The Launch Reception of "The Prince The Secret Story of the World's Most Intriguing Royal Prince Bandar bin Sultan."

Opening address - a personal letter by Nelson Mandela, delivered by Judith Reagan, at the Launch reception in the Great Hall of the Library of Congress on October 17, 2006.

Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The launch of William Simpson’s incisive biography - The Prince - is a valuable and overdue tribute to one of modern history’s great diplomats, statesmen and above all peacemakers - Prince Bandar bin Sultan.

I must congratulate William Simpson on capturing in his book, the enigmatic character of my dear friend, Prince Bandar, in an intriguing, explosive and thoroughly revealing account of the life of this man of immense ability and conscience.

In his authoritative biography, William Simpson accurately and objectively portrays Prince Bandar as a charismatic man of vision, in a fascinating and frequently anecdotal account that is at once controversial, powerful and enlightening.

In ‘The Prince’ Simpson has disclosed many previously untold stories of how Bandar has played a pivotal role in the writing of modern history, as an architect of peace in a world of conflict, he has been a man of amazing access, especially to the White House during the Carter, Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Clinton and George W. Bush administrations.

I would encourage everyone with an interest in world affairs over the past three decades to read William Simpson’s compelling and revealing biography-The Prince. I am confident that it will become the definitive work on Prince Bandar, an exceptional individual whom I am proud to call a close friend.

Nelson Mandela