Britain's Prince Harry will represent Queen Elizabeth at the Nelson Mandela memorial service.
The flame-haired royal has been chosen to stand in for his grandmother at next Monday's (03.03.14) Westminster Abbey service honouring the former South African President, who passed away aged 95 in December.
The special National Service of Thanksgiving will be broadcast by the BBC and will also include a speech by South African social rights activist and retired Anglican bishop, Desmond Tutu.
Prince William and Duchess Catherine were attending the royal premiere of biopic 'Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom' at the time they learned of the iconic leader's death.
William commented: "It's obviously extremely sad and tragic news. We were just reminded of what an extraordinary and inspiring man Nelson Mandela was, and my thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."
Prince Charles also released a statement after Mandela's passing, saying, "Mr Mandela was the embodiment of courage and reconciliation. He was also a man of great humour and had a real zest for life. With his passing, there will be an immense void not only in his family's lives, but also in those of all South Africans."

Britain's Prince Harry has been snapping up bargain buys at Budgens supermarket.
The wealthy royal recently visited the Dersingham, Norfolk, branch of the saving-savvy retailer to buy some tasty treats for his tea, browsing the aisles for 10 minutes before plumping for a juicy £5 steak.
Manager Karl Mendham told The Sun newspaper: "He was a perfect gentleman, you couldn't have asked for any more."
Harry also picked up a 30p onion and a packet of £1 organic mushrooms, presumably with the aim of to rustling up a romantic French-inspired meal for his girlfriend Cressida Bonas.
The 29-year-old royal is no stranger to bargain buys and has proved he doesn't have expensive tastes in the past.
Last year he was spotted on a midnight run to high street chain Nando's, sampling a spicy chicken takeaway after England's World Cup qualification.
He also stunned onlookers at The Aviator pub in Gloucestershire when he tucked into a classic bacon and egg sandwich, washed down with a mug of tea, impressing fellow customers with his "completely normal" behaviour.

'Ripper Street' has been revived for a third series.
The period crime drama, which was axed amid falling viewing figures last year, will return to screens in a deal between BBC and Amazon.
Amazon confirmed today (26.02.14) it will screen the third series exclusively on its Prime Instant Video platform - formerly known as LoveFilm - before it is screened on BBC One a few months later.
The first two series of 'Ripper Street' are also available immediately on Amazon Prime Instant Video.
Amazon Instant Video's head of international content acquisition Jason Ropell said in a statement: "We're delighted to have secured not only the highly popular first two seasons of 'Ripper Street' for our Prime Instant Video customers but we can also confirm today that we will be making season three, news that we know will delight the millions of fans of this brilliant British drama."
BBC's controller of drama commissioning Ben Stephenson added: "This is an exceptional opportunity to bring back Ripper Street for a third series by working with a great partner."
'Ripper Street', which follows a team of police detectives investigating gruesome murders in Victorian-era East London, stars Matthew Macfayden, Jerome Flynn and MyAnna Buring.

Michelle Williams feels like a "baby" at 'Cabaret' rehearsals.
The 33-year-old actress is to make her Broadway debut in a revival of the production - in which she will play 19-year-old Sally Bowles - and admits she has needed extra preparation time ahead of the production's opening next month.
She said: "They were generous enough to start me a few months before everyone else. I've been taking classes in a studio in Brooklyn and I'm basically being a kid there. I feel like a baby. I get to rehearsal, and I'm like, 'What do I do?' "
The 'My Week with Marilyn' actress also joked about her "bravery" in taking on the role in the musical, which sees her star opposite Alan Cumming.
Speaking at a TimesTalk discussion with her co-star and director Rob Marshall at New York's TimesCenter on Monday (24.02.14), she said: "Some people call it bravery, but really, I call it my inability to see a decision through to the end when I say 'yes.' "
The production - which will run for 24 weeks - previews from March 21 ahead of the official opening night on April 24.

Katy Perry and John Mayer have split up.
The 'Roar' hitmaker- who was seen with a ring on her engagement finger earlier this month, sparking speculation she was set to wed again - reportedly called off her romance with the 36-year-old singer "within the last few days", sources told E! News.
It is unclear why the couple have separated, and neither of them have commented on the reports as yet.
Katy - who was previously married to Russell Brand - began dating John in summer 2012 and they split briefly last March before reconciling.
The pair recently recorded a duet, 'Who You Love', for John's latest album 'Paradise Valley' and Katy, 29, previously said she was thrilled to work with him because she was a fan of his even before they began dating.
She said: "I've been a fan of John's for years before I got to actually kiss him.
"I've been such a fan, I think he's so incredibly talented and gifted and a genius songwriter. So to be a part of anything he was doing was just natural."

Amanda Bynes has enrolled in at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising.
The troubled actress has reportedly become confident, makes presentations to her class and interacts freely with her classmates since studying at the prestigious university based in Orange County, California.
Amanda's studious attitude comes after she completed psychiatric treatment for both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in December.
Sources close the 27-year-old star told TMZ.com that her treatment is going well, and she is in the process of removing a number of inappropriate tattoos in addition to giving up smoking marijuana.
Amanda is also said to be "horrified" by crude comments she made about Drake last year when she said she wanted the rapper to "murder my vagina" on Twitter, which is claimed to show her resurgence of right and wrong.
Meanwhile, the 'Hairspray' actress reached a plea deal in her driving under the influence (DUI) case on Monday (24.02.14) after her lawyer managed to get the charges from 2012 dropped so she could plead no contest to a lesser charge of alcohol-related reckless driving.
Although Amanda escaped jail and a fine, she will undergo three years of probation and must attend three months of alcohol education classes.

Matt LeBlanc looked like a "feral" man when he took a break from acting.
The 46-year-old actor - who has 10-year-old daughter Marina with ex-wife Melissa McKnight - retreated from the spotlight for five years from 2006 and was so reluctant to leave his Santa Barbara ranch, he even resorted to cutting his own hair, which once resulted in a disastrous Mohawk.
He said: "I looked like a feral man with his kid. I'm glad child services doesn't have a picture of that one."
However, Matt admits the scrutiny he was under at the height of his fame from sitcom 'Friends' had some unexpected benefits; such as when he could hear a helicopter above his house and then turned on his TV to see there was a live shot featuring the homes of himself and his 'Friends' co-stars Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox.
He told Boston Common magazine: "I'm looking at it, I can hear the helicopter, and I look close at the TV and think, 'My roof sure looks like s**t.' So I got out the ladder to get up on the roof, and sure enough I had to get an estimate to redo the roof."

Sarah Harding was surprised by Kimberley Walsh's pregnancy.
The Girls Aloud singer is delighted her former bandmate and longterm boyfriend Justin Scott are expecting their first child together, but she didn't expect the happy news to come so quickly after another ex-member of the group, Nadine Coyle, welcomed her baby girl into the world.
Talking on British chat show 'Lorraine' she said: "I think we all expected Kimberley to be the first one and I kind of thought if it's going to be anyone, it would be Kimberley next but I didn't expect it so soon. "
While Sarah is happy in her relationship with DJ Mark Foster, she isn't ready for motherhood yet.
She explained: "Apparently I'm next in line ... not yet, not yet though. Maybe one day ... I have a few more boxes to tick."
Quizzed on being an honorary auntie, she added: "Yes I know, and I have three god children as well so that's enough for now."
Though the 'Promise' singer has been dating Mark for just under two years, they have known one another since they were teenagers and she says their shared history is good for their relationship.
The 32-year-old beauty said: "It does help, there's definitely a lot of trust involved and he's not one of these 'yes people', he'll tell me if he thinks I'm wrong."

Mark Wright says Michelle Keegan changed him.
The former 'The Only Way is Essex' lothario has credited his stunning 'Coronation Street' fiancée with changing his life, but admits she - and her family - were initially wary of him because of his playboy reputation.
He told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "In the past I have lived like a lot of young boys - meeting a lot of people and having a fun time. But the moment I met Michelle I was a completely different man.
"In the beginning Michelle did say to me, 'I imagined you would be different.' I tried to explain myself but she said, 'Don't go there.'
"I get on with her family so well, and her dad keeps me in place. At first he wouldn't let loose until he got to know me. Now he likes me and we play badminton and golf together."
The 27-year-old star popped the question to the 'Corrie' actress last year after struggling to be away from her for three months while he filmed his new ITV2 reality show.
He explained: "I was desperate to see her. I missed her so much and that's when I realised, 'F***ing hell, this is intense.' I couldn't be away from her for that long, so I thought I'm going to get on this flight and propose. I flew Michelle to Dubai and that's where I told her I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her."

Dame Maggie Smith has no plans to leave 'Downton Abbey'.
The 79-year-old actress - who plays the Dowager Countess of Grantham, Violet Crawley - is still enjoying her role as the Crawley family matriarch and will remain part of the period drama for the foreseeable future.
Executive producer Gareth Neame said: "Maggie Smith will be in the show as long as she wants to do it. She'll be back this coming season. She's a huge part of the show, and I think she enjoys doing it.
"I think it's remarkable for someone who's had such a long and illustrious career to be still delivering work of this calibre. One has also really got to make reference to the remarkable combination of [writer-and-creator] Julian Fellowes and Maggie Smith. She's almost like a muse to him."
The producer also teased the addition of Richard E. Grant to the show's cast in series five, playing Downton houseguest Simon Bricker.
He told The Hollywood Reporter: "The show has always been big about the guests coming in, though we don't really do stunt casting. Although the bedrock of the show is this cast of hugely loved characters, it's how they interact with the guests that I think makes every season feel fresh. Richard [E. Grant] and Anna [Chancellor] are two very fun additions."

'Strictly Come Dancing' could be by the BBC in the next five years, according to the corporation's former director of communications.
The celebrity ballroom dancing competition could be pulled along with 'Top Gear' and 'The One Show' in the coming years and BBC executives are reportedly hunting for replacements.
Former BBC director of communications, Ed Williams said: "I think there's a series of very popular formats which over the next five to 10 years will reach the end of their natural lives, such as 'Strictly Come Dancing', 'The Apprentice', 'Dragons' Den', 'Top Gear' and 'The One Show'."
The sensational claims made in Ed's new book, 'Is the BBC in Crisis?', also suggest staff are struggling to come up with fresh ideas and TV's brightest producers are put off working for the institution due its low wages.
Ed added: "What I think is particularly challenging for the BBC is how can they make the case to get the best creative people at the BBC coming up with these ideas when, actually, if you've got a great idea, why take it to the BBC?"
The BBC has seemingly reached a standstill in Saturday night entertainment formats since 'Strictly Come Dancing' launched in 2004.
Meanwhile, independently produced talent show 'The Voice' has proved a hit with viewers this year but is costly for the BBC to air.

The producers of 'The Only Way is Essex' have trademarked the cast's signature catchphrases.
Lime Pictures is acquiring full rights to what is said on the hit ITV2 reality show, which means stars including Sam Faiers and Gemma Collins will need to pay the production company a share of profits from entrepreneurial efforts utilising their favourite phrases.
'TOWIE' has spawned lots of popular sayings such as 'reem', 'well jel' and 'vajazzle'.
A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "The cast of 'TOWIE' are a canny bunch and they know that when they coin a marketable catchphrase that they can really make some money out of it."
Among the stars affected will be former cast member Joey Essex and his Fusey fashion brand.
The insider added: "Joey created a shop from his range and sells T-shirts, fragrances and hair products named after phrases he coined on the show. The producers already take 15 per cent of the cast's earnings, but this would mean even their company's earnings would be eligible - even after they leave the show."
However, it's thought 'TOWIE' catchphrases may not be as popular as they once were as cast members attempt to emulate the success of words like 'reem'.
The source claimed: "Since the odder words, like Joey's 'reem', took off in popularity, a lot of the cast seem to have been using more of their own distinctive words. The potential income could be considerably less lucrative from now on."
A spokesperson for Lime Pictures commented: "Lime Pictures will always endeavour to protect the 'TOWIE' brand."