When the Earl and Countess of Wessex arrived for a red carpet welcome, Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister presented them with gifts.
Sophie and Edward began their seven-day Caribbean holiday on Friday after their trip to Grenada were postponed at the last minute. Additionally, they will make stops at Antigua and Barbuda, as well as Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
The Platinum Jubilee tour was organized to mark the Queen’s 70 years of the reign, and it comes just weeks after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were chastised for various parts of their recent Caribbean visit, which were seen to be colonial in nature.
On Friday night, Sophie and Edward went to see Prime Minister Philip Pierre at his house. They gave him a picture of them and a Jubilee box as a “symbol of appreciation.”
When Edward received this gift, he joked, “It’s not a fishing rod,” before realizing the black tube contained a painting of one of the island’s turtles.
The newly engaged couple signed the guest book to end their first day of dating.
Prior to seeing Mr Pierre, Sophie and Edward paid a visit to Cyril Errol Melchiades Charles, the temporary governor-general.
As soon as the royals stepped off their British Airways flight on Friday morning, they were met by Dr. Ernest Hilaire and Captain Cyril Saltibus, who was waiting for them in the sun.
Afterwards, Sophie changed into a red dress and joined her husband on stage, where Edward waited for the guard of honour to arrive while the island police band played “America the Beautiful.”
As part of their week-long trip, Sophie and Edward will get to meet members of the local community as well as Commonwealth Games athletes who are getting ready for the games.
Thursday’s announcement of a new date for the tour’s Grenada leg was not made.
The royal visit is said to have been planned via discussions between the host countries, the royal authorities, and other parties.
