The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall continued their Caribbean tour on Saturday in Grenada, a day before they’re set to begin a historic visit to Cuba.
Prince Charles and Camilla arrived in Grenada at the Maurice Bishop International Airport where they were greeted by the Governor-General, Dame Cécile La Grenade.
The royal couple and the Governor-General then departed for the Grenada Houses of Parliament Building for an official welcome ceremony and reception hosted by the Prime Minister.
Prince Charles inspected the Guard of Honour, and the couple met with Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell before attending the reception.
Sgt Johnson Beharry, a Grenada-born soldier who serves with the 1st Battalion Princess of Wales Regiment and who has received the Victoria Cross, attended the reception and later spoke to Peeblesshire News about the Royal Family’s commitment to the Commonwealth.
“As you say his name I keep getting goosebumps,” Beharry said. “I never thought I would be in Grenada with His Royal Highness at the same time.”
Beharry continued, “With what’s going on with Brexit and everything else, to build a relationship with the Commonwealth, to show that there is a Commonwealth and to see the Royal Family’s actually embracing the Commonwealth – more or less recreating back the Foreign and Commonwealth…
“For years there was the word Commonwealth, and no one knew, even myself, what it meant because there was no relationship… Now [it] is very important to raise the profile of the Commonwealth back together and the UK is showing…support to the Commonwealth.”
Prince Charles and Camilla also had the chance to view arts and crafts on display at the reception, including spices and local crafts, according to Clarence House. There were also flowers that had been on display at the Chelsea Flower Show.
Following the reception, the Prince and the Governor-General walked down to Old Government House where the royal planted a tree to commemorate his visit.
Next on the itinerary: a trip to the chocolate factory – the House of Chocolate – to learn about the cocoa industry in Grenada and to taste-test chocolate beverages.
The House of Chocolate “combines a chocolate shop, café, information point and cocoa museum, running educational activities, and creating a huge profile for Grenadian chocolate products and industry,” according to Clarence House.
Their Royal Highnesses then visited The Carenage Exhibition near the Grenada Public Library and were greeted by steel pan musicians and dancers. The royals toured different stalls to learn about the spice industry on Grenada, as well as sampling other preserves like jams and jellies, made from nutmeg, and rum.
The Prince of Wales then branched off to attend a blue economy roundtable discussion at the Spice Island Beach Resort, where he met with Simon Stiell, the Minister for Climate Resilience, Environment, Forestry, Fisheries, and Disaster Management; and Dr Angus Friday, the co-chair of the Blue Innovation Institute.
Before attending another event to discuss the blue economy, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall met privately with the Governor-General.
At their final event before departing Grenada, Charles and Camilla travelled to the Mount Cinnamon Dive Grenada Mural to learn about the country’s blue economy. Per Clarence House, the display underscores “the ‘Pure Grenada’ national development strategy and efforts to position Grenada as a leader in sustainable development, given its pristine natural environment, which is relatively undeveloped.”
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall then travelled to the airport as their royal visit of Grenada came to an end.
