A prince on a yoga mat, surrounded by bleating goats: Prince Harry (41) experienced what was probably the most unusual engagement of his UK trip at the summer festival of the charity Scotty's Little Soldiers at Maxstoke Castle in Warwickshire. Around 200 children and family members were present on Saturday as the Duke of Sussex participated in a goat yoga session, was pelted with water balloons, and patiently posed for selfies and hugs. It was also his last public appearance of the tour, as reported by the British newspaper The Sun.
The appearance fell on an eventful weekend for the youngest son of King Charles III (77). Less than 24 hours earlier, he had met privately with the monarch and his wife Camilla (78) at Highgrove, together with Duchess Meghan (44) and children Archie (7) and Lilibet (5) - it was the first family gathering since 2022.
From Downward-Facing Dog to Downward-Facing Goat
Six mother goats and their four-month-old kids were ready for the session. Instructor Rosie asked the group to channel the spirit of the goats, imitate their bleating, and look deep into their eyes. Instead of the classic downward-facing dog, the exercise was now called downward-facing goat.
Harry didn't need to be asked twice. Let me in!, he reportedly called toward the enclosure and immediately asked whether the animals would bite. Balancing on one leg, he formed horns with his hands above his head, later staring into a goat's eyes for so long that the two almost touched noses.
Things got really turbulent when the Duke lay down on his back and the goats promptly trampled over him. When one stepped between his legs, a spectator joked that the security team hadn't adequately protected the crown jewels. Ouch, Harry exclaimed.
Water Battle with a Three-Year-Old
From the goat enclosure, it was on to the inflatable obstacle course, where a full-on water battle awaited the royal guest. A three-year-old pelted him with one water balloon after another, hitting surprisingly often. You're cheeky!, Prince Harry called out to the boy. When a balloon hit him square in the face, the Duke of Sussex countered quickly: What's your name? I'll remember you and promptly retaliated with a load of water.
Moving Moments During the Q&A Session
Things became quieter during a question-and-answer session in the festival tent. Scotty's Little Soldiers supports children who have lost a parent from the armed forces, and these very children were allowed to quiz Harry. Nine-year-old Poppy, whose father died of leukemia in 2020, wanted to know what made him laugh after a difficult day. Harry put his hand on his heart: That hit me right in the heart. It's not always possible to laugh, he said, but his dog and his children usually manage it.
Sixteen-year-old Sebastian, whose father had died in 2010, asked whether he specially observes the death anniversary or birthday of his mother. Yes, there's lemon cake, the Duke revealed, adding that traditions are enormously important, especially when they're sweet. He named Botswana as his favorite country, because of the vastness, the animals, and the beauty. And if he had a superpower, Harry said, he would wish for a magic hand to give everyone having a bad day an encouraging tap on the shoulder.
