Yesterday that meant donning a pink Paddington Bear pinny to make cakes with disadvantaged children in Lesotho.
In jeans and desert boots, the 28-year-old also took part in an impromptu dance session on his knees in the dust.
The prince is on a three-day visit to the tiny land-locked kingdom in South Africa, touring projects that are being supported by his charity, Sentebale.
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Getting his groove on: There were smiles all
round as the Prince swayed to the beat while visiting a school for deaf
children in South Africa
Showing some moves: Prince Harry has always said
that Africa is one of the few places in the world he can 'truly be
himself.' He certainly proved that as he took to his knees and danced on
the grass
Regal dance: Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso dancing during a visit to the Kananelo Centre for the Deaf
Rhythm: The Prince demonstrated he had a
remarkably good sense of rhythm - much more so than his father - as he
shimmied in time to the traditional whoops and wails of the youngsters
Copy me: As the group danced Prince Harry looked behind to copy the children's moves
Clapping: Looking hot under the South African sun the Prince clapped as he joined in the dance on the grass
Duties: His morning's work included a lesson in
sign language, cooking up a batch of doughnuts - and proving something
of a storm on the dancefloor
After a brief introduction to the school and its work, it was back to the classroom for Harry who was never a natural scholar and was definitely in 'mufty' for the day, wearing low-slung jeans, scuffed desert boots and a white cotton shirt.
'Now I am going to be a student for the day?' He asked.
'I can tell you I'm going to remember none of this.'
The prince joined an English class, who has written warm words of welcome on their blackboard - including 'we love you Prince Harry'.
He was taught a series of phrases in sign language by 14-year-old Nandos Chabalalan including the words for family, father, mother, brother, sister and baby.
New friend: A girl at the school pulls Prince Harry to come and join in their activities
Affinity: The third in line to the throne was a natural with the children he met today at the Kananelo Centre
His companion, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, with whom he co-founded Sentebale, had him in stitches as he asked the children to teach the red-headed royal the word for ginger.
The pair proved to be quite the comedy act as Harry quickly retorted; 'What about the word for bald!'
Still the 28-year-old was nothing less than game as he played along with the giggling children, showing his genuine affinity with the youngsters as he helped to pluck sobbing Limpho Nekoana, whose named means gift, out of the class when he became distressed and giving him a comforting cuddle.
Amused: With a toothy grin and prominent ears it
may not be the most flattering Royal portrait. But Prince Harry was
delighted with the sketch on a South African classroom chalk board
At his best: The prince looked relaxed and happy as he joked around with the children in the classroom
New start: The Kananelo Centre is one of only
two organisations offering schooling for deaf children in the country -
where disability has, for many years, been considered 'shameful'
As one young pupil walked around
eating a sweet and smiling, the prince joked about his own schooldays at
Eton; 'At my school you couldn't just walk around like that.'
Next it was on to a home economics class where a group of children were being taught to make 'fat cakes', a local doughnut style delicacy.
Harry collapsed in giggles and rolled his eyes when asked to don a rather feminine lilac pinny but was even more amused by the frilly one that Prince Seeiso was offered.
The pair were handed a huge vat of dough to roll out.
'And here's one we made earlier,' he joked, as Seeiso pretended to hit him with the rolling pin.
He whipped up a batch of the cakes and, suprisingly, offered them to the watching press men.
In a recent interview the Prince complained bitterly about his relationship the media but showed a good sense of humour when asked if they were a 'peace offering'.
Next it was on to a home economics class where a group of children were being taught to make 'fat cakes', a local doughnut style delicacy.
Harry collapsed in giggles and rolled his eyes when asked to don a rather feminine lilac pinny but was even more amused by the frilly one that Prince Seeiso was offered.
The pair were handed a huge vat of dough to roll out.
'And here's one we made earlier,' he joked, as Seeiso pretended to hit him with the rolling pin.
He whipped up a batch of the cakes and, suprisingly, offered them to the watching press men.
In a recent interview the Prince complained bitterly about his relationship the media but showed a good sense of humour when asked if they were a 'peace offering'.
Grants: The boarding school is run by nuns
from the order of the Holy Family of Bordeaux and has been hugely helped
by grants from Sentebale
Taking questions: The Kananelo Centre for the
Deaf strives to be a self-sustaining facility, which provides quality
education and living standards for students with special needs
Big hit: Prince Harry was a big hit with the children who all wanted to have a chance to chat with him
This was Prince Harry's first public engagement since returning from a four-month posting to Afghanistan as an Apache attack helicopter pilot.
Although the first two days of the trip were conducted privately, Harry invited a small number of cameras and journalists – including the Daily Mail - to join him on his last morning in the capital, Maseru.
Sentebale, which works to help vulnerable children in Lesotho, is a cause incredibly close to the third-in-line-to-the-throne’s heart.
Hands dirty: Strapping on in pink apron with a Paddington Bear print the prince rolled up his sleeves in a cookery class
Prankster: Prince Harry cowers from a joke rolling-pin attack during the visit
Getting stuck in: The Prince looked animated as he helped students make the food in the hot classroom
Culinary skills: He whipped up a batch of the cakes and, suprisingly, offered them to the watching press men
Good humour: Prince Harry laughed as he noticed the choice of apron he was given
He set the charity up in 2006 with a member of Lesotho’s own royal family, Prince Seeiso, in memory of both their late mothers.
In Sesotho, the language of Lesotho, Sentebale means ‘forget me not’ and Harry hopes that in championing a small, forgotten and frankly unfashionable part of the world he is, in some way, continuing the work that was close to Diana, Princess of Wales’s heart.
Known as the Mountain Kingdom, Lesotho is a 11,000 square mile former British protectorate entirely surrounded by neighbouring South Africa which has a population of just 1.8 million, many of whom live in highland villages which can only be reached by foot or horseback.
Relaxed: Prince Harry smiled broadly as he toured the project wearing a relaxed white shirt and jeans
Legacy: In Sesotho, the language of Lesotho,
Sentebale means ‘forget me not’ and Harry hopes that in championing a
small, forgotten and frankly unfashionable part of the world he is,
continuing his mother's work
Life expectancy for men and women is just 41 years, meaning the country has an increasing number of children orphaned by - and suffering from - the disease.
Recent studies suggest that there are more than 488,000 orphans and vulnerable children in Lesotho with 37,172 under the age of 14 infected with HIV.
The Kananelo Centre is one of only two organisations offering schooling for deaf children in the country - where disability has, for many years, been considered ‘shameful’ - and currently boasts 85 pupils aged between five and 21.
The boarding school is run by nuns from the order of the Holy Family of Bordeaux and has been hugely helped by grants from Sentebale which have funded new dormitories and solar panels which are now used to heat its water.
Show around: Principle Mary Patisi, who was
eager to show Harry the results of his work, said: 'We love him so much,
he is our treasure'
Fans: It would seem that Prince Harry is a hit with the children at the Kannanel Centre for the Deaf
Special event: The children hold a greeting for the arrival of Prince Harry
He appeared visibly moved as some of the youngsters sang him a traditional song in the Sesotho language in which they told the British royal how much they 'leant on him' and tapped his foot in time to their soaring chants.
Then it was time for a game of football with a group of students whose skill and enthusiasm despite their lack of sight was astonishing.
Harry watched at first, marvelling at how the boys darted , tackled and scored without being able to ever see the ball.
'It's as if they instinctively just sense it,' he said.
Close to his heart:
Sentebale, which works to help vulnerable children in Lesotho, is a
cause incredibly close to the third-in-line-to-the-throne's heart
Memory: Prince Harry set the charity up in 2006
with a member of Lesotho's own royal family, Prince Seeiso, in memory of
both their late mothers
He also raised funds to build a wall around the school, which was open to the elements and plagued by theft, as well as buy them cookers, pots and pans.
Principle Mary Patisi, who was eager to show Harry the results of his work, said: ‘We love him so much, he is our treasure. What he has done for us here can never be repaid. The children adore him.’
'Prince Harry promised he will continue to help us. He told me 'anything you want, promise you will ask me'. He has said that he will help us refurbish our playground and anything else we want. We are truly grateful,' she explained.
Prince Seeiso said of his friend: 'I remember when he first came as a relatively young chap straight out of school. I have watched him over the years - and being allowed to come here and be himself - I've seen the boy grow into a solid man with a proper vision about what he wants to do here in Lesotho and also in life.'
Lined up: At St. Bernadette's Resource Centre for the Blind the children lined excitedly to meet the Prince
Warm: The Prince bent down to shake their hands laughing with the girls
New start: Prince Harry also raised funds to
build a wall around the school, which was open to the elements and
plagued by theft, as well as buy them cookers, pots and pans
Return: Prince Harry will be flying back to the
UK on Friday to resume his military duties at RAF Wattisham in Suffolk
after a period of leave
The first Sentebale Gala Dinner marks the launch of a £2.4 million fundraising campaign to build the first permanent centre for children and young people infected with, or affected by, HIV and Aids in Lesotho.
The Mamohato Centre will provide psychological care and mentoring for children who are often stigmatised as a result of the disease.
Caring side: Prince Harry watches intently as a child reads Braille at the home
Taking a break: Prince Harry watches children play games at the St. Bernadette School for the visually impaired
Earlier this year he announced that he would be giving away half his estimated £2.5 billion fortune to charity - and it is clearly considered a coup for Sentebale that he is due to attend.
The charity has already announced that it wants to expand its work to a further four countries outside of Lesotho and quadruple its annual income to £8 million within the next four years.
Game on: Then it was time for a game of football
with a group of students whose skill and enthusiasm despite their lack
of sight was astonishing
Awe: Harry watched at first, marvelling at how the boys darted , tackled and scored without being able to ever see the ball
Marveling: It's as if they instinctively just sense it,' Prince Harry said as he watched the game
Last week the pair were photographed in an affectionate embrace during a ski holiday in Verbier, sparking speculation that he may meet the rest of her family at the wedding of Isabella Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe to tycoon Sir Richard Branson’s son, Sam.
Harry is, however, said to be ‘smitten’ with the beautiful 24-year-old dance student, daughter of one of the most celebrated debutantes of her era, Lady Mary Curzon.
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