Royal British brothers start southern Africa tour; Harry praises Botswana

Royal British brothers start southern Africa tour

GABORONE, Botswana — Britain’s Prince Harry has celebrated his grandmother’s birthday in Botswana at the start of a southern African tour he will make with his brother.

Harry, calling Botswana a country close to his heart, praised its natural beauty and the friendliness of its people in comments at the Queen’s official birthday celebration Monday at the British ambassador’s residence in Botswana’s capital, Gaborone.

Harry and his older brother William will be visiting charity projects they oversee in Botswana and in Lesotho this week. They also will visit South Africa, host of this year’s football World Cup. William is president of England’s Football Association, which is bidding for the 2018 World Cup.