The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will embark on their first official visit to Nepal tomorrow, beginning a six-day royal tour focused on strengthening UK-Nepal relations.
The visit, running from 4th to 9th February, will highlight shared interests including youth opportunity, healthcare, women’s rights, and conservation efforts.
A highlight of the tour will be Their Royal Highnesses’ attendance at the annual Attestation Parade in Pokhara, where new Nepali recruits will formally join the British Army.
The Duke and Duchess will also visit the Gurkha Welfare Trust to witness their vital work supporting veterans and their families.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will embark on their first official visit to Nepal tomorrow, beginning a six-day royal tour focused on strengthening UK-Nepal relations.
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During their visit, Their Royal Highnesses will meet with young people participating in the Duke of Edinburgh International Award programme.
The royal couple will also engage with women’s rights activists and changemakers working towards a more inclusive society.
Their schedule includes visits to organisations providing healthcare services and support to survivors of trafficking and gender-based violence.
The royal tour will conclude in Ghandruk, allowing the Duke and Duchess to experience Nepal’s natural beauty and rich heritage.
During their visit, Their Royal Highnesses will meet with young people participating in the Duke of Edinburgh International Award programme.
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The visit marks the latest chapter in British royal connections with Nepal, following King Charles III’s visit in 1998 when he was Prince of Wales, and Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s journey to the country in 1986.
It comes as King Charles and Queen Camilla will mark their 20th wedding anniversary during a state visit to Rome this April.
The royal couple, aged 76 and 77 respectively, are expected to be in the Italian capital on April 9, coinciding with their milestone anniversary.
While full details await confirmation from Buckingham Palace, Their Majesties are reportedly scheduled to have an audience with Pope Francis at Vatican City during their Italian trip.
The state visit will proceed as the King continues his cancer treatment, with the couple set to undertake a series of engagements supporting causes close to their hearts.
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The King and Queen were married at Windsor Guildhall on 9 April 2005, with their reception held at Windsor Castle.
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The King and Queen were married at Windsor Guildhall on 9 April 2005, with their reception held at Windsor Castle.
Though it will be a working day in Rome, the royal couple will reportedly find private time to celebrate their anniversary milestone.
The visit aligns with Buckingham Palace’s commitment to maintain a “normal-looking full overseas tour programme” despite the King’s ongoing treatment.
The couple last visited Italy together in 2017 when they were Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.
King Charles’s most recent meeting with Pope Francis at Vatican City took place in 2019.