From the Mirror archives

July 12, 1996

Today’s photograph shows South African President Nelson Mandela addressing the crowds from the balcony of South Africa House in Trafalgar Square, London, on the final day of his state visit to Britain. During his four-day trip, the former political prisoner, once branded a terrorist by Margaret Thatcher, stayed at Buckingham Palace as an honoured guest of the Queen and was lauded as a hero by Brits.