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His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini welcomed the British Royal Highness, Prince of Wales, Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Rosemary at the Ondini Royal palace in Ulundi. They cemented their heritage ties exchanging gifts as a testimony of their friendship and respect for each other along with the preservation of rhinos. Picture: Shelley Kjonstad

Britain’s Prince Charles and King Goodwill Zwelithini revisited the fraught history of conflict between their nations as they met yesterday at the site of the last battle of theAnglo-Zulu War.

The two rehashed the history of the 1879 conflict in speeches at Ondini Palace in Ulundi, the place where the British army carried out thefinal rout of King Cetshwayo’s forces, razing his palace to the ground and in effect ending the independence of the Zulus.

“Our relationship hasn’t always been entirely smooth, but it has always been characterised by deep admiration and respect,” said Prince Charles, who arrived in South Africa on Wednesday for a four-day visit with his wife, Camilla.

“Our meeting is but the latest in a long line and brings our relationship into the 21st century.”

Zwelithini, the traditional leader of the Zulu people, gave the British prince a portrait of King Cetshwayo.

Prince Charles reciprocated by presenting Zwelithini with a sterling silver cup, which he said echoed the one given to King Cetshwayo by Queen Victoria after the king had visited her in 1882 and asked to be allowed to return home from forced exile.

“Our great nation, the Zulus, and the British share a very rich history that is both good and not so good,” King Zwelithini said in his speech.

“Our meeting today marks a new beginning between our nations, an era of mutual respect and co-operation.”

Charles and Camilla were greeted at the palace by an honour guard of Zulu warriors in traditional dress, and were serenaded by three royal praise singers as they made their way to a tented dining room where the gifts were exchanged.

They were due to visit Phinda game reserve later in the day before travelling to Cape Town, where the prince will give a speech on climate change. – Sapa-AFP