Prince Harry at Sentebale Concert

Prince Harry held a concert at Kensington Palace for his charity, Sentebale, on the evening of June 28th. The highlight of the evening was a performance by Coldplay.Other performers included Laura Mvula and Prince Harry’s friend Joss Stone. The money from the event will support Sentebale’s work helping vulnerable children in Lesotho, in particular it work at the Mamohato Children’s Centre which offers psychosocial support to children living with HIV.

Embed from Getty Images

The rainy musical evening started with Prince Harry delivering a speech:

‘Tonight you’ve been learning a little bit about Lesotho, a beautiful mountain kingdom I first travelled to when I was 19. What I saw there was a country with significant challenges; some of the world’s most vulnerable young people, robbed of their childhoods – forced into work due to extreme poverty and the loss of ONE OR BOTH parents to the devastating HIV/AIDS epidemic. In some cases the ‘lady of the house’ was a 12-year-old girl looking after her brothers and sisters.’But what I remember most from that first visit was learning that this was a country with joy in its heart – a country that faced its challenges with warmth, optimism, and courage. It didn’t take me long to be hooked on the country and to the irresistible smiles of its children… In southern Africa, the epidemic remains the biggest killer of adolescents. Here in the UK, more people have the virus than ever before.’What we know is that HIV is a virus that thrives off silence and feeds on stigma. Every single one of us has a responsibility to educate ourselves. To do what we can to speak out and stamp out the silence, ignorance, and fear that the virus needs to win.’

Embed from Getty Images

The performances started with Laura Mvula, followed by Joss Stone and Alicia Lowes. The Basotho Children’s choir also performed at the concert. Coldplay played the finale, with Lead singer Chris Martin leading his band through a set that included all their most famous hits, including Yellow and Viva La Vida

Embed from Getty Images

Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho finished the evening by saying

Thank you for standing out in the rain, thank you to the choir that has come all the way from Lesotho. Please drive home safely and carry the work of Sentebale. And thank you to Coldplay – thank you so much, you’ve rocked the palace, you’ve rocked the palace!'”

Embed from Getty Images

Also present at the concert were Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Zara and Mike Tindall, and Peter and Autumn Phillips.

Screen Shot 2016-06-29 at 2.04.05 PM.png

Posted in UK

Leave a Reply