Prince Charles to attend Nelson Mandela's funeral on behalf of the Queen He recalled in particular the "very enjoyable" occasion when he met the former ANC leader in Johannesburg with the Spice Girls in 1997. Mandela spoke fondly of his time as a child roaming the veld around Qunu, a tiny village some 550 miles from Johannesburg. He returned after his release from prison and built a large home there. He will be buried on a hillside overlooking the green fields where he watched cattle and played as a boy. A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "Her Majesty the Queen will be formally represented at the funeral of Nelson Mandela by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales on Sunday, December 15 in Qunu, South Africa."