Archie given children’s book on ‘power of words and secret of forgiveness’

Baby Archie was given a book about “the power of words and the secret of forgiveness” in a basket of gifts presented to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in South Africa.

The presents from the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation celebrated South African women, children and non-racialism.

Harry also received a pair of framed photographs of his late mother Diana, Princess of Wales meeting President Nelson Mandela in Cape Town in 1997, one for himself and the other for his brother the Duke of Cambridge.

As well as Children’s Bible Stories, Archie was given an illustrated copy of Desmond And The Very Mean Word written by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and based on a true story from his childhood in South Africa.

It tells of how young Desmond’s pride and joy at taking his new bicycle out for a ride through his neighbourhood turns to hurt and anger when a group of boys shout a very mean word at him, and how he learns to show compassion after first responding with an insult.

Other gifts for the family included a children’s songbook containing the work of Patricia Schonstein, who opened a pre-school in Grahamstown in 1984 in defiance of Apartheid rules.

Her teaching was based on principles of peace, non-violence, non-racism and care of the earth.

Sweet treats on offer during the visit included a personalised heart-shaped biscuit, iced with the words “Master Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor”.

There were also cakes decorated with the words Hope and Joy and biscuits with the phrase Me Too, the movement against sexual harassment and sexual assault.

The Sussexes were also given a matching pair of beaded bracelets hand-made by members of Ikamva Labantu, which works in Cape Town townships focusing on initiatives such as early childhood development; a copy of The Book Of Joy signed by both the Dalai Lama and the Archbishop; and a set of portable and recyclable lap-desks from the Tutu Desk Campaign.