in England, to recognize Lesotho as somewhere that needs help. They haven't got enough help yet," Harry told CNN in 2004. 

Prince Seeiso, the youngest brother of Lesotho's King Letsie III, told "Harry & Meghan" viewers that he first met Harry during the 2004 trip. According to the docuseries, Seeiso's mother, Queen Mamohato Bereng Seeiso, died shortly before Harry's arrival, which contributed to their strong bond.

"I think he came here wanting to have time out from that very aggressive treadmill. I felt a warmth and acceptance that, 'Okay, I'm here in Lesotho. I may not know about Lesotho, and I'm here to learn. I'm not here to tell,'" Seeiso said.

In April 2006, Harry returned to Lesotho to celebrate the launch of Sentebale, his charity with Seeiso. The prince also visited Mutsu Potsane, a young orphan he met on a previous trip.

"Sentebale" means "forget me not" in Lesotho's official language of Sesotho and was named in honor of the princes' late mothers, according to the royal family's official website.

While celebrating the launch of Sentebale, an organization for children affected by HIV/AIDS in southern Africa, Harry also checked in on Mutsu Potsane, a young boy he met during his visit in 2004. Potsane, an orphan, lived at the Mants'ase Children's Home when he met the prince.

The two kept in steady contact over the years as Harry returned to Lesotho annually. Potsane was also one of ten representatives from Sentebale invited to Harry and Meghan Markle's royal wedding in 2018, according to Cosmopolitan.

 

While visiting Lesotho in 2006, Harry took part in charity work across the region.

Harry spoke with Lesotho residents like Sello Matlere, pictured above, as he helped the villagers of Phororong turn over the ground of their maize fields, according to Getty Images. 

The prince went into detail about his time in Lesotho and other African countries during "Harry & Meghan," sharing that he would sometimes visit the continent for three months at a time.

"Lesotho gave me the space and the freedom to breathe, to live, and to grow," Harry said during the first episode of the Netflix docuseries.

Harry returned to Lesotho in July 2008 to rebuild a school for children with chronic physical and mental disabilities.

CBS News reported that Harry, along with 26 soldiers from the Household Cavalry Regiment, went to Buthe Buthe, Lesotho, to help with construction. The then 23-year-old prince was pictured pushing a wheelbarrow, digging shirtless in the sand, and interacting with community members.

The project was financially supported by Harry and Seeiso's charity Sentebale. 

In 2010, Harry was joined by his brother Prince William on a joint trip to southern Africa to visit projects sponsored by their respective charities Sentebale and Tusk Trust.

According to the royal family's website, the 2010 trip was the first time the brothers went on a joint overseas engagement.

While visiting Botswana and South Africa, Prince William's charity Tusk Trust helped carry out conservation and humanitarian work. In Lesotho, Harry's Sentebale continued their support of "the Mountain Kingdom's vulnerable children and orphans," the website reads.

Harry and Seeiso made cakes when they visited the Kananelo Centre for the Deaf in 2013.

While visiting the school, Harry danced with young children and cooked local desserts in a purple Paddington apron.

Per E! News, a reporter on tour with the prince said Harry attempted to speak in sign language with some of the children. He reportedly joked to Seeiso that he was "never going to get this right."

 

While in Mokhotlong, Lesotho, in 2014, Harry shared his love of photography with children at a herd boy night school.

According to Getty Images, Harry told reporters he wanted to take the opportunity to document his trip to Lesotho himself.

"I have always enjoyed photography and the challenges that come with trying to capture the perfect shot, although privately I don't take many photos. The best photos I have are in my head — I have some very special memories, mostly from Africa," he said at the time.

Meghan seems to be a big fan of Harry's photography. The duchess told "Harry & Meghan" viewers that after a mutual friend asked to set her up with Harry, she scrolled through his Instagram feed and was amazed by his work.

"That, to me, was the best barometer," she said. "I went through and it was just beautiful photography, and all these environmental shots, and this time he was spending in Africa."

Harry celebrated the opening of the Mamohato Children's Centre with Seeiso and local children from Maseru in 2015.

According to the royal family's website, the center was a two-million-pound project for Sentebale.

Harry appeared to have some fun at the event, playing with kids and snapping a Polaroid picture of Seeiso in bright pink glasses. According to the royal family, Harry also spoke about relating to orphans through loss.

"They were far younger than me, and of course, their situation was a great deal more challenging than my own," he said. "Nonetheless, we shared a similar feeling of loss, having a loved one, in my case a parent, snatched away so suddenly. I, like them, knew there would always be a gaping hole that could never be filled."

He continued: "For so many of the children in Lesotho, that situation was compounded by the harsh environment and extreme poverty they faced. At the age of just eight or nine, taking on the responsibility of caring for brothers and sisters, there was simply no time for being a child anymore."

The prince returned to the center for a winter camp in 2018.

Winter Camp is a five-day, residential program at the center that provides children with life skills, education, and psychosocial support, according to Sentebale's Twitter.

Reflecting on his time spent in Lesotho for "Harry & Meghan," the Duke of Sussex said he wanted to continue his mother's humanitarian work from a young age.

"I was 18 years old. I wanted to go and somehow carry my mum's torch and try to keep her legacy alive and try to make her proud," he said.

Seeiso also told Netflix he saw Diana's qualities in Harry, revealing the community even gave the prince the Sesotho name "Mahale," which he said means "warrior."

"Harry is a warrior in spirit and he's a warrior in character," Seeiso said."