KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 6
The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward Antony Richard Louis, and the Duchess of Edinburgh, Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones, are on an official visit to Nepal. They arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday and were welcomed separately at Tribhuvan International Airport by Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai and other high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Later that day, the royal couple paid a courtesy call on President Ramchandra Paudel. During the meeting, Prince Edward emphasized the importance of strengthening Nepal-UK cooperation, particularly in youth and women's empowerment. He also expressed gratitude for Nepal's support in British Army recruitment, noting that the British Gurkha Army remains a cornerstone of the longstanding relationship between the two nations.
On Wednesday, the Duchess of Edinburgh visited Bhaktapur Hospital, where she inspected the gynecological ward and gathered information about the services provided. She inquired about the health of new mothers and newborns, as well as the treatments and services available at the hospital.
The same day, she visited Maiti Nepal and met with its founder, Anuradha Koirala. She interacted with children and individuals rescued by the organization, which is dedicated to combating human trafficking and rehabilitating survivors.
Meanwhile, the Duke of Edinburgh visited the Nepal Vocational Academy in Bhaktapur, where he tried his hand at wood carving. He also explored historic heritage sites in Bhaktapur and visited the SOS Children's Village in Sanothimi.
Later in the day, Prince Edward attended the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award (DoEIA)-Nepal at SOS Children's Village, where he visited stalls set up by students from both community and private schools to showcase their skills in non-formal sectors.
During their visit, the royal couple is scheduled to attend programs at the British Embassy in Kathmandu, the National Botanical Garden in Godavari, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), and Pokhara, among other locations. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they will remain in Nepal until February 9.
This marks the 14th visit to Nepal by a member of the British Royal Family. Over the years, such visits have reinforced the close ties between the two nations.
King Charles, as the Prince of Wales, visited Nepal in 1975, 1980, 1992, and 1998, while Prince Harry was the last British royal to visit, in 2016.
Photo by Skanda Gautam for The Himalayan Times
