Life's a beach for Prince Harry

When a royal presence was needed at the women's beach volleyball finals, there was only one man for the job: step forward, Prince Harry.

The party-loving 27-year-old is no stranger to Horse Guards Parade, where his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II's birthday is celebrated annually with a military pageant.

But there were no scarlet tunics in sight this time – just plenty of tanned thighs, toned muscles and tight-fitting bikinis.

Which scenario the army attack helicopter pilot prefers he has not let on.

However, he certainly seemed in his element in the rocking 15,000-seater temporary Olympic venue, with its thumping dance music yesterday.

Harry snuck in part-way through the first set of the bronze medal match, where Larissa Franca and Juliana Silva of Brazil beat China's Xue Chen and Zhang Xi of China by two sets to one.

The prince, third in line to the throne, was there in his role as an ambassador for the Great Britain team.

"If I knew that, I would have won the game," Zhang said

His appearance got the Brazilian seal of approval.

"I have to give a kiss to him, he is so nice! Today he has brought luck for us!," Juliana said

Larissa added: "I didn't know he was here or I would have celebrated more! It's great that he's here and it's good to know that our sport is getting recognised." Dressed casually in a Team GB polo neck t-shirt with his shades in his hand, he sat next to British double gold medal-winning track cyclists Laura Trott and Jason Kenny.

Former England football captain David Beckham also joined the party, and was quickly posing for pictures with fans.

The atmosphere was pumping, with people on their feet dancing in the rows to the pounding beats and Mexican waves rolling round the stands.

... contd.

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