Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall are welcomed at Charlestown Pier, Nevis, March 21. Photo by Jane Barlow/Pool via Reuters.
Prince Charles tries out a drum as he attends a reception at Government House in Nevis on March 21. Photo by Chris Jackson/Pool via Reuters.
Prince Charles meets with Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris at Government House in Basseterre, on March 21. Photo by Jane Barlow/Pool via Reuters.
- KITTS--As part of their visit to six countries and one overseas territory, Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall arrived at the Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw International Airport in St. Kitts and Nevis, on March 21, where they were warmly welcomed by the people of the twin-island Federation.
Governor General Sir S.W. Tapley Seaton along with Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris took their positions on the red carpet lined with flowing palm trees, to greet the royals as they disembarked the Royal Air Force aircraft.
They were given the royal salute after which the national anthem of St. Kitts and Nevis was played by the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force Band. Armed forces were subsequently presented to and inspected by Prince Charles.
Members of Cabinet as well as high-ranking officials were present to welcome the royals, including Senior Minister Vance Amory, Attorney General Vincent Byron, Ministers Eugene Hamilton, Ian Patches Liburd and Wendy Phipps, Senator Akilah Byron-Nisbett, Cabinet Secretary Josephine Huggins, Speaker of the National Assembly, Michael Perkins, First Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, only living National Hero, Dr. Sir Kennedy A. Simmonds, and Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Denzil Douglas.
A bouquet of flowers was given to the Duchess of Cornwall by a Beach Allen Primary School pupil.
After their departure from the airport, the royals paid a visit to the Berkeley Memorial, also known as the Circus, in the country’s capital Basseterre.
The Berkeley Memorial was erected in 1883 and was for a long time the only public memorial commemorating an individual in St. Kitts. It was dedicated to the memory of Thomas Berkeley Hardtman-Berkeley, a legislator and owner of the estates called Fountain, Greenland, Greenhill, Ottleys, Shadwell and Stone Fort.
The structure contains a clock and drinking fountain. It was designed and produced by George Smith and Co. of Glasgow, Scotland. Two other similar structures were produced by the foundry, but only the one in St. Kitts survives.
During their visit to Basseterre, the prince and duchess also made a stop at the National Museum, located in what used to be the Treasury Building. It is also the home of the St. Christopher National Trust. Once situated on the Basseterre Bay front, the building is now at the meeting point of Basseterre and the reclaimed land of Port Zante. The Treasury moved to the corner of Church Street and Central Street in 1996 and the National Museum gradually moved in.
The trip comes as part of the royals’ visit to six countries and one overseas territory, undertaking over 50 engagements across 10 islands, including a visit to Cuba. It will be the first official visit by a member of the Royal Family to Cuba.
