Reluctant Princes play snakes and bladders

It was not clear who was more afraid of whom when the pair first encountered the reptile during a visit to a game reserve in Botswana.

The brothers had joined a group of deaf students from a rural school being taught how to avoid the dangers of snakes in the bush.

As a keeper from the Mokolodi Nature Reserve, near the capital Gaborone, brought the 8ft (2.4m) snake up to Harry, he said "Whoa, whoa, whoa", and backed away. But the reptile was draped across his shoulders and the 25-year-old Prince was left grimacing.

The snake, apparently frightened at being handled by the Princes, used one of its defence mechanisms and tried to urinate on William, leading the brothers to roar with laughter.

Harry was given the head of the two-year-old snake to hold and lifted it towards his brother, who said "Don't put it in my face" and pulled away in mock horror.