Prince Harry proved quite a hit with royal fans as he attended the 50th anniversary screening of Zulu on Tuesday night. The 29-year-old royal arrived at the Odeon cinema in Leicester Square, London, to the sounds of cheers and applause. Ever the good sport, Harry veered off the red carpet to greet fans who called out his name. The Prince broke into laughter when he was hugged tightly by one particularly animated fan, much to the amusement of those around him.
© Photo: Getty ImagesPrince Harry is greeted by excited fans on the red carpet
Harry also stopped to meet Shenkin, the Royal Welsh regimental goat of the 3rd Battalion, who diligently stood on the red carpet and looked slightly less fazed at making the royal encounter. The anniversary screening of the historical war film, which was released in 1964 and stars Michael Caine, will have been a highlight of Harry's social calendar this week. "I watch this film every single year before Christmas time," he told Suzannah Endfield Olivier, the daughter of the film's director Cy Endfield, at the event. "Maybe once, maybe twice."
© Photo: Getty ImagesPrince Harry meets Shenkin the army mascot
The premiere will have also held a special place in Harry's heart, as proceeds from the night went to the Prince's charity Sentebale — which means "forget me not" in Sesotho, the local language of in the southern African country of Lesotho. Harry set up the charity in 2006 with the country's Prince Seeiso to help local children affected by poverty and the region's HIV epidemic.
The event also raised funds for military charity Walking With The Wounded, of which Harry is a patron. The third charity to benefit from the cinematic event was The David Rattray Memorial Trust.
© Photo: Getty ImagesPrince Harry arrives at Leicester Square
Once inside the auditorium, Harry was greeted by the sound of the national anthem sung by three-piece band Blake. Spectators in the audience were asked to stand while the royal guest of honour - who was accompanied by bodyguards - took his seat. A pre-recorded meassage was played from the film's star Michael, who was unable to make the evening. He joked that he wished he could have attended "just to meet Prince Harry". Zulu tells the story of the Battle of Rorke's Drift, which took place in January 1879 and saw British troops fight against the Zulus in an overnight battle during the Anglo-Zulu War.
