Prince Harry has revealed how his mentor at Sandhurst military academy helped him build self-confidence after losing his mother at an early age.

He said his colour sergeant had given him the self-assurance he needed to help others during a visit to Mackie Academy in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, on Tuesday.

The event was organised as part of the Diana Award, a scheme set up following her death in 1997, when Harry was 12.

He told pupils: "I was at a stage in my life when I was probably lacking a bit in guidance. I lost my mum when I was very young and suddenly I was surrounded by a huge number of men in the army.

"[My colour sergeant] was someone who teased me at the right moments and gave me the confidence to look forward, to actually have that confidence in yourself to know who you are and to push forward and try to help others."

Prince Harry, 32, met 60 youngsters who are training to become mentors in their schools.

He also spoke to recipients of the Diana Award, including Jamie McIntosh, 17, from Edinburgh, who wrote a book to help teenagers deal with grief after his own mother's death.

Prince Harry said: "That's what's it all about, it's trying to stop other kids in your position having to go through what you had to go through and now your book is going to help everyone around you.

"If anybody around me ever has any grief, especially close family, you feel as though you can help because you've got the experience and that's what mentoring is all about."

The school was the first of three stops on his first official visit to Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire on Tuesday.