Looks like there might be a couple of extra stragglers on the rally!!

Reported today in the Daily Mail.............

The Princes of Wheels: William and Harry plan 1,000-mile motorbike trek across Africa

Princes William and Harry are planning a hair-raising 1,000-mile motorbike ride across Africa.

The brothers want to follow the epic example set by Ewan McGregor and his friend Charley Boorman, who biked across some of the roughest terrain in the world in the TV series Long Way Down.

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The idea is understood to be Harry's brainchild to raise money for his charity Sentebale, which was set up by the prince to help orphans and HIV/Aids victims in Lesotho.


William has long had a love of powerful motorbikes - owning a 175mph Honda Blackbird - which has previously raised concerns among police officers detailed to protect him.

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A ride across Africa, however, would bring a whole new set of perils.


As well as the poor state of the roads - where they exist - local drivers rarely follow traffic rules and many are renowned for driving crazily. Roaming animals, especially at night, are an additional hazard.
Travel advice from the Foreign Office website warns that armed carjackings are on the increase in Lesotho, one of the countries the princes hope to visit.


Their route has not been finalised but is also likely to take in remote parts of South Africa, which also suffers hijackings.


Last night, there were warnings the trip could cost the taxpayer more than £100,000 in security costs.


William and Harry would need at least six protection officers and possibly more depending on a risk assessment.
The African adventure is planned for later this year if the princes can secure leave from their commanders.


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A friend of the brothers said yesterday: "William is a keen motorcyclist and he couldn't turn down the invitation from Harry. The trip is currently being planned."


The friend claimed: "The regiment has granted them leave."
Sentebale was founded by Prince Harry and Lesotho's Prince Seeiso to help the forgotten victims of poverty and of the HIV/Aids epidemic ravaging the southern African kingdom.


Nearly one third of Lesotho's people are infected with HIV/Aids and there are around 180,000 orphans in a country of 1.8million.

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