It was delivered to the Wales training camp in Pretoria shortly after the second international against the World Champion Springboks at Loftus Versfeld.
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales met the entire Wales squad and their back-up team at a reception in Clarence House hours before they set off on tour.
The Prince wrote: “I pray there were no injuries that can’t be fixed by all those expert physiotherapists I met and I can only send you all possible sympathy and my kindest good wishes on your return to Wales.”
He also made a light hearted reference to the visit when his message reflected on the two Test defeats in Bloemfontein and Pretoria.
The Prince said: “I fear the lunch I gave you all at Clarence House before your departure for South Africa must have been the problem! You can all blame me for disrupting your fitness training and dietary discipline, but I nevertheless wanted to commiserate with you on the loss of the Test match against South Africa.
“As you predicted, dealing with the Springboks on their own home turf is clearly not an easy matter, but I am sure you will get there in the end.”
The message from the Prince was displayed on the team room wall at the training camp before the squad departed for their journey home to Wales.
