Rihanna undergoes AIDS test with Prince Harry
Singer Rihanna and Prince Harry brought awareness to the global AIDS fight in Barbados on Thursday (01Dec16) by undergoing a live test for the disease.
The Umbrella hitmaker returned to the island nation to represent her country on Wednesday and met the British royal at the Toast to the Nation event, held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Barbados' independence from the British Empire.
On Thursday, Rihanna and Prince Harry reunited for a World AIDS Day
event, during which medical professionals tested them for the blood
disease.
"You made it seem like it hurts," Rihanna joked as her finger was
pricked. "It's not as painful as you said this morning."
Both tests came back negative.
Prince Harry explained he wanted to showcase how easy it is to
undergo AIDS testing, while stressing the importance of treating
the virus with the proper medication.
"It is amazing how quick it is," he said. "So whether you're a man,
woman, gay, straight, black or white - even ginger - why wouldn't
you come and have a test?"
The AIDS test was hastily arranged after Harry spoke with Rihanna
backstage at the Golden Anniversary Spectacular Mega Concert on
Wednesday.
A spokesperson for Kensington Palace says. "This was only arranged
last night. Prince Harry asked her at the concert. They spoke after
he had given his speech. They spoke for about 15 minutes. She was
very happy to do it.
"She has had people in her life that she has known, who have died
from AIDS. She said this is important and she wanted to do this.
She has tens of millions of followers on social media alone. Her
people are confident that she can reach a billion people through
social media."
The royal heir arrived in Barbados earlier this week (begs28Nov16)
and kicked off his visit with a stop at the Nightingale Children's
Home, which provides accommodation and care for kids under the age
of 18.
He also headed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Wednesday to
spend time with sick children, six years after his last visit. His
two-week tour of the Caribbean will wrap up this weekend
(03-04Dec16) with a trip to Guyana.