The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh arrived in Nepal (Image: PA)
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh arrived in Nepal on Tuesday morning for their first-ever official visit to the country.
Edward arrived from India, where he had spent the past two days championing young people and the benefits of non-formal education, while Sophie flew from the UK commercially.
On Tuesday afternoon, they were welcomed to the country at Rastrapati Bhawan, the Presidential Palace in Kathmandu, where they held an audience with Ram Chandra Paudel, President of Nepal and the First Lady, Sabita Paudel.
“It’s very, very nice to meet you,” Edward told the President as they greeted one another in the ornately decorated room filled with 12 sofas, large rugs and light bulbs in the colours of the Nepali flag.
After posing for photographs, the two couples sat in gilded maroon and gold armchairs as they began their short bilateral meeting in the presidential office.
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Duchess Sophie looked chic in a green printed dress (Image: PA)
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh meet President of Nepal, Ram Chandra Paudel with his wife Sabita (Image: PA)
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During the meeting, the annual report on the Brigade of Gurkhas was handed over to the President by the Colonel Commandment of the Brigade of Gurkhas.
Edward clasped his hands together and bowed, saying, “Thank you so much,” as the meeting wrapped up after 45 minutes.
Before leaving, the duke and duchess signed the visitor’s book in front of an impressive canvas of Mount Everest.
Turning to point to the image, Sophie said: “It’s the closest I am going to get… sadly.”
The royal couple are undertaking the six-day trip to celebrate the UK’s close ties with the country.
It marks the 14th visit by a member of the British Royal Family but the first by the Duke and Duchess.
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The Edinburghs sign the visitors book at the Presidential Palace in Maharajgunj, Kathamnadu (Image: PA)
I’m in Nepal with the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh who are conducting their first official visit to the country.They are meeting the President of Nepal and the First Lady at Rastrapati Bhawan, the Presidential Palace, for a bilateral meeting.
— Emily Ferguson (@emilyinpalace)
was the last royal to visit Nepal in 2016, a year after the devastating earthquake that killed about 9,000 people and devastated towns and villages.
During the visit, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh’s engagements will reflect Edward and Sophie’s work, including youth opportunity, healthcare, equality for women and girls, and conservation and biodiversity.
They will attend the annual Attestation Parade in Pokhara where young Nepali service personnel will formally join the British Army, marking a rich and proud tradition of collaboration between the two nations.
The duke and duchess will also see the work of the Gurkha Welfare Trust in offering continued support to veterans and their families
The couple, who were praised by Reform leader last week for “doing a lot of the heavy lifting” by conducting so many royal engagements at home and abroad, will conclude their trip in Ghandruk, allowing them to experience some of the natural beauty and rich heritage of Nepal.