Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Philip Pierre, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, exchange gifts during a reception on day one of their platinum jubilee royal tour of the Caribbean. Getty
Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Philip Pierre, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, exchange gifts during a reception on day one of their platinum jubilee royal tour of the Caribbean. Getty
Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Philip Pierre, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, exchange gifts during a reception on day one of their platinum jubilee royal tour of the Caribbean. Getty
Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Philip Pierre, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, exchange gifts during a reception on day one of their platinum jubilee royal tour of the Car

Earl and Countess of Wessex receive guard of honour in St Lucia


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The Earl and Countess of Wessex exchanged gifts with the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia after they received a red carpet guard of honour on their arrival in the country.

Sophie and Edward on Friday began their seven-day tour of the Caribbean where they are also scheduled to visit two other nations, Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, after the 11th hour postponement of the Grenada leg of their trip.

The Platinum Jubilee tour was organised to mark the Queen's 70-year reign, and it comes shortly after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were criticised for some elements of their recent Caribbean tour, deemed to hark back to colonial days.

Sophie and Edward presented Prime Minister Philip Pierre with a photograph of themselves and a Jubilee box as a "token of appreciation" when they met him at his residence on Friday evening.

In return, Saint Lucia's PM gave the pair a painting of one of the island's turtles rolled up in a long black tube, and before discovering what the gift inside the tube was, Edward joked: "It's not a fishing rod."

The couple then signed the guest book to complete their first day of engagements.

Before meeting Mr Pierre, Sophie and Edward visited the acting governor general Cyril Errol Melchiades Charles.

On their arrival at Hewanorra International Airport earlier on Friday, the royals were greeted in the sunshine by the deputy prime minister Dr Ernest Hilaire and the aide-de-camp to the governor general, Captain Cyril Saltibus, after they disembarked their British Airways flight.

Sophie, wearing a red dress, joined her husband as they walked down the red carpet to a platform, where Edward stood to receive the guard of honour while the island's police band performed the country's national anthem.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex smile as they arrive at Hewanorra International Airport. Getty
Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex smile as they arrive at Hewanorra International Airport. Getty

The week-long tour will see Sophie and Edward "meet communities, local entrepreneurs and craftspeople, and young people" as well as athletes training for the Commonwealth Games.

No further details were given for Thursday's postponement of the Grenada leg of the tour.

It is understood that the planning of the royal tour involved discussions between the host countries, royal officials and other parties.

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Know before you go
  • Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
  • If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
  • By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
  • Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
  • Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.

 

Updated: April 23, 2022, 3:41 AM`