On November 8, 2011, The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall visited the island of Zanzibar. Despite the humidity and unbearable heat the royal couple were all smiles when they visited the capital of Stone Town. As the people celebrated their arrival local dancers, well, danced and soon the Prince of Wales and the Duchess joined in on the fun.
After that was all over it was time to move on and tour the lovely city. So, what did they do and see? Well, the visited the House of Wonders and the Kizimbani Spice Plantation, and read to the youth from the Unguja Urban North Teacher’s Resource Centre. Later on in the early evening the royal couple attended a garden party in their honor in Dar es Salaam.
To view photos from today’s activities please click the links below:
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are currently in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania for an official visit.
On November 7, 2011, the royal couple attended a welcoming reception, held at the State House, hosted by the president of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete and his wife. Upon their arrival the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were greeted by hundreds of locals waving the British and Tanzanian flags. After inspecting the military guard of honor the royal couple met with “…Tanzanian soldiers who had served as peacekeepers in Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region.”
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall also “…visited a charity workshop that employs disabled men and women in the country’s capital…” where they made some pretty cool jewelry. According to the Press Association:
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall had a “Blue Peter moment” in Tanzania, as they raced each other to make pieces of jewelry.
Charles and Camilla sat side-by-side at a table to learn from Wonder Workshop staff how to make earrings and a necklace respectively.
The Duchess asked 28-year-old Neema Mohamedy, who sat beside her: ‘Are you going to show me what to do? I’m not normally very good at this.’
As she was handed a leather lace to thread through a blue glass ring, she said: ‘This is a Blue Peter moment.’
Wonder Workshop was set up by Briton Paul Joynson-Hicks, 40, after he kept seeing a group of polio victims begging near his office in Dar es Salaam in 2004.
After making some metal artwork himself, he thought the beggars would be able to do the same, despite their injuries, so he invited them into his workshop. Now the charity employs 33 disabled men and women who make art out of scrap metal, wood and glass.
Charles, who was given some tiny beads to thread through thin wire, said: “This is where I need my glasses.”
Noticing her 62-year-old husband was in difficulty, Camilla, 64, offered him her glasses three times. ‘Do you want my specs?’ she asked. The Prince laughed: ‘I’m not designed for this.’
And when he was handed even smaller beads by his helper Otaigo Wairoma, 27, he snorted, then said: ‘That’s not fair!’ source
In the afternoon, the Duchess of Cornwall along with the First Lady of Tanzania, Salma Kikwete, visited the WAMA Foundation and Read International while the Prince of Wales visited the Wateraid Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Project in Feri Suburb, Kigamboni.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall making jewelry.
On November 6, 2011, The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall attended a church service at St. Georges Cathedral in Cape Town, South Africa. In attendance at the service was Archbishop Desmond Tutu, local dignitaries, and hundreds of well-wishers who came to see the future king of England. The day before the Prince of Wales gave a speech at Cape Town University regarding the environment, sustainability, and conservation.
This evening the royal couple arrived in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania where they were welcomed to the country by the president of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwere.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are currently in South Africa for an official visit. On November 4, 2011, the royal couple visited the Phinda Game Reserve in Johannesburg where they had a chanceto view many animals in their natural habitat. The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will also visit Tanzania in the next day or so where they will take part in the “… celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Tanzania’s independence from the United Kingdom. [They will also meet] President Jakaya Kitwete at his residence in the country’s largest city, Dar es Salaam.”
Overall, the purpose of the visit to South Africa and Tanzania is to focus on environmental issues, sustainability, education and trade.
To view photos from today’s activities please click hereandhere.
To view photos from yesterday’s events pleaseclick here.
On October 29, 2011, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh completed their tour of Australia, but before they left the queen attended a “Great Aussie Barbecue” along the banks of the Swan River in Perth.
In her farewell speech in front of tens of thousands of well-wishers the queen stated that she and the Duke of Edinburgh had “…enjoyed our visit immensely…”
We have been overwhelmed by your kindness and support… I can think of no more fitting way to end my visit… than in this idyllic Swan River setting which I have enjoyed on so many occasions. Once again we will return to the United Kingdom with fond memories.
To watch videos as well as to view photos please click the links below:
On October 28, 2011, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II attended a gala banquet “…as part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)…” in Perth, Australia. Prior to the evening’s event the queen attended a brief luncheon with the new heads of commonwealth governments held at the Government House.
Finally! On October 26, 2011, H.R.H. The Duchess of Cambridge attended a private dinner for the charity, In Kind Direct, held at Clarence House… this was her first “solo” engagement that many royal watchers have waited for. According to the official website for In Kind Direct the Duchess:
…stepped in for The Prince of Wales. The Prince of Wales was unable to attend owing to a trip to Saudi Arabia to present his condolences to the Saudi Arabian Royal Family following the death of The Crown Prince. source
