Wednesday 23 November 2016

Prince Harry in the Caribbean: Day Three, Barbuda


Prince Harry at a primary school in Barbuda during day three of his Caribbean tour
(photo Kensington Palace Twitter)

After two days in Antigua at the start of his Caribbean tour, Prince Harry hopped on a helicopter for a visit to its sister island of Barbuda. Day three was all about education and the environment - two issues close to Harry's heart. And it ended under a canopy named for the Queen, a reminder that this royal tour is being carried out in his grandmother's name.



Prince Harry made the short journey to Barbuda in the air - one of the quickest flights he'll have in coming days as the distance between the two islands is around 40 miles by plane. But he soon swapped air for sea as he boarded a boat for a tour of a Sanctuary which sits across the mangroves in Barbuda and which sees tens of thousands of Frigate birds every year.





Harry was shown how nature is supported in the area and also heard about the part the Frigate Bird Sanctuary plays in the eco tourism of Barbuda.




The island is small, with around 1800 inhabitants, and has just two schools. Both of them got a royal visit on day three of Harry's tour. First stop was the Holy Trinity Primary School where the prince saw how the children there are getting ready for the 93rd anniversary of their Founders' Day.



When they are old enough, these children will move just up the road to the Sir McChesney George High School and Harry made the short walk to the buildings to meet older pupils there.




Harry heard about their work to make the most of natural resources - these pupils learn about water harvesting and crop cultivation alongside their academic studies. And they made sure the prince got to grips with making the most of the world around him as Harry got a lesson in fish gutting.


 


And it was back to nature for Harry as he headed back to Antigua for the last part of his stay there. The prince heard about a scheme which encourages people to return used plant bags in exchange for a tree. There was also a chance to enjoy a staple of all royal tours - a little light tree planting which Harry did in his own way, leaving the spades behind and kneeling on the ground to get stuck in.


 


Then he unveiled a plaque marking Antigua's contribution to the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy in the Victoria Park Botanical Gardens - a project protecting forests across the Commonwealth. This is the first of four sections that Harry will celebrate on this tour.


Harry's Antiguan adventure had begun beneath the gaze of granny as he read out a message from the Queen. It ended beneath the shade of trees that are part of a huge blanket around the Commonwealth in honour of her. Harry's tour is off to a truly regal start.

You can keep up to date with all the details of Prince Harry's tour of the Caribbean on a special page here.


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