ON Friday afternoon, locals were surprised when princes Harry and William walked into the Spur for lunch. The British royals were in Grahamstown on their way to Port Alfred as part of the Enduro Africa 08 motorcycle race for charity.
ON Friday afternoon, locals were surprised when princes Harry and William walked into the Spur for lunch. The British royals were in Grahamstown on their way to Port Alfred as part of the Enduro Africa 08 motorcycle race for charity.
The two princes began their journey with about 100 other endurance riders in Port Edward, before passing through Alicedale, Queenstown, Coffee Bay, Mazeppa Bay, Hogsback, Port Alfred and Port Elizabeth.
The royals made pit stop at a steak house in Grahamstown dressed in motorcycle gear and accompanied by their bodyguards. Their bike helmets initially prevented them from being recognised by locals and Spur staff. The restaurant quickly filled up with star struck girls, wanting their pictures taken with the princes and autographs signed when diners realised who the pair were.
“There were nine of them and they occupied two tables upstairs. I did not know who they were at first, but thought their faces looked very familiar," said waitress Khanyiswa Zabo.
“The young one, Harry, was really hungry. For starters, he had cheesy garlic snails, for the main course he had a cheese burger, chicken-fajita and drank a soda,” she said.
On the menu
“ William and the other guys shared the starters. They had calamari, riblets and nachos.” Zabo also added how happy they were with the service and the food. Zabo admitted that she received a tip, but did not want to share how much she got.
“It did not feel like I was serving royalty, they were very polite, they smiled and acted like regular people.”
Spur manager, Philip Scholtz said when the restaurant’s owner recognised one of the bodyguards the upstairs area was quickly blocked off so that the princes wouldn’t be disturbed.
“It’s once in a lifetime, seeing them in Grahamstown is not something that happens normally,” said Scholtz.
“One day when Prince William becomes king, I will say I once served that king,” said Zabo.
The princes arrived at the Mansfield Reserve just outside Port Alfred just after 5pm. They lodged overnight at the local River Hotel. Compliments flowed and the River Hotel staff were treated with kindness, care and respect from the future King of England," Roebert said.
Confidentiality agreements
The team at the hotel had to sign a confidentiality agreement and were not allowed to make the princes’ visit public to Port Alfred.
"All you have seen and heard in the media does not even begin to compare to the open and unique personality of these fine young princes," said Andre Roebert, CEO of the River Group.
“They are interested in all you say and have all the time in the world for everyone, which is definitely a character trait of their late mother, Princess Diana. The time they had for the children and staff was overwhelming after a long and gruelling day on a motorbike.
"They said they will definitely be back and they want to visit the Tenahead Mountain Reserve, the River Hotel’s latest five star hotel high up in the mountains near Rhodes. Their security and bodyguards have seen it and say it is truly a piece of heaven," he added.
