Prince William plays vuvuzela

The vuvuzela was given a Royal seal of approval yesterday when Prince William tried his hand at playing one of the plastic horns at a football stadium in Botswana

The vuvuzela was given a Royal seal of approval yesterday when Prince William tried his hand at playing one of the plastic horns at a football stadium in Botswana.

The Prince was invited to blow the 3ft trumpet by 11-year-old Rebaone Badubi, and agreed to "give it a go" after warning that "I can't blow it".

Facing the music: Prince William tried his hand at playing the vuvuzela, after 11-year-old Rebaone Badubi invited him to "blow it". Pic/Getty Images

He could only manage to produce a strained vibrato note before laughing and saying, "There you go, I've embarrassed myself again."

The Prince was at the Maun Stadium in the north of Botswana to take part in Coaching for Conservation, a project that uses football to teach local schoolchildren about wildlife.

He played the part of a wild dog as children were encouraged to mimic the behaviour of predators and prey in a football game, before keeping goal as children tried to beat him from the penalty spot.

He saved four shots and let in five, saying "no chance" and "be nice" as children fired balls past him.

Prince William spent an hour taking part in the coaching sessions, which are supported by the Tusk Trust, of which he is patron, together with Lucas Radebe, the former Leeds United captain and South African international.