Prince Harry charms children in classroom visit to Lesotho charity and even gets an 'official' chalk portrait On a three-day visit to Lesotho, a tiny kingdom in the heart of South Africa Touring projects that are being supported by his charity, Sentebale Set the charity up in 2006 with a member of Lesotho's own royal family 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. As a royal you have to take everything in your stride and 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. The third in line to the throne was a natural with the children he met today at the Kananelo Centre for the Deaf in Lesotho, which is supported by his charity, Sentebale. 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' 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. 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 The prince also managed to sign 'my name is Harry' and wiped his brow theatrically as he managed to pull it off. 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. 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.' 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 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'. Regal dance: Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso dancing during a visit to the Kananelo Centre for the Deaf Showing some moves: Before leaving Harry was even persuaded to take part in a dance with some of the children, falling to his knees with mock embarrassment and shaking his shoulders Father not like son: 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 'You should be giving them to me!' he laughed. Before leaving Harry was even persuaded to take part in a dance with some of the children, falling to his knees with mock embarrassment and shaking his shoulders. 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. The 28-year-old has always said that Africa is one of the few places in the world he can "truly be himself." And today he was certainly in his element as he laughed and played with disadvantaged youngsters on his 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. 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 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. It faces huge social and economic problems: more than 40 per cent of his inhabitants live below the international poverty line and it has the third highest HIV/Aids rates in the world. 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. 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 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. Today the prince is visiting two projects helping some of the country's most defenceless youngsters - the Kananelo Centre for the Deaf and the St Bernadette's Centre for the Blind. 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. At St Bernadatte's Centre for the Blind, which cares for 70 children aged between six and 23, Harry is considered "an angel from the heaven" after helping to build dormitories for the children, who until then had been sleeping on the floor. 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.' Later today the prince will fly onto Johannesburg in neighbouring South Africa for a very different kind of engagement. 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. Among the guests at the lavish event at glitzy Summer Place will be Patrice Motsepe, a South African mining magnate who was one of South Africa's first billionaires. 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. Lined up: At St. Bernadette's Resource Centre for the Blind the children lined excitedly to meet the Prince Royal greeting: Prince Harry meets 15- year-old orphan Keneuoe at St Bernadette's Centre for the blind Warm: The Prince bent down to shake their hands laughing with the girls 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. 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, meaning he has had to turn down an invitation to join his new girlfriend, Cressida Bonas, at her half-sister's wedding in South Africa next week. 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.