When Harry Met School Children

Prince Harry tells schoolchildren 'don't follow me in the bad things I do, only the good things.'

16:43 04 December 2015

Prince Harry spoke to children in Soweto in South Africa to discuss leadership to children at Siyabonga Secondary School in Braamfischer.

 

He told a group of schoolchildren "don't do the bad things I do."

 

“I would never want anyone to follow me in the bad things I do, only the good things.”

 

“We have a certain responsibility to make sure that young people look at us and say that’s how I want to live, then hopefully everyone else will follow.

 

“It’s very important that people in a public position behave well.

 

“Because you have to ask, if I had a young person following me, how would I want them to behave?”

 

He also told a small group of students, aged 14-18: “You want to make sure you live your life as good as possible, always remember people are watching every single step you make.

 

"If you do something bad a lot of young people will follow.

 

"You have a responsibility to live up to your beliefs and encourage young people to follow in your footsteps.”

 

Speaking about his experience in the army, he continued: "I spent 10 years in the military and enjoyed every minute of it, I had the opportunity to go university which I could have easily done but ever since I was small boy I loved the idea of being in combats and camouflage, flying a helicopter - that was the cool bit, the fun bit.

 

"When you become part of that organisation - we call it the university of life - you get taught to be a different person.

 

"It's very easy to grow up with out any guidance and go off track.

 

"The Army, for me and so many young people, it can give you guidance, provides opportunities and gives you confidence.

 

“I genuinely believe that being part of an organisation like that, knowing the opportunities that I had, helps you realise what sort of talents and skills you have. Unless you get tested, how are you going to know?

 

"I had ten fantastic years in the Army, from a leadership point of view I think it was crucial, for somebody like me those ten years taught me what being a leader is all about."