Nelson Mandela’s widow Graca Machel today said she could ‘feel the vibe’ after meeting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in South Africa and insisted she was ‘sure’ they would work together in the future.
Prince Harry, who last met Mrs Machel in London earlier this year, introduced the 73-year-old humanitarian to his wife Meghan in Johannesburg on the final day of the royal couple’s ten-day tour to southern Africa.
Meghan spoke with her about staying in South Africa while her husband had been travelling, saying: ‘I’ve been holding things down on this side.’ Harry added: ‘I’ve done five or six countries in the past nine days.’
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex meet Graca Machel, widow of the late Nelson Mandela, in Johannesburg today
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex smile and appear animated as they meet Graca Machel today in the Johannesburg sunshine
Prince Harry sits down with Meghan and Mrs Machel today, four years after he last saw her in South Africa in 2015
The Duke and Duchess greet Mrs Machel today as Prince Harry kisses her on the cheek in Johannesburg
The Duke of Sussex holds hands with Mrs Machel as they meet in South Africa today for the first time in four years
The Duke and Duchess greeted Mrs Machel outside as they arrived for a reception with her in Johannesburg today
Meghan speaks to Mrs Machel as they sit down together on the sofa for their meeting in South Africa today
When they arrived to meet Mrs Machel, Meghan said: ‘It’s so good to see you.’ Mrs Machel replied: ‘It’s wonderful meeting you. I’m sure we’re going to be working together in the future. I can feel the vibe.’
It comes as the couple mark the end of their ten-day tour of southern Africa and hours after Prince Harry launched an extraordinary attack on the British media accusing the press of ‘bullying’ and ‘relentless propaganda’.
In a lengthy personal statement on his and Meghan’s official website, Harry referenced Princess Diana and said his ‘deepest fear’ was his ‘wife falling victim to the same powerful forces’ that his mother faced.
Harry’s comments came as the royal couple announced Meghan had decided to take legal action against the Mail on Sunday after publication of a letter to her estranged father Thomas Markle.
The Mail on Sunday says it stands by the story it published and will be defending the case vigorously.
Mrs Machel laughs as Prince Harry speaks to her and she meets Meghan in Johannesburg today
Mrs Machel shows her delight to see the Duke and Duchess as she welcomes the couple in Johannesburg today
The meeting with Mrs Machel came as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex embark on the final day of their Africa tour
Graca Machel smiles as she greets the royals in Johannesburg today, four years after she last met with Prince Harry
The Duchess of Sussex gleefully greets Mrs Machel, widow of the late Nelson Mandela, in Johannesburg today
The Duchess of Sussex and Mrs Machel walk holding hands during their meeting in Johannesburg today
Prince Harry, Meghan and Mrs Machel are all smiles today as they join together for a meeting in Johannesburg
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are greeted as they arrive to meet Mrs Machel in Johannesburg today
Today, Ms Machel spoke to Harry, whom she met in London earlier this year and last in South Africa in 2015, saying: ‘Harry, welcome, it’s so good to see you again.’ Harry then told Mrs Machel: ‘You look amazing. How do you manage it?’
Graca laughed: ‘No, no, no, there’s nothing like that. Age doesn’t…’ Speaking to Harry, she was heard saying it was ‘so nice to see you in Angola’, adding: ‘The Princess of Wales and all the steps she has taken… It was wonderful.’
Mozambique-born Mrs Machel, an advocate for women’s and children’s rights who was made an honorary British dame in 1997, was married to anti-apartheid political leader Mr Mandela from 1998 until his death in 2013.
Harry has been visiting southern Africa for two decades for holidays and conservation work, and has been to South Africa , Botswana, Angola and Malawi during this ten-day trip.
Prince Harry last met with Mrs Machel at the Nelson Mandela Foundation during his visit to South Africa on December 3, 2015
Nelson Mandela and Graca Machel are pictured together on the Queen Elizabeth 2 ocean liner in March 1998
Earlier, Harry and Meghan – who are on tour for the first time with their four-month-old son Archie – met young people and entrepreneurs in a township in Johannesburg and visited initiatives tackling unemployment.
Later, the Sussexes attended a creative industries and business reception at the residence of Britain’s High Commissioner to South Africa Nigel Casey.
More than 300 guests gathered for the event celebrating the UK and South Africa’s business investment relationship and looking ahead to the Africa investment Summit being hosted in the UK in 2020.
In a speech at the event, Harry joked: ‘I think this is one of those garden parties that really kicks off once we have left.’
He added: ‘Although I have spent a great deal of time here over the years, this visit, in particular, has filled us with hope and optimism.
Later, Meghan was greeted as she attended a creative industries and business reception in Johannesburg
The business reception today is being held at the residence of Britain’s High Commissioner to South Africa Nigel Casey
At the business reception, Harry joked today: ‘I think this is one of those garden parties that really kicks off once we have left’
More than 300 guests gathered for the event today celebrating the UK and South Africa’s business investment relationship
Prince Harry and Meghan attended today’s event which looks ahead to the Africa investment Summit in the UK in 2020
Meghan speaks as she attends the creative industries and business reception in Johannesburg today
Prince Harry and Meghan visit the British High Commissioner’s residence to attend an afternoon reception today
The Duchess of Sussex attends the creative industries and business reception in a garden in Johannesburg today
Meghan is animated as she speaks at the residence of Britain’s High Commissioner to South Africa Nigel Casey today
The Duchess of Sussex smiles as she speaks at the reception in Johannesburg for businesses today
‘This morning, we were among young social entrepreneurs in Tembisa, and it is testament to what investment, technology, and the right support can really do to transform lives and communities.
‘These young people weren’t in it just for themselves, each and every one of them was using the opportunity they’d been given, and the skills they had learned, to give back and support more people within in their own community.
‘It is also a perfect example of what we want the UK-Africa partnership to be about; youth, culture, innovation, high-tech business, investment, in fast-changing economies.
‘All of you here today have a part in supporting a young and dynamic African economy – and I hope that you will use your links to the UK to help you do that.’
The tour will come to an end when the duke and duchess meet South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, and First Lady Dr Tshepo Motsepe in Pretoria for a private audience.