Britain’s Prince Harry is on the five-day official tour of Nepal and he has paid respects to those who were killed in the Nepal earthquakes last year. This tour also includes meeting with the Prime Minister of Nepal Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli and will attend a ceremony to mark 200 years of relationship between the two countries.
Harry told a welcoming reception that he wanted to “shine a spotlight on the resilience” of the Nepalese people.
The prince will meet with the survivors of April and May’s earthquakes – which killed as many as 9,000 people – and Gurkhas who helped the rescue operation.
It is the prince’s first official visit to the country and this trip will mark the 200-year celebration ceremony between Nepal and Britain.
Prince Harry said: “I pay my respects to those who perished and hope to do what I can to shine a spotlight on the resolve and resilience of the Nepalese people”.
Harry Prince is the first British royal to visit Nepal since the monarchy was abolished in 2008 after series of demonstrations. Since then, the Himalayan country has turned into a republic, with a president chosen by a parliament. He will meet with President Bidhya Devi Bhandari during the trip.
The prince will also stay with a family which includes men who served in the British army’s famed Gurkha regiments, the unit with which Harry served with in Afghanistan.
The Gurkhas have served in the British army for 200 years and have a recognition of being brave tough fighters. Thousands of young men from Nepal attempt to pass the ruling test to become a Gurkha but only a few get through.
