A heartwarming story has emerged of Prince Harry's gentle nature and his desire to protect girlfriend Chelsy from the kind of intense paparazzi interest which dogs Kate Middleton.

When Chelsy arrived at Heathrow Airport last week after flying in for a 10-day holiday from Cape Town, Prince Harry was there to welcome his girlfriend at the arrivals lounge.

More significantly, however, despite being accompanied by his Personal Protection Officer — somebody to whom he could have so easily conveyed his message — the Prince took it upon himself to go over to each of the photographers who were awaiting Chelsy's arrival and personally (and politely) ask them to keep away from her so not to cause her any undue upset.

The request worked, the photographers moved away and Chelsy's latest entrance into the country went unreported (in Britain at least).