Mutsu Potsane met the newly titled Duke of Sussex when he was four years old during the Prince’s gap-year stay in the southern African nation.
They quickly struck up a close friendship and stayed in touch over the years – with Harry returning to the kingdom in 2016 to continue his charity work for the nation.
Mutsu, whose proper first name is Relebohile, was among one of ten representatives from Harry’s charity Sentebale.
He co-founded the charity Sentebale – meaning ‘forget me not’ – with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006 to improve prospects for the thousands of children and young people affected by HIV/Aids in the landlocked African country.
Prince Seeiso, 52, who attended the wedding with his wife, Princess Mabereng, said: ‘The young Harry who first arrived in Lesotho in 2004 is now a grown man getting married.
‘I’ve come here with all the wishes of Lesotho, I’m not here on my own behalf I’m here representing the entire nation who are so happy.’
A total of 200 representatives from different charities were among the 2,460 members of the public with an invitation to celebrate the wedding inside the grounds of Windsor Castle.
Sentebale chairman Johnny Hornby said 18-year-old Mutsu was among the first group to greet the newlyweds after they left St George’s Chapel following their nuptials, the Daily Express report.
He added: ‘He’s a bit shy now, but he’s doing really well. He’s just finishing school.’
Sentebale shared a photo of some of its members enjoying the celebrations, tweeting: ‘Congratulations to the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex, from everyone at Sentebale.
‘We were delighted that some of our Lesotho team were able to join in the very special celebrations in Windsor today!’
Mutsu, who was just a toddler when he first met Harry, was introduced to the royal at the Mants’ase Children’s Home for orphans near Mohale’s Hoek, outside Lesotho’s capital Maseru.
The newly married Prince went to the home to help children stricken by the HIV and Aids crisis.
He even gifted Mutsu with a pair of bright blue wellington boots, which apparently he cherished for many years.
The friends were reunited when Harry returned to Lesotho two years ago for an ITV documentary.
The 33-year-old scooped the then 15-year-old off the ground for a giant hug after the pair first noticed each other and the two chatted about their time apart.
Harry later said: ‘It’s great to see that he is so happy. Our tree has survived, it’s grown up. The fence that we built is still there.
‘Obviously, I would prefer it in a weird way for him not to have been there, and for us to not know where he was.
‘Because then we know that he’s happy with a family member, but sadly for him that’s not the case.’
Prince Harry mentioned fatherhood in the documentary and while reflecting on his aid work, he mused: ‘For me I have this love of Africa that will never disappear… and I hope that it carries on with my children as well.’
Harry also received praise in the documentary from Sir Elton John, who urged people to go to see the work being done by Sentebale.
He said: ‘If his mother was alive, she’d still be doing the work she set out to be doing, and he’s carrying it on in the best possible way”. (Daily Mail)
