Princes of the road roar into the Bay today

Jenni Marsh WEEKEND POST REPORTER marshj@avusa.co.za

ROYAL adventurers Princes William and Harry won the heart of yet another female fan this week when they charmed a Stutterheim resident during their charity off-road motorcycle tour of the Eastern Cape.

Chandre Mammes, of the Amahlathi Tourist Association, met the royal brothers when she was called on to help serve more than 100 hungry bikers on Thursday at the Thomas River Historical Village near Stutterheim. She said the “dashing young princes” were very approachable, full of smiles and just like “one of the lads”.

The princes have been winning hearts throughout the province while making their way from Port Edward to Port Elizabeth in the eight-day Enduro Africa event. The money raised will go to Unicef, the Nelson Mandela Children‘s Fund and Sentebale, a charity established by Harry to help disadvantaged children in Lesotho. It is hoped about £300000 (R5,2-million) can be raised.

“William told me he was enjoying the bike ride and that the Eastern Cape was beautiful,” she said.

When Mammes asked second-in-line to the British throne William, 26, where he was going next, he told her his plan was to get on his bike and follow the rider in front into the great unknown.

On Wednesday, the bikers took a break from the 1000km journey to help upgrade a creche in Morgan‘s Bay. Joining the 88 other bikers, the princes helped build a jungle gym for the children and provided mattresses and books for the facility.

The princes also took part in a charity football match where sponsors paid R4000 for every goal scored. They had to concede defeat to the local Morgan‘s Bay players in the end with a score of 6-2. The 15-minute match ultimately raised R40000.

After leaving the coastal village the Enduro Africa team headed up to Katberg. A source at the Katberg Hotel, where the princes stayed, said it was the first time the venue had hosted royalty.

Yesterday, the bike riders travelled to Port Alfred before heading to Port Elizabeth today .

They will roar into the Port Elizabeth Airshow this afternoon, making an appearance at the Algoa Flying Club area of the airport at around 3pm. They will also be passing through the Rover Club in Walmer this afternoon.

There is speculation the royal duo may visit Kings Beach which is named after their great-grandfather, King George VI, who swam there with his family during a state visit to South Africa in 1947.

William and Harry will spend tonight at a hotel in Summerstrand before returning to the UK.

Additional reporting by Shari Salmon

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