Prince Harry Jokes About Being 'A Bad Uncle' For Missing Princess Charlotte's Christening While Volunteering In Africa

Prince Harry may be on top of his royal duties, but it seems he feels he could be doing a better job being an uncle to Princess Charlotte. He missed his niece's christening, which took place July 5, because he already had agreed to participate in a conservation project in Africa. New reports suggest Harry, 30, who is still away volunteering, is feeling the guilt of having missed a major milestone in Princess Charlotte's life.

The Mail on Sunday (via Hello Magazine) reported Harry feels like he's "a bad uncle" because he hasn't been able to spend time with Princess Charlotte, now 3 months, since he's been in Africa. Simson Uri-Khob, the director of capacity building at Save the Rhino Trust in Namibia, told the publication the prince was torn between being at the christening and completing his work. Ultimately, he decided he was happy where he was and that it was where he needed -- and wanted -- to be.

"[The prince said] 'What a bad uncle I am! I should really be there. But today I am here. This is where I want to be,' " Uri-Khob shared.

As was previously reported by People magazine, Harry is currently in Nambia's Kunene region in Africa on a "dream" assignment. He, and a group of other volunteers, are helping to track lions in the Palmwag Reserve. Although it is a far cry from his former job as a military pilot, it appears Harry is enjoying himself. During his assignment, which will last three months, he has had the opportunity to work with all types of wildlife, including rhinos. On Aug. 12, photos surfaced of the young royal visiting Petronel Nieuwoudt, a center dedicated to the care of young rhinos.

News broke that Harry had decided to leave the military behind in favor of conservation efforts in June. People reported he planned to focus on saving African wildlife from illegal trade. He was said to be focusing specifically on saving black rhinos, which are dangerously close to extinction. Prior to leaving for his trip, Harry told British media he was excited about the opportunity to do this type of work.

"For me, it's three months of hard grafting, working with animals. To actually get the chance to embed myself with the top vet in southern Africa, travel with him for three weeks and every job he gets called up to do ... that's like, my dream," he said at the time.

Princess Charlotte was christened at St. Mary Magdalene in Sandringham, England, in early July. Although Prince Harry was unable to attend, she was celebrated by the rest of the royal family. The Telegraph reported her parents, Prince William and Kate Middleton, went above and beyond to include details that would bring back memories of William, 33, and Harry's mother, the late Princess Diana, who was christened there decades earlier. The couple included the song Prelude on Rhosymedre by Vaughan Williams, which was played during the 1981 wedding of Diana, who was just 36 when she died in 1997, and ex-husband Prince Charles. William and Kate, 33, also included the song in their wedding in 2011.