SEE: Prince Harry says Africa is his ‘Lifeline’ on Mandela Day

Prince Harry delivered a keynote speech on Monday, 18 July to mark Nelson Mandela Day, and the Duke only had wonderful things to say about Madiba.

Prince Harry ‘treasures a special photo of his mom and Mandela’

Yesterday, 18 July, marked Nelson Mandela Day and in celebration of this, the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, delivered a heart-warming keynote speech at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Nelson Mandela Day was established back in 2009, when the United Nations General Assembly declared Nelson Mandela’s 18 July birthday Nelson Mandela International Day. It’s a special day marked for when Madiba called on the people of the world to honour him by helping their communities.

Marking the memorable day, the Duke of Sussex said those who were not fortunate enough to know Mandela well, have come to understand the man through his legacy. He spoke about the letters that Mandela wrote alone in his prison cell, the speeches he delivered to his people and touched on Madiba’s incredible, colourful shirts.

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“We’ve also come to know him through the photographs of a person who, even when confronting unimaginable cruelty and injustice, almost always had a smile on his face.” said the Duke.

Prince Harry went on to talk about one photo in particular that stood out to him on his wall and in his heart every day: an image of his mother, the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and Mandela meeting in Cape Town in 1997.

“When I first looked at the photo, straight away, what jumped out was the joy on my mother’s face. The playfulness, cheekiness even, pure delight to be in communion with another soul, so committed to serving humanity.” he said.

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Africa a ‘lifeline’ to the Duke of Sussex

In his speech, the Duke also said that Africa has indeed been his lifeline, claiming that it was a place where he found peace and healing time and time again, ever since he was 13 years old.

“I’ve always found hope on the continent. It’s where I felt closest to my mother and sought solace after she died and where I knew I had found a soulmate in my wife. And it’s where so much of my work, where my work is based there. Because despite continued hardship, there are people across Africa who embody Mandela’s spirit and ideals.” Harry said

Watch the full speech below: