It was to be an epic journey that would have combined their love of adventurous travel with a chance to raise much-needed funds for a favourite charity, but Princes William and Harry have been informed that they cannot undertake a 1,000-mile motorcycle ride across Africa.
“Harry has been told that their protection officers would be unable to guarantee their safety,” one of his chums tells Mandrake. “They said they simply cannot allow them to put themselves at such a risk of kidnap or ambush.”
The pair had already begun planning the epic journey, which they intended to carry out this summer to raise money for Harry’s charity Sentebale, established by the 23-year-old prince to help orphans and people affected by HIV/Aids in Lesotho. They hoped to follow the example set by the Hollywood actor Ewan McGregor and his friend Charley Boorman, who travelled 15,000 miles across 18 African countries in the BBC television series Long Way Down.
Harry – whose sometime girlfriend, Chelsy Davy, is from Zimbabwe – is believed to have been joined in his enthusiasm by his 25-year-old brother. William shares his affection for Africa and has a fondness for powerful motorcycles – he owns a 175mph Honda Blackbird. Understandably, his plan was greeted less warmly by their protection officers.
The princes reportedly hoped to visit Lesotho where, the Foreign Office warns on its website, armed “carjackings” are on the increase, and remote parts of South Africa, which also suffers such hijackings. William’s motorcycling hobby has already raised fears for his safety. Last year, members of the police team detailed to protect him were said to have warned superior officers that they would not break the law when shadowing him.
It was alleged that he’d had “a wobble” on the 1100cc bike, which nearly made him come off while travelling at speed. Wills is always guarded by two armed officers on a police motorcycle, but they had warned that they had trouble keeping up with him.
A Clarence House spokesman confirms that the princes will not undertake the ride. (via The Telegraph)
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they really should let them do something constantly over protecting them makes them look like baby’s
The world is not as safe as 50 years ago, many loons, terrorists…
I’m sure they could find them something.
The cost of security alone for this trip would possibly be greater than the amount they could raise. This whole thing was made up, just like Kate’s amazon race. What a joke. The press are getting very creative in their rubbish these days.
I think Harry and William should go for it and ride their bikes just as long as they have Higher security for them.
I hope if the boys can’t do their bike ride that they will find some other way to raise money for a charity. Because of their stature they are in a a great position to do a lot of good. I hope that they take advantage of that to do some real good.
These two would need a security staff of 100 to do this adventure in this day and age.