When Harry met Scary, Baby, Posh, Ginger and Sporty

A peck on the cheek from Baby Spice sent a royal flush to the face of Prince Harry yesterday, when he met the Spice Girls in Johannesburg, writes Keith Nuthall.

The Prince of Wales, who introduced his 13-year-old son to the singers, took Harry to a charity concert by the five-girl pop group. Emma Bunton, 21, held Harry's hand before planting a kiss on the young prince, who blushed and smiled nervously.

The Spice Girls also met President Nelson Mandela, who was playing host to Prince Charles, as part of the Prince's southern Africa tour.

There were kisses for Mr Mandela, too - from Ginger Spice, aka Geri Halliwell, 25 - and he announced his conversion to the creed of Girl Power. "It's ... to be acknowledged - it's a fact," he said.

Their photocall was punctuated by jokes. Prince Charles said encountering the Spice Girls was the second greatest moment of his life.

Asked what had been the greatest, he replied: "The first time I met them."