The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visit the Nelson Mandela Centenary Exhibition

Published

Today, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited the Nelson Mandela Centenary Exhibition at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in the Southbank Centre, London.

Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited the Nelson Mandela Centenary Exhibition

The Exhibition celebrates the life of Nelson Mandela and marks 100 years since he was born.

It is jointly curated by the Apartheid Museum in South Africa, the British Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives, and the Southbank Centre.

Nelson Mandela Exhibition

In 2015, during a Royal visit to South Africa, The Duke of Sussex visited the archives at the Nelson Mandela Foundation Centre of Memory in Johannesburg.

Prince Harry in South Africa

During that visit in 2015, His Royal Highness met Nelson Mandela's widow Graca Machel at the Centre and gave this speech saying: "These organisations, which include the Nelson Mandela Foundation, are empowering the next generation of engaged South African citizens." 

Graca Machel

In 2008, The Duke of Sussex visited Nelson Mandela's cell on Robben Island, where Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years.

The Queen has met Nelson Mandela many times, including on a visit to Cape Town in 1995.

 

This year, The Queen met the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and gave him a gift of the letters between her and Nelson Mandela on South Africa returning to the Commonwealth.

The Queen meets the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex met 92-year-old Andrew Mlangeni, who stood on trial accused of sabotage against the then apartheid government in 1938, and spent 26 years in prison on Robben Island.

Their Royal Highnesses then saw some of the items in the exhibition, including the Robben Island Bible - which was actually a copy of Shakespeare plays disguised as a Bible.

Robben Island bible

Paul and Adelaide Joseph, Anti-Apartheid activists and close friends of Nelson Mandela and Winnie Mandela also met The Duke and Duchess.

Paul and Adelaide Joseph

Their Royal Highnesses heard a performance from the Ubunye Choir, which is made up of people from the South African diaspora.

Find out more about The Duke of Sussex and The Duchess of Sussex

Related content

News

World Mental Health Day 2019

10 October 2019

A speech by The Duke of Sussex at the visit to The Princess Diana Orthopaedic Centre, Huambo, Angola

I am humbled and honoured that my mother’s work and commitment to demining continues to inspire and that her legacy is being recognised and celebrated today with the naming of...

27 September 2019
News

International Youth Day 2019

12 August 2019

A speech delivered by The Duke of Sussex at the opening game of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019

Cities across England and Wales will come alive over the next six weeks as World Cup fever sweeps the nation once more

30 May 2019

A speech by The Duke of Sussex at a the Commonwealth Youth Roundtable

This year, as we mark the 70th anniversary of the modern Commonwealth, and with the theme: ‘A Connected Commonwealth', there is a great opportunity to harness the talent...

30 January 2019

A speech by The Duke of Sussex at Circus Zambia, The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust Event, Lusaka

We established The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust to be your platform. The place where your voices can be heard, where your work is seen and taken seriously.

27 November 2018
Press release 10 September 2018

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Autumn Tour

Read more

A speech by The Duke of Sussex at a reception to mark the Commonwealth Youth Challenge

We can’t wait to see you in action in your home countries and learn about what you’re doing to better the Commonwealth, and the world, in 2040 and beyond.

05 July 2018
Feature

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018

Find out more about Royal events at this year's meeting, which is being held in London
News

Commonwealth Day 2018

12 March 2018